Being able to work in so many different ESG-related projects including engaging with companies on environmental and social issues, voting at annual general meetings, supporting how we incorporate new sustainability regulations, how we integrate sustainability data into our processes, how we communicate our sustainability priorities and much more.

I’ve recently been working in setting up a strategy for engaging with global companies to ensure they are genuinely transforming their models to align with a Paris Agreement 1.5C climate scenario. ILIM has made a commitment to align its investments with Net Zero so it is very exciting to be involved in a project that will have very significant impact not only on the company but also on the outside world.

ILIM is Ireland’s largest domestic asset manager and manages a very significant share of the pension market in Ireland. This means ILIM as whole has a huge relevance for Irish people as our success as a firm has a big impact on the long-term prosperity of Ireland. This long-term investment vision means that we have to look at topics and risks that could affect the value of our clients’ investments and savings over longer horizons. For this reason, we are working hard to ensure our investments align with the Paris Agreement scenario of 1.5C – generally agreed to be the safest scenario for economies and societies to prosper in the future.

A responsibly-managed financial sector can be really crucial in driving development and improving living standards – Ireland is a country that has benefitted massively from this sector as a driver of growth the last 30 years or so.

In addition to this, financial expertise can be critical to ensure people enjoy the fruits of their life-long labour (through savings, pensions or investments) at their time of retirement.

ILIM has built very solid relationships with customers, building accessible financial products for people across all walks of life while increasingly incorporating a wider perspective that looks at issues such as environmental and social risks. This has made it easier for customers to invest in a sensible way but also in a way that is responsible towards the environment and society.

It’s great to know your work will have an important influence on people living prosperous and comfortable retirements, and that we are also doing our part in helping build a safe, healthy future where people and their families can enjoy those benefits.

The financial sector is very dynamic and is very relevant and closely linked to most other sectors. A lot of people don’t realise how inter-linked the financial system is with the broader economy and how finance can drive positive outcomes for the economy as a whole when done responsibly.

ILIM has been fully committed to ensuring sustainability becomes a core business function. We have done so much progress in this area the last few years and I can visibly see the momentum and ambition. We still have some work ahead of ourselves to achieve this vision, but the level of support from senior management as well as how quickly this has become part of the firm’s DNA makes me confident in our success.

As a sustainability professional, ensuring we have a safe and healthy planet for our children and all future generations is what drives me. The financial services sector is undergoing a very critical transformation, especially in Europe, and it may be one of the key players in ensuring we have a successful climate transition. We need lots of investment –trillions, to be precise—in infrastructure, energy, transportation and more to make this transition happen. Not all of this money can come from governments, so the financial sector could have a big hand in making this transition happen.

ILIM is committed to “Doing right by your money”, which means we are trying to manage your investments responsibly, not only in the sense of taking proper care of them and trying our hardest to achieve the best financial outcomes for our clients, but also looking at what our wider responsibility to society and the environment is.