IR Seminar: ESG and stewardship trends: What UK IROs need to know

ESG remains a key feature of investor stewardship and corporate engagement, but priorities and expectations are evolving across markets. While some jurisdictions are accelerating sustainability-related initiatives, others are taking a different approach, creating an increasingly nuanced environment for listed companies.

This event will explore the most significant ESG, governance and stewardship developments shaping capital markets today, with a particular focus on how trends differ across the UK, Europe and North America. Through a comparative lens, we will discuss what these developments mean for investor engagement, shareholder voting and corporate strategy.

Topics covered will include:

• The key ESG themes influencing investors globally.
• Regional differences in stewardship, shareholder engagement and voting behaviour.
• Trends in shareholder activism and stakeholder expectations.
• How companies are adapting to changing market dynamics.
• What UK issuers can learn from developments in other markets.

Speaker

Hal Dewdney

ESG Consultant, Georgeson

Hal Dewdney

ESG Consultant, Georgeson

Hal has been a member of the Georgeson team since 2022 and specialises in advising clients on developing and implementing effective sustainability strategies that align with investors’ expectations. His work also includes advising listed companies on their shareholder meetings, engagements with proxy advisors and institutional investors, and on navigating shareholder activism cases. Prior to joining Georgeson, Hal worked at a Venture Capital and Strategic Advisory firm that invested in and supported environmental and climate-related technology businesses. Hal graduated from the University of Bristol with a BSc in Economics and from UCL with an MSc in Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment. Hal was also awarded the Certificate in ESG Investing, CFA Institute.