Agenda
The IGCC Summit 2025 will explore four urgent and interconnected themes driving investor action in the net zero transition: Investment in Climate Solutions, Physical Risk and Adaptation, Corporate Engagement and Stewardship and Asia Pacific Partnerships.
The Summit includes valuable networking opportunities, including a Cocktail Reception and the Climate Leaders Dinner & Awards Evening on Day 1, celebrating outstanding leadership across the sector.
Day 1: Thursday, 16th October 2025
9:00-9:10am
Summit Opening Address: Rebecca Mikula-Wright — CEO, Investor Group on Climate Change & Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
9:10-9:50am
Welcome To Country and Keynote Address: Brad Twynham — First Nations Speaker
9:50-10:20am
Keynote Address: Saul Griffith — Inventor, Author, Founder and Scientist
10:20-10:50am
Fireside Chat: Climate Science Meets Economics — Aligning Planetary Boundaries with Market Realities
Addressing climate change requires more than scientific consensus — it demands economic solutions that are credible, equitable, and durable. This conversation brings together two leading voices from science and economics to explore how cross-disciplinary insights can drive smarter investment, stronger policy, and credible net zero pathways. From physical risk to fiscal reform, the session will examine why siloed approaches fall short — and how aligning planetary boundaries with market realities is essential for investors navigating the transition.
Bernie Hobbs
Master of Ceremonies
Award-winning Science Writer and Broadcaster
Dr Joëlle Gergis
Award-winning Climate Scientist and Writer
University of Melbourne
Dr Guy Debelle
Chair
FundsSA
10:50-11:15am
Morning Tea
11:15am-12:00pm
Climate-Ready Boards: What Are the Essential Board-level Transition Capabilities?
As the net zero transition reshapes entire sectors, company boards play a critical role in guiding businesses through complex change. But do Boards in climate-exposed industries have the right mix of skills and experience to govern this business transformation? This session explores the critical boardlevel capabilities needed to manage climate risk and opportunity, respond to shareholder expectations, and position companies for long-term value in a rapidly decarbonising global economy.
Alison Ewings
General Manager, ESG
QIC
Paul Murphy
Head of Governance & ESG Advisory, APAC
Georgeson
Geoff Summerhayes
Senior Advisor
Pollination Group
Zoe Whitton
Managing Director, Head of Strategy & Impact
Pollination
Sarah Zeljko
Non-executive Director
12:00-12:45pm
Unlocking Capital for Net Zero: Sector Pathways and the 2035 Target
Australia’s 2035 emissions target and sector decarbonisation plans will set the direction for economy-wide decarbonisation. For investors, these plans and the policies that underpin them will shape systemic risk, portfolio exposure, and long-term value. This session explores how sector pathways can provide credible signals, attract capital at scale, and create investable opportunities. Panellists will consider how clarity and policy certainty can enable institutional investors to finance the transition while safeguarding beneficiaries’ savings.
Margot Black
General Manager, Corporate Sustainability
Investa
Jeff Brunton
Head of Portfolio Management
HESTA
The Hon Matt Kean
Chair
Climate Change Authority
Francesca Muskovic
Executive Director, Policy
Investor Group on Climate Change
12:45-1:35pm
Lunch
1:35-2:20pm
Modelling Future Climate Damages: Projections for Related Economic Loss and Damage
Investors now have access to a high-quality picture of the risks and opportunities of climate-related disruption to the Australian economy and portfolios. This session presents insights from the National Climate Risk Assessment alongside evidence that adaptation resilience work can reduce costs and unlock value. Understanding the scale of potential loss — and the economic payoff of well-planned action — is essential for investors seeking to protect returns and capture long-term opportunities.
Bronwyn Claire
APAC Lead, Climate Scenarios and Sustainability
Ortec Finance
Marion de Marcillac
Head of Climate Transition Products
MSCI
Andrew Smith
Chief Operating Officer
Fathom
Allison van Lint
Head of Research, Responsible Investment
Cbus Super
2:20-2:30pm
Keynote Address: Will Nankervis — Ambassador for Climate Change, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
2:30-2:35pm
Video Address: The Hon Chris Bowen MP — Minister for Climate Change and Energy
2:35-3:20pm
From Physical Risk to Resilience: Aligning Corporate Action with Investor Expectations
Climate change could cost the global economy trillions annually by 2050, posing a material threat to long-term returns. Investors expect companies to assess and disclose their exposure to physical risks and the actions taken to build resilience. This session explores IGCC’s latest guidance on corporate physical risk and resilience, highlighting investor expectations, relevant data and tools, and company perspectives on adaptation. Stronger resilience planning can protect value, ensure continuity, and safeguard outcomes for beneficiaries.
Alexis Cheang
Head of Investment Stewardship
NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp)
Tanya Fiedler
Scientia Fellow
UNSW Sydney
Peter Jenkins
Manager Climate Change
Transurban
Carl Prins
Co-Founder & CEO
Pathzero
3:20-3:45pm
Afternoon Tea
3:45-4:05pm
Fireside Chat: Net Zero at a Crossroads — Investing in a Fragmented Global Landscape
In a fragmented geopolitical landscape, the case for net zero investment is being tested. Asia is stepping into greater climate leadership, while the U.S. faces growing pushback against ESG. This session asks: is the investment case already proven — making scale the priority — or do political headwinds mean we must still justify the fundamentals? Panellists will explore what these trends mean for portfolios, policy engagement, and the pathway to long-term value creation.
Nathan Fabian
Chief Sustainable Systems Officer
Principles for Responsible Investment
Rebecca Mikula-Wright
CEO
Investor Group on Climate Change & Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
Kate Turner
Global Head of Responsible Investment
First Sentier Group
4:05-4:25pm
Fireside Chat: Cutting Methane Emissions from Fossil Fuels: The Crucial Near-Term Climate Opportunity
Methane is fast becoming one of the most financially material and actionable climate risks facing investors today. Capturing and cutting methane emissions offers one of the most powerful levers for near-term climate impact. This fireside chat will explore why methane mitigation is not just a climate imperative, but also a strategic investment opportunity. Led by experts across coal, oil, and gas, the discussion will cover the latest science showing how methane emissions have been vastly underreported — and why that matters for asset valuation and risk modelling. It will also examine how fossil fuel companies can turn methane mitigation into a business advantage, boosting performance while reducing emissions, and what investors can do to drive best practice, improve disclosure, and support credible methane reduction strategies across portfolios.
Charlotte Hanson
Policy Consultant
Environmental Defense Fund
Francesca Muskovic
Executive Director, Policy
Investor Group on Climate Change
Rebecca Ogg
Sustainable Investing Analyst
Fidelity International
4:25-5:20pm
System Stewardship in Green Steel: Unlocking Australia’s Global Opportunity
Decarbonising steel is critical to meeting global net zero targets, with iron and steel production responsible for up to 9% of emissions. For Australia, the opportunity lies in leveraging renewable energy and technology to become a world-leading exporter of green iron and low-carbon steel. This session explores how system stewardship can help investors address infrastructure, capital allocation, demand, and policy challenges — unlocking investable pathways that support net zero while strengthening Australia’s long-term competitiveness.
Tanya Hodgson
Associate Director
ARENA
Kate Nelson
Head of Sustainability, Global Investment Management
Lendlease
Susheela Peres da Costa
Principal
The Stewardship Centre
Sue Lyn Stubbs
Associate Director, Sustainable Investing
Fidelity International
Hudson Worsley
Chair
Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance
5:20-5:30pm
Day 1 Closing Remarks
5:30-6:30pm
IGCC's 20th Anniversary Cocktail Reception
6:30-10:00pm
Climate Leaders' Dinner and Awards
Day 2: Friday, 17th October 2025
9:00-9:10am
Welcome to Day 2!
9:10-9:40am
Keynote Address: Al Gore — Founding Partner and Chairman, Generation Investment Management
9:40-10:20am
Investing in Regional Hubs: Unlocking Australia’s Transition Opportunities
Australia’s industrial regions — from the Hunter Valley to Gladstone — are pivotal to the net zero transition. Yet investment in these hubs is often hindered by policy uncertainty, with major announcements on the 2035 emissions target, sectoral plans, and the Net Zero Economy Authority set to reshape the landscape. This session explores how investors can unpack these developments, assess risks, and identify opportunities that support regional communities at home while positioning Australia as a global supplier of low-carbon solutions.
Kate Donnelly
Impact and Unlisted Investment Manager
Future Group
Jessie Pettigrew
Head of Responsible Investment
Equip Super
David Scaysbrook
Co-Founder/Managing Partner
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners
John Connor
Head of Policy and Communications
Net Zero Economy Authority
10:20-10:30am
Keynote Address: The Hon. Penny Sharpe — NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage
10:30-10:55am
Morning Tea
10:55-11:55am
Climate Solutions Showcase: Investing in Real-World Transition
New to the 2025 program, the Climate Showcase highlights investor-backed companies delivering real-world climate solutions across key sectors of the economy. This dynamic panel will feature case studies that demonstrate how institutional capital is accelerating decarbonisation, supporting innovation, and enabling scalable impact. With a focus on credible, investable solutions, the session will connect the dots between capital allocation and climate outcomes — offering fresh insights into where the transition is taking shape on the ground. Ideal for investors looking to align portfolios with net zero while driving tangible progress across the real economy.
Peter Castellas
CEO
Climate Zeitgeist
Clay Dumas
Founding Partner / General Partner
Lowercarbon Capital
Matthew Pryor
Founding Partner
Tenacious Ventures
Mark Rogers
CEO
New Forests
Heechung Sung
Executive Director | Head of Natural Capital
Clean Energy Finance Corporation
11:55am-12:40pm
Investing in Climate Adaptation: Unlocking the Triple Dividend
Climate adaptation is a multibillion-dollar opportunity and vital for a resilient Australia. The “triple dividend” of adaptation shows benefits extend beyond avoided losses: investments can also drive economic development and deliver social and environmental gains that often exceed the value of costs avoided. This session explores the role of private capital in financing adaptation, with a focus on the social and environmental benefits, and shares real-world examples of adaptation creating value.
Michael Barbara
Director, Australasia
Campbell Global, a J.P. Morgan company
Kate Cotter
CEO, Founder
Resilient Building Council
Jongsok Oh
Executive Manager, Industry Affairs and Public Policy
Suncorp
Leilani Weier
General Manager, Responsible Investment & Sustainability
Rest
12:40-1:30pm
Lunch
1:30-1:45pm
Keynote Address: Dr Ma Jun — President of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) and Chairman of the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI)
1:45-1:55pm
Keynote Address: Nicholas Moore AO — Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia
1:55-2:40pm
Transition Finance Beyond Borders: Asia and Emerging Markets Opportunities
To achieve net zero, emerging markets require fundamental transformation and significant investment in energy systems. These markets, including Southeast Asia, which is expected to be the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2040, represent two-thirds of global emissions and future growth. For investors, the challenge is balancing risk with opportunity while delivering returns and real-world emissions reductions. This session explores the investment case for greater portfolio exposure, strategies aligning capital with decarbonisation, and the essential role of public-private partnerships in unlocking climate finance at scale.
Stuart Blackadder
Director, Alternative Finance
Export Finance Australia
Suzy Yoon
Sustainability Lead, Investment Trusts
Jana Investment Advisers
Sumit Kanodia
Director
Ninety One
Chris Kuchanny
Founder CEO
Impactable Investment Group
Paul Richards
Global Head of Resources, Energy & Infrastructure
ANZ
2:40-3:30pm
Catalytic Capital for Net Zero: Mobilising Investment at Scale
Closing the multi-trillion-dollar investment gap is one of the greatest challenges to achieving net zero. While public finance plays a role, private capital — especially from Australia’s superannuation sector — is critical to scaling solutions. This session will explore innovative strategies that mobilise institutional investment into clean energy, low-carbon infrastructure, and industrial decarbonisation across the region, positioning investors to drive the transition while delivering long-term, sustainable returns for their beneficiaries.
Anna Engwerda-Smith
Executive Director, Public Policy and Research
IFM Investors
Paul Hunyor
Co-Founder
Wollemi Capital
Katerina Kimmorley
Net Zero Commissioner
Net Zero Commission
Max Shramchenko
Lead Portfolio Manager, Climate Delta Fund
Antipodes
3:30-3:55pm
Afternoon Tea
3:55-4:40pm
Making the Electricity Sector Investible: Future-Proofing Australia’s Post-2030 Grid
Australia’s National Electricity Market is undergoing one of the fastest and most complex decarbonisation efforts in the world. With hundreds of billions in investment needed to replace coal with renewables, storage, and transmission, the opportunity is vast — but so are the challenges. Market rules designed for fossil fuels are misaligned with the needs of a near-zero emissions grid. creating risk for investors and slowing progress. This session explores what’s required to de-risk investment in renewable energy, generation, and storage for the long term.
Ava Hancock
National Electricity Market Review Panel
Alida Jansen van Vuuren
Head of Distribution System Operator
Ausgrid
Luke Menzel
CEO
Energy Efficiency Council
Charis Palmer
Editor-in-Chief
The Energy
Tennant Reed
Director - Climate Change And Energy
Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)
4:40-5:20pm
COP31 and Beyond: Accelerating Climate-Aligned Investment in the Asia Pacific
COP31 offers a critical moment for Australia and the Pacific to set the global climate agenda — and for investors to shape the policy settings that will enable climate-aligned investment and trade across the region. Building on IGCC’s international advocacy, this session explores how investors can influence domestic and regional policy before, during, and after COP31. Hear from IGCC, government, thought leaders, and investors on how to maximise this opportunity.
Michael Bartlett
Acting Branch Head
DCCEEW
Jeffrey Chee
Global Head of Portfolio Strategy
WTW
Joanna Kay
Program Director, International Strategy, Partnerships and Engagement
The Superpower Institute
Jens Nielsen
CEO
World Climate Foundation
Deidre Willmott
Strategic Advisor, Global Sustainability & External Affairs
Fortescue
5:20-5:30pm
Day 2 Closing Remarks
Get in Touch
Sponsorship Opportunities
Nicole O'Brien
Nicole.Obrien@igcc.org.au
Ticket Enquiries
Cornelia Palleschitz
Cornelia.Palleschitz@igcc.org.au
Media/ Partnership Enquiries
Rachael Millar
Rachael.Millar@igcc.org.au
The Investor Group on Climate Change
The Investor Group on Climate Change (ABN 15 519 534 459), established in 2005, is a Company Limited by Guarantee with a non-executive board under the Australian Corporations Act and is registered under the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) It is governed by a board comprised of representatives of full and associate members.
Address:
PO Box Q937
Queen Victoria Building NSW 1230
Get in touch:
Website: igcc.org.au
Phone: +61 2 8974 1160
Email: secretariat@igcc.org.au
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