Agenda - ADSFF 2023
As we look forward to a pivotal COP28 in the UAE, the financial sector is increasingly focusing on implementing systems to unleash the trillions of dollars in private finance needed to unlock critical infrastructure investment, to power us towards net zero by the middle of the century.
Returning to an in-person format, the fifth edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF) will convene top global institutional investors, Government leaders, regulators and financial institutions to discuss areas of collaboration to increase the flow of capital toward sustainable investment.
ADSFF is a flagship initiative by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Abu Dhabi’s International Financial Centre. ADSFF is held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Thursday, 19 January 2023
Time
Session
Speakers / EMCEE
08:30
09:30
Registration + Networking Breakfast
ADSFF will begin with a networking breakfast along with the registrations.
Consultative Roundtable, with ADGM FSRA
Private event, hosted in ADGM boardroom. Invitation by special arrangement.
09:30
09:33
MC Welcome
Welcome Remarks of the 5th Edition of ADSFF.
Emcee
Sarah Cocker
Amplify Project
09:33
09:38
Opening Address by ADGM
This ADSFF opening address, the FSRA CEO will reiterate the need for an evolving regulatory framework, reflecting the shift of markets to a more sustainability conscious future.
Speaker
Emmanuel Givanakis
CEO, FSRA, ADGM
09:38
09:45
A Very Special Guest Keynote
This exclusive keynote will present the perspective of our very special guest speaker, as she emphasizes Abu Dhabi’s commitments to a sustainable future, and her hopes for COP28.
Speaker
H.H. Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
President/CEO of UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA)
09:45
09:52
Cultivating a New Energy Era
As Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week draws to a close, join the CEO of organiser Masdar, as he reflects on the key outcomes and agreements of ADSW, the latest developments in Masdars journey, and his hopes for a pivotal year ahead.
Speaker
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi
CEO, Masdar
09:52
10:00
A Green Falcon Economy?
How can the adoption of a Green Growth Strategy in the GCC grow GDP from $2trillion in 2022, to more than $13trillion in 2050, almost double the usual scenario? Join the World Bank in this special session, as we chart the flight of the Green Falcon Economy.
Speaker
Issam Abousleiman
GCC Director, World Bank
10:00
10:10
How The Worlds Largest Climate Fund is Approaching 2023 and Beyond
Established by 194 Governments, GCF is the largest global fund dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and helping vulnerable societies adapt to the impacts of climate change. This session unpacks GCFs views on the state of climate finance, its landscape and architecture and vision for the year ahead.
Speaker
Hong-Thuy Paterson
Chief Finance Officer & Chief Operations Officer, Green Climate Fund
10:10
10:25
The Great Investment Shift
In this special fireside chat, Hiro Mizuno reflects on his time as UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Innovative Finance & the Chief Investment Officer of the world’s largest pension fund as he deliberates on the changing landscapes of investors globally and the innovative paths across finance and investment, to fast forward climate solutions.
Speaker
Hiro Mizuno
CEO, Good Steward Partners
Moderator
Richard Dean
Radio Presenter, Dubai Eye
10:25
10:45
Financing A Sustainable Future: The Big Bank’s Perspective
This session will convene the leadership of several leading regional banks, to share their views on the current landscape affecting the financing of sustainability, the special role the region has to play in financing for net zero, and their perspectives as we gear up for COP28.
Speaker
Lina Osman
Head of Sustainable Finance, West, Standard Chartered
Speaker
Zoë Knight
Group Head of the HSBC Centre of Sustainable Finance and Head of Climate Change MENAT, HSBC
Speaker
Shargiil Bashir
Chief Sustainability Officer, F.A.B.
Moderator
Sarah Cocker
Amplify Project
10:45
10:55
Why Social Contribution is Everyone's Responsibility
In the lead up to COP28, every institution is playing their part to evolve their business models and practices in line with the sustainable targets and goals of the nation. This keynote will address Ma'an's efforts to support startups and businesses that lead sustainable impacts and how the Social Investment Fund, MSI and Social contracting, are examples of how Ma'an is spearheading social development with sustainable impacts in the region.
Speaker
H.E. Salama Al Ameemi
Director General, Ma'an
10:55
11:05
Remarks from the Securities & Commodities Authority
Actions to mitigate climate change are now at the front end of any nation’s economic agenda and especially, the U.A.E. has an ambitious strategic initiative to achieve Net Zero by 2050. In this session , learn how, as a regulator and facilitator of the UAE capital markets, SCA is prioritizing implementation of the sustainable investment strategy. This includes transition towards green financial markets, addressing the issue of access to the required funding for enterprises, and embracing technology and innovation
Speaker
H.E. Dr. Maryam Al Suwaidi
CEO, Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
11:05
11:10
ADGM Sustainable Finance Declaration
The latest signatories of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration join on stage to solidify their commitment, in this special Signing Ceremony
11:10
11:40
The Global Carbon Market Opportunity
In the first of our deep-dive panels, our experts debate the global carbon market opportunity. Voluntary carbon markets – national and international – refer to the issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis. By including the price of emissions in the cost of doing business, companies are incentivised to adopt low-carbon technologies and adapt their working practices. issues discussed will include the entire value chain and commercialization of carbon credits and how decarbonization can be achieved by different stakeholders - both, regionally and globally.
Speaker
Thomas McMahon
CEO & Co-founder, AirCarbon Exchange
Speaker
Constance Chalchat
Chief Sustainability Officer, BNP Paribas
Speaker
Iain Mackay
Head of Environmental Products, EMEA, Morgan Stanley
Speaker
Francois Merget
Senior Brokerage - Tradition Financial Services
Speaker
Ben Worley
Co-founder, Spiro Carbon
Moderator
Dorjee Sun
CEO, Bioeconomy
11:40
12:05
How Cooperation Will Drive Sustainable Finance
As the world's leading institutions make transformational changes to their business strategy to deliver on climate targets, this panel discusses the collaborative networks and trackers forming around capital markets, and the relationship between private sector and Government, and the clear policy signals needed to foster regulatory predictability, and commercial stability, as financial companies prioritize environmental and social governance within operations.
Speaker
Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli
Lord Mayor of London’s Aldermanic Representative, City of London
Speaker
Anita Karnik
VP Project Advisory & Structured Finance, SBI Capital Market
Speaker
Stig Pastwa
Partner and COO, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Speaker
Mikael Down
Executive Director, Global Sustainability Office, Morgan Stanley
Speaker
Issam Abousleiman
GCC Director, World Bank
Moderator
Claire Cummins
Head of ESG, Climate Fund Managers
12:05
12:25
Coffee Break
12:25
12:35
The Future of Carbon Credits & Blended Finance: Articulating Article 6 for Investment
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement aims at promoting integrated, holistic and balanced approaches that will assist governments in implementing their NDCs through voluntary international cooperation. This cooperation mechanism, if properly designed, should make it easier to achieve reduction targets and raise ambition. This special presentation from an Ivy League institution articulates article 6 for investment.
Speaker
Ely Sandler
Researcher, Harvard Kennedy School
12:35
13:00
Implementing Concrete Transactions & Products
Financial products need to evolve and track evolving stakeholder’s needs in sustainability. What are the strategies and innovative products involved, across the financial sector, in building ESG driven transactions? How are these products being designed and implemented for concrete, measurable impact? This session will answer how feasible this can be and provide views from across industry perspectives.
Speaker
Pierre Abadie
Group Climate Director, Tikehau Capital
Speaker
Bakr Abdel-Wahab
CIO & Investment Committee Member, Vortex Energy
Speaker
David Papazian
CEO, Armenia National Interest Fund
Speaker
Anthony Taylor
Senior Executive Officer, Masdar Green REIT
Speaker
George Attewell
CEO & Chairman, OTSIT Group
Moderator
Fatimah Bello
Founder, SWD Futures
13:00
13:30
Innovative Ways To Mobilize Finance For Sustainable Impact
UNCTAD estimates that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will require $3.9 trillion to be invested in developing countries each year, yet there remains a significant funding gap between what is needed, and what is available. Various forms of innovative finance are emerging to accelerate the mobilization of the private sector for development. What does the intersection of innovation, sustainability and finance look like? This panel will bring together the startups, accelerators and platforms driving change that matters.
Speaker
Jay Sadiq
Founder & CVO, FortyGuard
Speaker
Vinoda Basnayake
President, Aspiration International
Speaker
Tony Verb
Co-Founder, Carbonless Asia
Speaker
Miray Zaki
Managing Director, Head of Sustainability, Gulf Capital
Speaker
Wa’el Almazeedi
CEO, Avance Labs
Moderator
Alberto Peralta
Director of Innovation, Abu Dhabi University
13:30
14:10
Showcase: Sustainable Innovation Champions, 2023
Shortlisted startups and ventures will pitch onstage and be recognised for their groundbreaking work in driving the sustainability agenda across the region.
Startup
Marc Garcia-Duran
President, Underwater Gardens International
Startup
Fakhul Miah
CEO, CreDA
Startup
Zain Tarawneh
Co-founder & CMO, Green Future Project
Startup
Akhil Gupta
CSO, Livall
Startup
Martin Reynolds
Founder & CEO, Zero Carbon Ventures
Startup
Luca Raffaele Poletti
Managing Partner & Founder, Seven Trees Holding
Startup
Saeed Al Qubaisi
Founder & Chairman, Seven Trees Holding
Startup
Elias El Mrabet
Co-founder, Greenomy
Startup
Keith Agoada
Co-founder, Producers Trust
14:10
14:15
The Role of Education in a Green Financial Future
The demand for responsible and sustainable investments is growing and so is the need for certified experts that guide these important decisions. Join the London Institute of Banking & Finance to learn more.
Speaker
Alex Fraser
Chief Executive, London Institute of Banking & Finance
14:15
14:20
CLOSING REMARKS
Summation of the 5th edition of ADSFF 2023.
Emcee
Sarah Cocker
Amplify Project
14:20
15:20
Networking Reception & Lunch
ADSFF will conclude with a networking lunch, where delegates will discuss and debate the findings of the day, and agree progressive actions and steps for development.