11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Pacific)
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM (Mountain)
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM (Central)
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM (Eastern)

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Overview

Companies around the world are incorporating Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) factors into their long-term strategic plans and operating business plans. With encouragement from Limited Partners and years of experience prioritizing the development and execution of Value Creation Plans, Private Equity firms are also including ESG factors into the governance and operating practices for both their firm and portfolio companies. While the ESG investing landscape is rapidly gaining in adoption, the philosophies, methods, and outcomes of ESG investing can vary widely. Our panelist will share their perspective and experiences to explain why incorporating ESG into their governance and investment activities is important for long-term investment performance and risk management.

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Panelists

Christine Anderson Senior Managing Director Blackstone

Christine Anderson is the Global Head of External Relations, overseeing Blackstone's Public Affairs, Marketing, and ESG functions. She leads Blackstone's efforts related to Environmental, Social and Governance issues and she serves as the primary spokesperson for the firm, advising Blackstone’s senior leaders and business groups, as well as companies across Blackstone’s portfolio. Before joining Blackstone in 2009, Ms. Anderson served as Communications Director and Director of Marketing to the former Governor of New York as well as Communications Director on the 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Before working in state government, Ms. Anderson was an Associate Director of Corporate Communications at UBS AG supporting U.S. media relations and serving as a spokesperson for the company’s Wealth Management division. During the 2004 U.S. Presidential election cycle, she served as a Deputy Press Secretary on the Kerry-Edwards campaign. Ms. Anderson also previously worked as an Account Director at the public relations firm Brunswick and as a Segment Producer for ABC News' “Good Morning America” after starting her career in the Press Office of the Clinton White House. Ms. Anderson received a BA from The College of the Holy Cross, and serves on the boards of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Bumble Inc., and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Angela Miller Chief Investment Officer Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund

Angela Miller-May, Chief Investment Officer, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Angela Miller-May currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, a $55.8 billion pension fund that services a membership of over 440,000 active members and over 3,025 employers. She focuses on providing strategic portfolio construction, excellent manager selection and rigorous due diligence and provides leadership to a team of investment professionals in meeting IMRF’s investment goals. Ms. Miller-May recently joined Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund August 2021. Prior to serving as IMRF’s Chief Investment Officer, she served as the CIO for Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund and in several progressively responsible positions since 2010 when she joined Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund. Ms. Miller-May serves as a member on several boards and engages with many other organizations. She was honored with the Women Investment Professional (WIP) 2020 Trailblazer Award “Distinguished Woman Investment Professional of the Year” and has been the recipient of many other awards. Ms. Miller-May holds an MBA from Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University and has earned her BA in Economics from Northwestern University.

Soojim Kim Prequin

Soojin currently heads the global ESG research collection efforts at Preqin, the leading data provider for all Alternatives Data, providing insight and analysis on firms across every asset class for fundraising, performance, and deal information.  At Preqin, Soojin also participates on the Corporate Responsibility (CR) team as well as the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness (IDEA) Committee, where she promotes conversation around mental health, diversity, carbon reduction, and internal governance initiatives. 

Shally Shanker Founder and Managing Parter AiiM Partners

Shally Shanker, CFA, is the founder and Managing Partner of AiiM Partners, which invests in businesses leveraging technology to address climate change and generate measurable social, environmental and financial returns. The AiiM team, comprising investors, entrepreneurs, operators and researchers, has invested in companies that have benefitted 3 million people worldwide with 50% of the assets invested in women founders and CEOs. 

Shally has over 22 years of investment management experience structuring and stewarding global portfolios. Shally has been involved with the boards of 16 portfolio investments. She is actively engaged in supporting emerging solutions ranging from using data for advocacy to using technology to scale innovations. She is a mentor to women entrepreneurs as over the last decade, more than half of her portfolio has been comprised of women 

She was the Director of Mission Investing at the Schmidt Family Foundation and six years prior to that, she was the Investment Officer at The Schmidt Family Foundation and Vice President of Investments at Hillspire, LLC. In addition to her investment experience, she has also worked at the Stanford Solutions Science Lab at the Stanford School of Medicine building a community based intervention program for childhood obesity prevention among low income, at-risk communities.  

She was invited to join the Queen's Commonwealth Trust Advisory Board. In addition, she is part of the Working Group for GenderSmart Investing, focusing on gender and climate investing. 

Moderator

Dennis Johnson, CFA Chair PDA Private Equity Committee Strategic Council

Dennis has 40 years of experience as a global investment and financial executive. He is Chair of the Private Directors Association Private Equity Committee Strategic Council. Dennis is a Non-Executive Director for both Raidne Limited and American Made Filtration Corp. Mr. Johnson served on the Board of Directors of Texas Industries (NYSE-TXI), Foreign Policy Association Board of Directors and the Council of Institutional Investors Board of Directors. He was appointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investor Advisory Committee by Former SEC Chair Mary Shapiro. Dennis is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in Economics and earned a Masters of Science Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. In addition, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder.

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