Edouard Sers, Director of Risk, Compliance and Impact, on the webinar "Lessons Learned on ESG and Impact Investing Strategies"

Organized by InFiNe On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, this webinar focused on “Lessons Learned on ESG and Impact Investing Strategies,” and Edouard Sers was one of the speakers.

The objective of this webinar was to share lessons learned from the Frankfurt School's ESG & Impact Investing course and its implementation by dedicated professionals. It was aimed at professionals in the impact investing field, as well as professionals from other sectors interested in ESG and impact investing.

 

SPEAKERS' BIOGRAPHIES:

• Anne Bastin, InFiNe, moderator

 

• Edouard Sers, Risk and Impact Manager of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation:

As part of his responsibilities, Edouard is a member of the Foundation's Executive Committee, oversees the Risk Team, and coordinates the development of ESG and Impact standards at the Foundation. He is also responsible for overseeing the GCA Foundation's investment advisory activities for the GCA Fund FIR. Previously, Edouard led the audit and risk management functions for the OXUS network in Central Asia and Africa, and worked for many years as a rating analyst and quality manager at Planet Rating in over 30 countries. Edouard is a graduate of EM Lyon Business School and began his career as an external auditor in the banking sector for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

• Karl Richter, professor at the Frankfurt School and co-founder and executive director of Engage X:

Co-founder of iSumio, which creates software that allows organizations to calculate their impact on people and the planet, such as carbon footprint and working conditions. Executive Director of EngagedX, specializing in consulting, thought leadership, advocacy, and policy work. Karl works internationally in the private, public, and social sectors. Experienced entrepreneur, leader, and manager. Part-time course at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Previously, he served for 12 months as Head of Research and Knowledge for the UNDP SDG Impact Finance Initiative (UNSIF), where he led research to improve the analytical framework for social impact investing. Member of the European Commission's Commission Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES) to advise on its social enterprise initiative; Member of the OECD Expert Group on Social Impact Investing. Currently Senior Fellow of the Finance Innovation Lab; and Advisor to several organizations.

Karl has been invited by civil society organizations, universities, governments, and the media across Europe, Asia, and the United States to speak about social impact investing. He has been a guest lecturer at Oxford and Cambridge Universities; advised HM Treasury on EU social investment regulations; was invited to submit evidence for alternative financing to the UK Parliamentary Select Committee on Banking Standards; was invited by the UK Cabinet to represent the UK on social investment at the EU level; and was invited by the US Secretary of State to be a panelist at the Global Forum on the Impact Economy in 2012.

 

• Claudia Dambax, Director of Advisory Services of the Council and Associate Director of Innpact SA:

She has extensive experience in fund structuring, (public-private partnership) funds, operational fund management, legal fund management, corporate governance, and board management. She has experience with a broad client base, ranging from private clients, ultra-high net worth individuals, to institutional clients, including international financial institutions and development finance institutions. Since 2005, she has worked in the financial services industry in the private sector within an asset management/AIFM company and at the European level. She has managed UCITS and alternative funds (PE/VC, private debt, real estate). Claudia has a hands-on approach and is passionate about achieving a positive impact. Since 2010, she has focused on sustainable finance and impact finance.

Before joining Innpact, Claudia worked for Sal. Oppenheim Asset Management, Deutsche Bank/Deutsche Asset Management, and the European Investment Fund. Claudia studied human geography, business administration, and urban and regional planning at the Free University of Berlin (Germany) and Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), which she combined with banking administration. She also holds certifications in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School, ESG and Impact Investing, and Climate Adaptation Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

 

Karl gave his perspective on the ESG and Impact Investing course. Claudia and Edouard explained why they took the course, what lessons they learned, and what they applied in practice. This was followed by a question and answer session.