WFE Webinar
Best Practice in Climate-related Reporting
Date:March 23, 2022 Time:09:00-09:50 UTC
Introduction: Nandini Sukumar, CEO, The World Federation of Exchanges
Moderator: Sana Awan, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, World Federation of Exchanges
Speakers:
Shameela Soobramoney, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Natsuho Torii, Manager, Sustainability Department, Japan Exchange Group
Michael Tang, Head of Listing Policy & Product Admission, Singapore Exchange Regulation
Abstract: Investors are increasingly choosing to allocate capital to companies with clear frameworks for managing climate-related risk and opportunity. Disclosure plays a key role in this, and the WFE’s 2021 Annual Sustainability Survey noted that the lack of consistency in sustainability-related disclosure frameworks was a key concern for investors and issuers alike. In the run up to COP26, jurisdictions across the globe announced their intention to mandate corporate disclosure against the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) framework, whilst the IFRS Foundation announced the establishment of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to further harmonize and provide a global baseline for sustainability reporting.
This webinar will focus on examining the real-world impact of these policy changes, through providing: (i) a regulatory perspective on mandating disclosure for listed issuers; (ii) preparing climate-disclosure guidance for issuers; and (iii) surveying disclosures made by listed companies.
Format: There will be a mixture of presentations, followed by Q and A.
This is a WFE-members and Affiliates only event. Feel free to share with colleagues in your organisation who may be interested.
Please note that all webinars/conferences are recorded and will be available for the WFE members in the members’ area of the WFE website.
Nandini Sukumar is the Chief Executive Officer of the World Federation of Exchanges, the global association for exchanges and CCPs. The WFE represents more than 250 exchanges and clearing houses globally, educating stakeholders on the vital role played by market infrastructures in the real economy and as a standard setter, finding the consensus on issues among the global membership. Of its members, 35% are in Asia-Pacific, 45% in EMEA and 20% in the Americas. WFE exchanges are home to 47,919 listed companies, and the market capitalisation of these entities is over $109 trillion; around $137 trillion (EOB) in trading annually passes through WFE members (at end 2020). WFE’s 57 member CCPs collectively ensure that risk takers post some $800bn (equivalent) of resources to back their positions, in the form of initial margin and default fund requirements. Ms. Sukumar is Vice Chair of IOSCO’s Affiliate Members Consultative Committee and Chair of the AMCC’s Sustainability Taskforce.
Sana is responsible for the WFE’s work on sustainability and listings and is currently leading several initiatives with the IOSCO Associate Member Consultative Committee (AMCC). Prior to joining the WFE Sana spent several years within the UK Government, drafting policy and legislative proposals relating to corporate governance (including executive pay and shareholder rights), investor stewardship and UK audit reform. Sana holds an LLB from the London School of Economics.
Michael is the head of Listing Policy & Product Admission at Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo), a subsidiary of Singapore Exchange (SGX) that undertakes frontline regulatory functions. He oversees listing policy and rules development and has oversight of the listing admission of securities products, including debt securities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. Michael graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor of Laws degree and is admitted to the Singapore bar. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the NUS Business School’s Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS), a Management Committee member of Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) and a member of the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee of the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID). Michael leads efforts to promote sustainability across stakeholder groups.
Natsuho Torii has been a leading presence in Japan Exchange Group’s (JPX) sustainability project from before it joined the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative in 2017. Having been a member of JPX Sustainability Committee from its formation in 2018, she works on JPX’s internal and market-focused sustainability projects. Recently her work has involved, among other things, leading roles in the creation of JPX's Practical Handbook for ESG Disclosure and the JPX ESG Knowledge Hub, which provide information and guidance for listed companies in beginning or improving ESG disclosure. From 2018 to 2020 she was a Vice-President of the World Federation of Exchanges' Sustainability Working Group, and since 2020 she has been seconded to the Principles for Responsible Investment, leading Japan-related policy activities. Natsuho joined JPX in 2010 and holds a master’s degree in business administration from London Business School.
Shameela is the Chief Sustainability Officer of the JSE. She joined the JSE in 2007. Passionate about the systemic importance of sustainability thinking in corporate strategy, she is responsible for advising the Executive Committee and Board of the JSE Limited on sustainability and the integration into strategy. She is the immediate past chair of the World Federation of Exchange’s (global) Sustainability Working Group, a member of the Strategy Group of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance (GISD), and chair of the Sustainable Finance Working Group of National Treasury.
Her responsibilities for Sustainability at the JSE include the FTSE JSE Responsible Investment Index series. She represents the JSE on various industry advisory panels related to sustainability, responsible investing and climate change internationally. As a sustainability specialist she has, inter alia, been a key contributor to the JSE’s work into climate change, the potential for a local market to trade in carbon credits and environment-related products, the development of a Green, Social and Sustainability bonds framework, impact investing, the JSE’s sustainability, innovation and CSI strategies as well as the annual sustainability investor briefing/showcase sessions.
She is a non-executive director of the WWF (South Africa), and of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).
She is the winner of the SERAS Africa CSR/Sustainability Professional 2021 and the IRMSA ESG Sustainability Professional 2020 awards. Her previous experience includes senior roles in the banking and insurance industries, and she was the JSE’s senior manager of strategy prior to assuming responsibility for the Sustainability portfolio. She is a popular speaker at local and global events and a regular contributor to media articles.
Shameela completed a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership (MSt) at the University of Cambridge and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pretoria, Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). She is a recipient of the Chevening and Mansion House scholarships and is a member of the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa (IoDSA).
