Editor’s choice
Several high-level executives from banks and pension funds and experts in sustainable finance have formed the impressive first Advisory Board of the Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre.
The Advisory Board will guide and promote activities of the Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre (SSFC) to push the boundaries of sustainable finance in Sweden and beyond.
The Board will support, advise, guide and direct the SSFC, meeting will take place four times a year with members also acting individually. Appointment is for two years with the possibility of an additional two-year renewal.
“Our hope is that the Board’s members will be ambassadors for the Centre and promote our activities and results as relevant for the financial community,” said Aaron Maltais, Programme Director of the SSFC and Research Fellow at SEI. “Their network and expertise will help us engage in the most pressing issues in sustainable finance.”
Magnus Billing, CEO of Alecta – Sweden’s largest pension fund – has been appointed Chairman. The Financial Times recently described Magnus as relaxed, unflashy and thoughtful. “This is a great privilege for me to be given the opportunity to contribute and be part of SSFC’s development,” he said. “The Centre can play an instrumental role in supporting and facilitating the transformation of the financial system to a more sustainable system not only in Sweden, but also globally.”
Interview with Magnus Billing by Ylva Rylander. Video: SEI / YouTube.
Every member has their own personal motivation to join the Board, which stands for knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration.
Anna Ryott, Chair of Summa Equity, summarised its importance: “sustainable investments and sustainable finance are key to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030”. She added that she is “excited to work with the Centre and the Board to find new innovative models to accelerate a positive change for people and the planet”.
Maria Håkansson, CEO and MD of Swedfund, said she is “very pleased to have been appointed a member of this Board. I hope my experience in investments in the energy and climate sectors, SMEs and female entrepreneurs can contribute to a more sustainable world”.
Joachim Alpen, Co-Head Large Corporates and Financial Institutions at SEB, said “ESG – environmental, social and governance issues have- have become a prerequisite in everything that we do … For me, it is important to be part of the journey together with SSFC, by setting new grounds for future requirements when it comes to sustainable capital investments”.
The Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre aims to accelerate and promote the shift in capital investments required to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement climate targets. The Centre is an agile, aligned platform that shapes, tailors and delivers expertise in sustainable finance to maximise visibility and impact. It is a go-to partner for impartial research, knowledge, and capacity building on current and future issues in sustainable finance.
“The Board’s experience and engagement will be such a great asset in our quest to achieve a real world impact,” said Emma Sjöström, SSFC’s Deputy Program Director.
Feature / The Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre (SSFC) is now online. Visit the new website.
Feature / The lexicon is a tool by Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre to support financial actors. It provides a common terminology in sustainable finance.
Feature / Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre will support research, innovation and education on how capital allocations can drive a sustainability transition.
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