Navigating True North from the Land Down Under – How Green Leaders and Investors made progress in Sydney, Australia

By Michael Muyot, President & Founder, CRD Analytics and Fellow, G&A Institute

I recently traveled to Sydney, Australia to attend the Green Leaders Summit held at the Sofitel and the Investing in Responsibility Conference: Enhanced ESG Analysis and Engagement held at the Credit Suisse Conference Hall. It was a lengthy journey albeit well worth the extended travel hours to see firsthand how Sydney is becoming a genuine gateway into the rest of Australia, China and other Asian countries.

The current Five Year Plan for China is a “Going Out” & “Going West” & Going Green Strategy, which states that business leaders, entrepreneurs and high net worth investors should actively seek outside investments into stable western economies that will have a positive impact on the Chinese economy. These investments will help accelerate their mission to become a more modern and clean economy.

Sydney is a natural launching pad. It has a strong, stable economy, favorable interest rates, myriad of commercial & residential investment opportunities and plenty of room for expansion across multiple industries and geographies. China currently has USD$3.31 Trillion in foreign reserves of which 54% are in US Dollar Holdings, primarily US Treasury Bonds. The Five Year Plan identifies expansion into the following industries abroad: Energy, Clean Energy, Technology, Healthcare, Education, Financial Services and Tourism.

GTQ International’s 2013 Australian ‘Investing in Responsibility’ Conference

My first speaking engagement was on a panel at the Investing in Responsibility Conference: Enhanced ESG Analysis and Engagement held at the Credit Suisse Conference Hall next to the Sydney Harbor.

As a speaker, we were challenged to deliver unbiased insights and encouraged to be daring and committed. It was an invite-only event for a group of delegates (primarily at the Portfolio and Fund Manager levels) committed to generating new directions, advantages and proprietary strategies around ESG practice.

The opening Keynote was delivered by Erika Karp, CEO of Cornerstone Capital, Inc., and previously Head of Global Sector Research at UBS Investment Bank (USA). Erika kicked it off with a call to arms based on Aristotle’s premise that Perfect is the Enemy of the Good.

The discussion delved deeper into how experts consistently navigate towards true North and how they re-calibrate along the way. Erika also asked: “What is the one thing that you don’t know but would really want to know if possible?”

As an investment analyst and “Quant” who builds algorithms and rules-based methodologies to power financial indexes like the NASDAQ CRD Global Sustainability Index and the SeaCrest Global Clean Energy a Portfolio, I would like to know what each of the 1000+ global public companies have mapped out as their overarching sustainable development strategic framework for the next 3-5 years.

We generally see less than 10% of companies disclose this in a meaningful way. There was also a general consensus of ESG’s potential to uncover diversifiable risk and improve investor–stakeholder relationships.

The Green Leaders Summit

The Green Leaders Summit was organized by Green World City. What makes the event different is that at its core it focuses on mega green projects, sustainable initiatives and clean technologies.

• The venue to understand how the world is evolving and future opportunities
• A platform to establish alliances in the sustainable industry
• A launchpad for mega green projects and technologies
• A meeting point for green companies and institutional investors

Nigel Blair, Director of the EnvestGroup, highlighted two initiatives:

The Eco City project focuses on energy efficiency, water management and urban food security. Greenco Water delivers clean water solutions and has developed a flat-pack water tank that is cost-efficient and adaptable.

Green Projects & Technology Investors Den

On the final day, high net worth investors from China attended an Investors Den. The panel discussed financing sustainable development through green technologies and renewable energy.

There was strong emphasis on human capital, especially education for girls and women. Studies show that increasing women’s education significantly boosts economic growth and reduces child mortality rates.

The discussion concluded that while supply of solutions is strong, demand is constrained by political and financial barriers. However, long-term needs will drive adoption of cleaner technologies.

Two Great Examples of Practical Technology Solutions

Presented by Dr. Evan Stephens and Robert Vancina:

• Microalgae-based biofuel systems for renewable energy and water treatment
• HOPE Cell Technology for clean hydrogen generation with scalable applications

These innovations highlight practical pathways toward sustainable energy and infrastructure.

Michael Muyot is a leader in Sustainable Investment Analytics and developed the SmartView 360 Platform, powering sustainability indexes, rankings and research reports including the NASDAQ CRD Global Sustainability Index.

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Michael Muyot

President & Founder, CRD Analytics and Fellow, G&A Institute

Michael is an acknowledged leader in Sustainable Investment Analytics and Innovative Algorithms. He designed the SmartView 360 platform powering sustainability indexes, rankings, and research. He is an Advisory Board Member of SASB and a Fellow of the Institute.