Also at RIAA’s International Responsible Investment conference was Raj Thamotheram, one of the founders and driving force of the Network for Sustainable Financial Markets (NSFM). Raj presented the NSFM slideshow to an audience of fund managers, investment consultants, asset owners and other service providers.
Just days after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, this was a powerful reminder of the need to make markets work for the long-term. Given the interdependence of financial markets and the real economy, the slideshow suggests that there is a pressing need to rethink the notion of “market efficiency” to ensure that all aspects of social, economical and environmental well-being are taken into account in investment decisions and that markets mechanisms are geared towards delivering value for the long run. Just how much regulations vs. volontary industry initiatives is needed remains an open question – and the focus of the debate.
In this slideshow “premiere”, the NSFM sheds some light on issues ranging from fiduciary duty to climate change and executive remuneration. You can watch the video of Raj addressing the conference delegates, and you should also take a look at the pdf document (nsfm_riaa-melbourne_september-24-20082) if you actually want to see the slides Raj is talking to.
I have been incredibly privileged to work with NSFM coordinators to put this slideshow presentation together and make a meaningful contribution to today’s discussions. Louise O’Halloran has also been a great source of inspiration throughout this process. In the spirit of Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth and Louise’s Enlightened Self-Interest, individuals who share these beliefs are welcome to use the slideshow to deliver its message to other audiences. All they need to do is fill out a License to Present form on the NSFM website (link to come).
And of course, all your thoughts / comments / reactions are welcome!
