Overview Agenda Meet the speakers Registration Virtual venue

Agenda

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10:00-10:05 | Introduction

Amit Popat, European NFP Leader, Mercer

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10:05 - 10:25 | Themes & Opportunities 2021 – the great acceleration

Deb Clarke, Global Head of Investment Research, Mercer

2020 has been an annus horribilis. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers have struggled to balance the competing priorities of safeguarding public health, the economy and personal freedoms. We’re in a new world, and it’s impacting policies globally.

Join us to discuss the investment themes and opportunities we see taking shape in 2021 and beyond.

10:25 - 10:40 | Investing in a time of transition

Jillian Reid, Senior Responsible Investment Specialist, Mercer

Our new Analytics for Climate Transition (ACT) can help you set your transition pathway. We help you to assess your portfolio using metrics from numerous providers to gain insight into your portfolio across a spectrum of carbon risk from low transition capacity (grey investments), through to investments that are low carbon risk /zero carbon already, or those that are providing climate solutions (green investments). Our analysis will help you to rank the transition capacity of listed companies in your portfolio, across the spectrum from gray to green.

10:40 - 11:00 | Private markets: your questions answered

Rekha Owen, Alternatives Investment Specialist, Mercer
Amarik Ubhi, Head of Infrastructure, Mercer

Do good or do well? Do both!

The debate around whether investors must choose between targeting pure performance or bringing about positive change is quickly running out of steam, thanks to growing empirical evidence.

This rapid progress within sustainable investing – and the collection of data -- means investors can look to invest in line with their values and not compromise on returns.

11:00 - 11:15 | How are you adapting and reinventing for a radically different world? NFP 2021 survey results

Paul Fleming, Head of UK Endowments and Foundations, Mercer
Gail Cunningham, Association of Charitable Foundations, ACF

Join us where we unveil the results of our NFP 2020 survey. With 2020 a turbulent year for most, the study will explore how your peers face many of today’s challenges from sustainability and ESG considerations to governance and investment decision making.

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11:15 - 11:30 | Break

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11:30 - 12:05 | Panel Discussion, chaired by Sarika Goel, Responsible Investment Consultant

1. Dr. Jim Roth, University of Edinburgh
2. Dinesh Visavadia, Independent advisor/trustee
3. Paul Blyth, Friends Provident Foundation, Investment Committee

Join our panelists where we’ll discuss the key themes and challenges identified in our 2021 NFP survey. How their organisation is facing these challenges and adapting to meet them.

12:05 - 12:25 | Transformational Investment: Converting Global Systemic Risks into Sustainable Returns

World Economic Forum in collaboration with Mercer
Ashley Knight, Fellow, World Economic Forum
Katerina Labrousse, WEF

Providing new insights to ensure that the long-term impact of non-traditional risks and opportunities can be better understood. Identifing six systemic risks and establishing a governance framework to enable the investment community to address risks related to water security, climate change, population growth, geopolitical uncertainty, negative interest rates and technology disruption

12:25 - 12:40 | Virtual networking session

1. Our Panelists: Dr Jim Roth, Dinesh Visavadia and Paul Blyth
2. Ashley Knight and Katerina Labrousse, WEF

Split into 2 separate breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to network and discuss in more depth the key discussion points from our speakers earlier sessions

12:40 - 13:00 | Spending obligations – investment ideas to help support your spending needs

Steve Sowden, Investment Consultant, Mercer

Historians will view the 2010s and 2020s as uniquely distinct peacetime decades: Pre- and post-Covid. The 2010s delivered strong returns across asset classes. Endowments hit real return targets riding a tail wind of accommodative monetary policy. Looking forward to the 2020s, low fixed income yields and potentially inflated valuations will make targets harder to hit. Steven will explore how this may affect spending and how to find increasingly rare return opportunities.