Assembly of Investment Chairs
Tōpū Poutoko Haumi
Assembly of Investment Chairs:
Conference hosts
Sebastian Gehricke, Director CEFGroup, Otago Business School
Dr Sebastian Gehricke the Director of the Climate and Energy Finance Group (CEFGroup) and a senior lecturer at the University of Otago - running events and pursing research and teaching in sustainable finance, reporting and investments.
In 2022, he was awarded an early-career researcher award for his accomplishments and leading sustainable finance education at Otago.
Dr Gehricke is a strong advocate for transitioning toward a sustainable future. He actively communicates with and supports the private and public sectors, eagerly shareing his knowledge through media, executive training and speaking at industry and community events.
Craig Stobo, Taumata, Otago Business School; Associate Member CFA Society NZ; CFInstD
Educated at the University of Otago and Wharton Business School, Craig Stobo has worked as a diplomat, economist, investment banker, and CEO. He has authored reports for the government on the taxation of investment income, chaired the government’s International Financial Services Development group in 2010, and chaired the Establishment Board of the Local Government Funding Agency in 2011. Craig is a professional director and entrepreneur.
In addition to chairing Precinct Properties, Craig is chairman of the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) and Chair of NZ Windfarms. He is also a director for a number of private companies including Saturn Portfolio Management, Elevation Capital Management and Biomarine Limited.
Assembly of Investment Chairs:
Conference speakers
Katie Beith, Head of ESG, Forsyth Barr Limited
Katie has been in the Responsible Investment industry for over 20 years, with the first part of her career spent overseas, predominantly in the UK. After returning to New Zealand in 2015, she spent 6 years with the New Zealand Super Fund and in 2021 moved to become the Head of ESG at Forsyth Barr.
Katie currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the NZ National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, is an inaugural member of New Zealand’s Stewardship Code Governing Committee and is also on the Investment Committee for NZ impact investor, Purpose Capital.
Joe Hanita, Chair of our Kaitiaki Group, XRB and CFO, Wakatū Incorporation
Joe Hanita is both the Chair of Ngā pou o te kawa ora Kaitiaki Governance Group and Deputy Chair of the Sustainability Reporting Board at the External Reporting Board. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and professional certifications as a Fellow Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CIPFA UK) and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
Joe holds a senior executive role as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services with Wakatū Incorporation along with other governance roles with Rangitāne in Wairarapa, Te Ātiawa both in Taranaki and Te Tauihu.
Joe was born in Masterton but was raised across the rural sector in the North Island and is of Ngāti Kuia, Te Ātiawa, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu descent.
Joop Huij, Managing Director, Robeco
Joop Huij is Managing Director at Robeco indices where he develops bespoke Sustainable & Factor Investing Indices with his team. Joop specializes in empirical asset pricing, factor investing, and sustainable investing.
He also holds a part-time position as Associate Professor of Finance at Rotterdam School of Management where he teaches asset management. Joop joined Robeco as a Senior Researcher in October 2007. He holds a PhD in Empirical Finance from Rotterdam School of Management (2007, winner of the ERIM Dissertation Award) and a MSc in Informatics & Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam (2002, with appellation Cum Laude).
Joop’s research has been published in various journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Empirical Finance, Journal of Financial Markets, and Financial Analyst Journal.
James Miller, Chair, Channel Infrastructure
James Miller is an experienced commercial company director. He is currently Chair of Channel Infrastructure NZ, Director of Mercury NZ, Director of Vista Group International Ltd and Director of Ryman Healthcare Ltd.
He was Chair of NZX Ltd until mid-May 2023, and has previously held Board positions with ACC, including Chair of ACC’s Investment Committee, managing a $50billion fund, Auckland International Airport and the Financial Markets Authority.James is a Distinguished Fellow of INFINZ, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago University and is a graduate of The Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School (USA).
Zacharias Sautner, Professor of Sustainable Finance, University of Zurich and Swiss Finance Institute
Zacharias is Professor of Sustainable Finance at University of Zurich (UZH) and Senior Chair at the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI). Through his research on ESG topics such as climate change or biodiversity, he provides insights on how finance can contribute to a more sustainable future.
He enjoys spreading his sustainable finance views in keynote speeches around the world. His research was published in leading international journals, and he was ranked #23 globally across 12,000 business authors in a ranking based on SSRN research paper downloads (January 2023, calculated over the past 12 months). Two of his papers were ranked #3 and #4 in a Financial Times ranking of “Business School Sustainability Research: What is Read Most?” (July 2023). His research has been cited more than 6,500 times according to Google Scholar and downloaded about 100,000 times on SSRN, and his expertise is referenced in newspapers such as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, or Financial Times, and in reports by the IMF, ECB, or European Commission as well as in speeches by central bankers.Sautner acts as Associate Editor at the Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Banking & Finance, Financial Management, and Journal of Corporate Finance.
He is also a Research Consultant (Regular Research Visitor) at the ECB and advises institutional investors on ESG issues.
He is the proud father of three daughters (born 2017, 2019, 2021), making him intrinsically motivated to work hard for a sustainable future.
Jorge Waayman, Manager ESG Research, Harbour Asset Management
Jorge specialises in the research and implementation of Harbour's responsible investing programme. This involves coordinating the approach to exclusions, stewardship, and the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process. Jorge joined Harbour in 2016 after completing his BCom (Hons) degree in Finance at Victoria University of Wellington.
Emily Woodland, BlackRock's APAC Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions ("STS")
STS leads BlackRock's firmwide sustainability and transition strategy, drives cross-functional change, supports client engagements, powers product ideation, and embeds sustainability expertise across the firm. STS sits within BlackRock's Global Product Solutions ("GPS") business, whose role is to innovate, curate, and commercialize the full breadth of our investment platform for what our clients need, wherever they are.
Emily previously served as the Head of Sustainable Investment for Global Public Markets at AMP Capital, and prior to that as Investment Advisor for Asia Debt Management's private credit sustainable investment programs in South East Asia.
Her subject matter expertise in sustainability is grounded in over 16 years of APAC investment management experience with UBS, across asset classes and investment styles. She began her career in equity and convertible bond trading for UBS Investment Bank, then served as a portfolio manager with the firm's Fundamental Investment Group, and later as a portfolio manager in the long/short multi-strategy hedge fund team within UBS Asset Management.
Emily holds a Bachelor's Degree in Financial & Business Economics from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a Masters Degree in Corporate Environmental Governance from the University of Hong Kong, and is a CFA Charterholder.
Katie Beith, Head of ESG, Forsyth Barr Limited
Katie has been in the Responsible Investment industry for over 20 years, with the first part of her career spent overseas, predominantly in the UK. After returning to New Zealand in 2015, she spent 6 years with the New Zealand Super Fund and in 2021 moved to become the Head of ESG at Forsyth Barr.
Katie currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the NZ National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, is an inaugural member of New Zealand’s Stewardship Code Governing Committee and is also on the Investment Committee for NZ impact investor, Purpose Capital.
Joe Hanita, Chair of our Kaitiaki Group, XRB and CFO, Wakatū Incorporation
Joe Hanita is both the Chair of Ngā pou o te kawa ora Kaitiaki Governance Group and Deputy Chair of the Sustainability Reporting Board at the External Reporting Board. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and professional certifications as a Fellow Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CIPFA UK) and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
Joe holds a senior executive role as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services with Wakatū Incorporation along with other governance roles with Rangitāne in Wairarapa, Te Ātiawa both in Taranaki and Te Tauihu.
Joe was born in Masterton but was raised across the rural sector in the North Island and is of Ngāti Kuia, Te Ātiawa, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu descent.
Joop Huij, Managing Director, Robeco
Joop Huij is Managing Director at Robeco indices where he develops bespoke Sustainable & Factor Investing Indices with his team. Joop specializes in empirical asset pricing, factor investing, and sustainable investing.
He also holds a part-time position as Associate Professor of Finance at Rotterdam School of Management where he teaches asset management. Joop joined Robeco as a Senior Researcher in October 2007. He holds a PhD in Empirical Finance from Rotterdam School of Management (2007, winner of the ERIM Dissertation Award) and a MSc in Informatics & Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam (2002, with appellation Cum Laude).
Joop’s research has been published in various journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Empirical Finance, Journal of Financial Markets, and Financial Analyst Journal.
James Miller, Chair, Channel Infrastructure
James Miller is an experienced commercial company director. He is currently Chair of Channel Infrastructure NZ, Director of Mercury NZ, Director of Vista Group International Ltd and Director of Ryman Healthcare Ltd.
He was Chair of NZX Ltd until mid-May 2023, and has previously held Board positions with ACC, including Chair of ACC’s Investment Committee, managing a $50billion fund, Auckland International Airport and the Financial Markets Authority.James is a Distinguished Fellow of INFINZ, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago University and is a graduate of The Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School (USA).
Zacharias Sautner, Professor of Sustainable Finance, University of Zurich and Swiss Finance Institute
Zacharias is Professor of Sustainable Finance at University of Zurich (UZH) and Senior Chair at the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI). Through his research on ESG topics such as climate change or biodiversity, he provides insights on how finance can contribute to a more sustainable future.
He enjoys spreading his sustainable finance views in keynote speeches around the world. His research was published in leading international journals, and he was ranked #23 globally across 12,000 business authors in a ranking based on SSRN research paper downloads (January 2023, calculated over the past 12 months). Two of his papers were ranked #3 and #4 in a Financial Times ranking of “Business School Sustainability Research: What is Read Most?” (July 2023). His research has been cited more than 6,500 times according to Google Scholar and downloaded about 100,000 times on SSRN, and his expertise is referenced in newspapers such as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, or Financial Times, and in reports by the IMF, ECB, or European Commission as well as in speeches by central bankers.Sautner acts as Associate Editor at the Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Banking & Finance, Financial Management, and Journal of Corporate Finance.
He is also a Research Consultant (Regular Research Visitor) at the ECB and advises institutional investors on ESG issues.
He is the proud father of three daughters (born 2017, 2019, 2021), making him intrinsically motivated to work hard for a sustainable future.
Katie Beith, Head of ESG, Forsyth Barr Limited
Katie has been in the Responsible Investment industry for over 20 years, with the first part of her career spent overseas, predominantly in the UK. After returning to New Zealand in 2015, she spent 6 years with the New Zealand Super Fund and in 2021 moved to become the Head of ESG at Forsyth Barr.
Katie currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the NZ National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, is an inaugural member of New Zealand’s Stewardship Code Governing Committee and is also on the Investment Committee for NZ impact investor, Purpose Capital.
Joe Hanita, Chair of our Kaitiaki Group, XRB and CFO, Wakatū Incorporation
Joe Hanita is both the Chair of Ngā pou o te kawa ora Kaitiaki Governance Group and Deputy Chair of the Sustainability Reporting Board at the External Reporting Board. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and professional certifications as a Fellow Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CIPFA UK) and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
Joe holds a senior executive role as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services with Wakatū Incorporation along with other governance roles with Rangitāne in Wairarapa, Te Ātiawa both in Taranaki and Te Tauihu.
Joe was born in Masterton but was raised across the rural sector in the North Island and is of Ngāti Kuia, Te Ātiawa, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu descent.
Joop Huij, Managing Director, Robeco
Joop Huij is Managing Director at Robeco indices where he develops bespoke Sustainable & Factor Investing Indices with his team. Joop specializes in empirical asset pricing, factor investing, and sustainable investing.
He also holds a part-time position as Associate Professor of Finance at Rotterdam School of Management where he teaches asset management. Joop joined Robeco as a Senior Researcher in October 2007. He holds a PhD in Empirical Finance from Rotterdam School of Management (2007, winner of the ERIM Dissertation Award) and a MSc in Informatics & Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam (2002, with appellation Cum Laude).
Joop’s research has been published in various journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Empirical Finance, Journal of Financial Markets, and Financial Analyst Journal.
Joop Huij, Managing Director, Robeco
Joop Huij is Managing Director at Robeco indices where he develops bespoke Sustainable & Factor Investing Indices with his team. Joop specializes in empirical asset pricing, factor investing, and sustainable investing.
He also holds a part-time position as Associate Professor of Finance at Rotterdam School of Management where he teaches asset management. Joop joined Robeco as a Senior Researcher in October 2007. He holds a PhD in Empirical Finance from Rotterdam School of Management (2007, winner of the ERIM Dissertation Award) and a MSc in Informatics & Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam (2002, with appellation Cum Laude).
Joop’s research has been published in various journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Empirical Finance, Journal of Financial Markets, and Financial Analyst Journal.
James Miller, Chair, Channel Infrastructure
James Miller is an experienced commercial company director. He is currently Chair of Channel Infrastructure NZ, Director of Mercury NZ, Director of Vista Group International Ltd and Director of Ryman Healthcare Ltd.
He was Chair of NZX Ltd until mid-May 2023, and has previously held Board positions with ACC, including Chair of ACC’s Investment Committee, managing a $50billion fund, Auckland International Airport and the Financial Markets Authority.James is a Distinguished Fellow of INFINZ, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago University and is a graduate of The Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School (USA).
James Miller, Chair, Channel Infrastructure
James Miller is an experienced commercial company director. He is currently Chair of Channel Infrastructure NZ, Director of Mercury NZ, Director of Vista Group International Ltd and Director of Ryman Healthcare Ltd.
He was Chair of NZX Ltd until mid-May 2023, and has previously held Board positions with ACC, including Chair of ACC’s Investment Committee, managing a $50billion fund, Auckland International Airport and the Financial Markets Authority.James is a Distinguished Fellow of INFINZ, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago University and is a graduate of The Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School (USA).
Zacharias Sautner, Professor of Sustainable Finance, University of Zurich and Swiss Finance Institute
Zacharias is Professor of Sustainable Finance at University of Zurich (UZH) and Senior Chair at the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI). Through his research on ESG topics such as climate change or biodiversity, he provides insights on how finance can contribute to a more sustainable future.
He enjoys spreading his sustainable finance views in keynote speeches around the world. His research was published in leading international journals, and he was ranked #23 globally across 12,000 business authors in a ranking based on SSRN research paper downloads (January 2023, calculated over the past 12 months). Two of his papers were ranked #3 and #4 in a Financial Times ranking of “Business School Sustainability Research: What is Read Most?” (July 2023). His research has been cited more than 6,500 times according to Google Scholar and downloaded about 100,000 times on SSRN, and his expertise is referenced in newspapers such as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, or Financial Times, and in reports by the IMF, ECB, or European Commission as well as in speeches by central bankers.Sautner acts as Associate Editor at the Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Banking & Finance, Financial Management, and Journal of Corporate Finance.
He is also a Research Consultant (Regular Research Visitor) at the ECB and advises institutional investors on ESG issues.
He is the proud father of three daughters (born 2017, 2019, 2021), making him intrinsically motivated to work hard for a sustainable future.
Jorge Waayman, Manager ESG Research, Harbour Asset Management
Jorge specialises in the research and implementation of Harbour's responsible investing programme. This involves coordinating the approach to exclusions, stewardship, and the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process. Jorge joined Harbour in 2016 after completing his BCom (Hons) degree in Finance at Victoria University of Wellington.
Emily Woodland, BlackRock's APAC Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions ("STS")
Jorge Waayman, Manager ESG Research, Harbour Asset Management
Jorge specialises in the research and implementation of Harbour's responsible investing programme. This involves coordinating the approach to exclusions, stewardship, and the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process. Jorge joined Harbour in 2016 after completing his BCom (Hons) degree in Finance at Victoria University of Wellington.
STS leads BlackRock's firmwide sustainability and transition strategy, drives cross-functional change, supports client engagements, powers product ideation, and embeds sustainability expertise across the firm. STS sits within BlackRock's Global Product Solutions ("GPS") business, whose role is to innovate, curate, and commercialize the full breadth of our investment platform for what our clients need, wherever they are.
Emily previously served as the Head of Sustainable Investment for Global Public Markets at AMP Capital, and prior to that as Investment Advisor for Asia Debt Management's private credit sustainable investment programs in South East Asia.
Her subject matter expertise in sustainability is grounded in over 16 years of APAC investment management experience with UBS, across asset classes and investment styles. She began her career in equity and convertible bond trading for UBS Investment Bank, then served as a portfolio manager with the firm's Fundamental Investment Group, and later as a portfolio manager in the long/short multi-strategy hedge fund team within UBS Asset Management.
Emily holds a Bachelor's Degree in Financial & Business Economics from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a Masters Degree in Corporate Environmental Governance from the University of Hong Kong, and is a CFA Charterholder.