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Speakers Austria Forum
Speakers Austria Forum
Catharina Ahmadi
Head of accounting
ÖBB-Infrastruktur
Since November 2020, I have been in charge of the financial statements of the subgroup of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG. In my current position, I am responsible for the sub-group financial statements and the separate financial statements of the 22 subsidiaries. In addition to my leadership role, I support projects to improve sustainability reporting according to NaDiVeg using the GRI standards, to implement the EU taxonomy and CSRD. Prior to that, I worked in auditing at EY for six years. In 2014 I completed my Master’s degree in Law and Economics. Before that, I completed my bachelor’s degree in law and economics. I am currently attending the course “Certified Sustainability Reporting Specialist” at the Controller Institute.
Mag. Michaela Attermeyer
Member of the Management Board
VBV – Vorsorgekasse
Since October 2018, Ms. Attermeyer is responsible for the asset management of VBV-Vorsorgekasse AG, Austria’s largest staff provision fund, as a Member of the Management Board and CIO. From 2006 to 2020, Ms. Attermeyer was head of asset management at VBV-Pensionskasse AG, also the largest pension fund in Austria.
She began her career in the pension fund industry in 1992 and has worked in the investment field since 1998. Ms. Attermeyer has a Masters degree from WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Dorin-Alex Badea
Senior Investment Director
Amber Infrastructure
Dorin–Alex Badea, CFA is a Senior Investment Director at Amber Infrastructure, part of the team developing investment opportunities and Amber’s business in Central and Eastern Europe. Dorin has spent 20 years working in various banking and capital markets roles in the region. He has been involved in landmark M&A, financing and capital markets transactions at UniCredit, EximBank Romania and as an independent consultant. Dorin-Alex Badea has been serving for a long time as a volunteer and Board Member at CFA Society Romania, he is an independent non-executive director at TTS – the largest Danube transport and port operator in Eastern Europe, and a member of the Index Committee at the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
Dr. Heiko Bailer
Head ESG Investment & Research
LBBW Asset Management
Dr. Heiko Bailer is considered a seasoned investment professional with over 20 years of practice in an investment style that combines ESG with regulation and diversified alpha. He has worked for large corporations, family offices and fintechs in Europe, Asia and the US, including Deutsche Bank, ABN AMRO and Credit Suisse. He holds a PhD in Statistics and a Certificate of Computational Finance from the University of Washington.
Dr. Bailer is Head of Sustainable Investments & Research at LBBW AM. At LBBW AM, he is in charge of the development and active management of sustainable equity and fixed income factor portfolios as well as sustainable strategies with impact.
Sarita Bartlett
Senior Portfolio Manager – Fund Investments
Finnfund
Sarita is a highly skilled impact investment professional and with her nearly 30 years of experience, she is viewed as a pioneer in her field. Leveraging her investment background and in-depth knowledge of ESG and Impact themes and issues, as well as her experience in working in emerging and frontier markets, she is uniquely qualified to capitalize on the intersectionality between financial, ESG and impact risks and opportunities in impact investment decision-making processes. Sarita also has extensive experience on boards, advisory committees, and taskforces.
Currently, Sarita is a Senior Portfolio Manager- Fund Investments at Finnfund, the Finnish Development Finance Institution (DFI). Previously, she was the Managing Director- Environment, Social, Governance, and Impact (ESGI) at Obviam, which was SIFEM’s (the Swiss DFI’s) asset manager during her tenure. Sarita has also been an Investment Manager- ESG at Norfund, the Norwegian DFI, Head of Sustainability at KPMG Norway, and the Head of Socially-Responsible Investment Department at Storebrand, Norway’s largest asset manager.
Mag. Andreas Bayerle
Chief Financial Officer
Helvetia Versicherungen
Andreas Bayerle, age 56, joined Helvetia Versicherungen AG in 2016 as CFO & Head of Life Insurance. He holds a business degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration and an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. Right after finishing INSEAD, Andreas joined McKinsey & Company, where he led numerous international projects for leading insurers and other financial institutions. In 2004, after 6 years of management consulting, Andreas started his management career in insurance by joining the unit-linked specialist Skandia Austria as CFO. Andreas is married to Dr. Michaela Bayerle-Eder, a Professor for Internal Medicine at the Vienna Medical University, and has 2 sons. When out of the office, he enjoys golfing, skiing and trekking with his family.
Dr. Helmut Berg
Director Marketing & Sales
Oikocredit International
Dr Helmut Berg, with Oikocredit for 14 years in various positions and since 2021 as Director Marketing & Sales. His background: media management, public relations, journalism. He studies philosophy, theology and film in Austria and England. He has published in the field of sustainable investments. Dissertation: “Vom Gelde, das dem Leben dient” published as a book. Peter Lang Verlag Frankfurt (2011). He was rewarded with the WER Prize (Economy, Ethics, Religion) of the Federation of Austrian Industries and IVA Ethics Prize.
Mag. Renate Brandner-Weiß
Advisor conc. Renewable energy & mobility
ebcPLUS
Energy and mobility consulting, socio-economic expert, gender-sensitive economic analysis, sustainable regional development, reconciliation of work, family and private life, livelihood approach
Broad academic education; ability to think analytically and strategically; problem solving skills
Strong communication skills; ability to give presentations and prepare clear reports Project management skills
Team leader; ability to work in teams across functions
Programme evaluation and development Education:
Institution: Vienna University of Business Administration and Economics Date: 10/1991 – 08/2000
Degree(s) obtained: Magister, equivalent to Master´s degree in business administration Principal subjects:Management and Organizational Behaviour, Management of Co- operations and Co-operatives, Environment and Regional Development, Social Policy
Since 05/2005: Self-employed management consultant with a focus on mobility and energy with special focus on social-ecological issues, sharing issues, sharing, MaaS, participation, citizen involvement and sustainability. sustainability, since May 2017 full-time, before that part-time. Since 11/2019: Management TRE Thayaland GmbH, Dobersberg, Lower Austria. (part-time), regional project management agency (in cooperation with Energie-Modellregion Thayaland); participation projects on PV- + E- Carsharing
06/2008-4/2017Energy Agency of the Regions, Waidhofen/Thaya, Lower Austria; Technical office for consulting for municipalities, regions, institutions and institutions and companies on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate protection, Co-management, project management (regional, national and international), quality assurance & controlling, supervision of climate and energy model regions; consulting and implementation support of energy and participation projects, e-mobility and car sharing 04/2001 – 03/2005Scientific assistant at the Chair for “Urban and Regional Regional Economy” at the University of Trier -Collaboration in research, teaching and self-administration -Conception and implementation of courses
Susanne Bregy
Head of Impact Investing
Phineo
Having worked for many years for traditional private equity and hedge funds in Munich and London, Susanne Bregy set up Rhodanus Capital in 2012 to focus on sustainable and impact investing. She worked with impact PE/VC funds and with traditional and impact investors in order bring impact investing into the mainstream.
In 2021, she took over the position of Head of Impact Investing at PHINEO gAG. With regard to impact investing, PHINEO specializes in impact investing measurement for investors and asset manager and in impact investing advisory.
Susanne Bregy grew up in Switzerland, studied Philosophy and Business Administration in Munich, worked and lived in London and New York and is currently based in Frankfurt.
Matthew Breidert
Senior Portfolio Manager / Managing Director
Ecofin Advisors
Mr. Matthew Breidert joined Ecofin in 2006. He is a senior portfolio manager, overseeing sustainable, impact and ESG strategies, both long only and long/short. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Breidert was an assistant portfolio manager at Millennium Partners, based in New York. Previously, he was an investment banker with SG Barr Devlin, a division of Société Générale, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and financial advisory to global utilities and power companies. Prior to that, he worked at Cornerstone Energy Advisers and FT Energy/RDI in Boulder, Co., where he focused on energy and utility- focused economic policy. Mr. Breidert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.
Mag. Armand Colard
Founder & CEO
ESG Plus
Armand Colard originally studied Ecology and Environmental Economics in Vienna and has been working in the field of Sustainable Finance for the past 18 years. Prior to founding ESG Plus, a Vienna based social business specialized on ESG-, SDG- and impact measurement tools for the financial sector, Mr. Colard headed the Sustainable Finance team at WWF Austria from 2005 to 2015. In 2019 ESG Plus launched a platform for private investors called CLEANVEST, where everyone can align their invested money (funds and ETFs) with personal values according to 10 criteria such as climate change, biodiversity loss, child labour, weapons, gender equality etc. In Q4-2022 ESG Plus introduced the SaaS-tool “CLEANVEST PRO” to the public, which allows asset managers, family offices, financial planners and bank advisors access to detailed and individualized ESG-reports for more than 4.000 funds and ETFs.
Gwen Colin
ESG Director
Vauban Infrastructure Partners
Gwen Colin is Vauban IP’s ESG Director. She is in charge of overseeing the ESG methodology evolution and its alignment with Vauban IP’s long term strategy. Gwen was previously a consultant for PE and infrastructure funds looking to develop sustainable projects in Europe and Asia. She has experience managing projects on topics like impact management, climate change, and sustainable finance more broadly (including consulting on a Vauban ESG project starting in 2019). Gwen spent the majority of her career with major financial corporations. She started her career as a legal advisor, then project manager, at Credit Agricole Asset Management (now Amundi) in Paris and Luxembourg. Her involvement in sustainable finance started in 2008, where she led the product innovation and supported the distribution of a Socially Responsible Investments offering targeting Middle Eastern and South East Asian sovereign entities, institutional clients, private banks, and family offices. Gwen graduated with a Masters in Business Law and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Bretagne Occidentale in France. She also has a certification in Islamic Finance from the Security Investment Institute of London.
Hubert Cottogni
Head of EIB-Group Office for Austria
European Investment Bank Group
since 02/2023 Director, Head of EIB-Group Office for Austria
2006 – 2023 Director, Head of Mandate Management, EIF, Luxembourg
2000 – 2006 Director, Head of Strategy and M&A, Telekom Austria AG, Vienna
1995 – 1999 Senior Banker, European Investment Bank, Rome
1987 – 1995 Senior Banker, Creditanstalt AG, Vienna & London
Mr. Cottogni is a Board Member of the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) and European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE). He holds an MBA degree from the University of Innsbruck as well as an executive degree from INSEAD.
Mag. Catherine Cziharz
Managing Partner
rfu Unternehmensberatung
Catherine Cziharz completed her degree in Law at the University of Graz and Italy, post graduated in Public Relations and enclosed a training as an academic CSR- Manager. 2012 – 2014 Consultant and Sustainability Analyst at rfu with a focus on Financials. Since 2014 Managing Director, responsible for Communications and Management.
Angelika Delen
Global Head of Impact Investing & Europe (ex UK) Strategic Research Director
Mercer Austria
Following soon
Pierre-François Dessard
Director
Ardian
Pierre-François Dessard is a Director at Ardian.
Pierre-François is a board member of portfolio companies Andberg Vind, Lakiakangas and Nevel.
Pierre-François joined Ardian in 2017. Previously he was an Assistant Vice President at EIG Global Energy Partners, where he focused on equity and structured equity investments in midstream, power and renewables globally. Before joining EIG in 2014, Pierre-François spent approximately five years with Macquarie Capital, primarily in their New York office, where he participated to landmark infrastructure transactions, both in America and Europe.
Education: Sciences Po Paris, Australian National University
Stefan Donnerer, CEFA
Portfoliomanager
Security KAG
Stefan Donnerer is part of the Fixed Income portfolio management team at Security Kapitalanlage AG, an Austrian investment management company with a strong focus on sustainability. In his position he is jointly responsible for appx. EUR 4bn of fixed income related assets, of which more than a third is allocated to sustainable investments. He earned his bachelor’s as well as his master’s degree, both in Banking and Insurance Industry, from FH Joanneum. Stefan has more than 5 years of experience in the banking sector, has an IT background and is holder of the EFFAS/CEFA diploma.
Zuzana Fanning
Head of Treasury
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Zuzana is the Head of Treasury at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), based in Vienna, Austria. With over 24 years of experience in Treasury, Cash Management, Corporate Banking, Sales, Risk and Project Management, Zuzana has a passion for development and sustainable finance, as well innovation and development of people.
Zuzana is also a valuable Team Member in UNIDO Innovative Finance Division, where she is responsible for co-ordinating partnerships among different stakeholders in support of sustainable and impact finance, such as international financial institutions, development banks, private and professional investors and UNIDO. In this role, she identifies investment opportunities, co-designs financial schemes and connects investors to UNIDO in view of developing projects with impact in the sustainable industrial development.
Prior to her role at UNIDO, Zuzana has worked at ING Bank Netherlands and Belgium, as Head of Cash Management Sales Switzerland, USA and Nordic region and various other positions in risk management, credit analysis and relationship management.
Zuzana is a Certified Payments and Cash Management Specialist with the Association of Corporate Treasurers and has Master’s Degree in International Business.
Johannes Feist
CEO
Mikro Kapital Management
Johannes Feist is a development finance expert, experienced with mergers & acquisitions and restructurings, and with commercial, governmental and not for profit business models. He has deep knowledge of the functions of DFIs, of MSME and rural financial services industries, and of investment fund regulations in Luxemburg, Germany and Mauritius. He obtained a PhD and Diploma (MSc) in International Economics (University of Munich). He started his career at the EU Commission and European Centre of International Security, then became Assistant Lecturer at University of Munich. From 1999 to 2020 he worked at KFW Development Bank covering different managerial and international roles, among them: Vice President for European Financial Institutions and Vice President for Corporate Strategy. In 2020 he founded his own company, JF Investment Advisory. He is member of Advisory Committee of DWM Displaced Communities Fund. In September 2022 he was appointed CEO of Mikro Kapital Management S.A.
Dr. Anton Fink
Senior Advisor
Fink Consulting
Held various positions in banking and finance in Vienna, London and Frankfurt with Oesterreichische Kontrollbank, Deutsche Bank AG, Bank Gutmann AG and Dale Investment Advisors.Since 2020 Principal at Fink-Consulting, an independent advisory company. Member of various boards and foundations. Graduate of Universität Innsbruck (Law) and SAIS Johns Hopkins in Bologna and Washington DC.
Christoph Freytag
Managing Director
Finance in Motion
Christoph Freytag is a Managing Director at Finance in Motion, one of the world’s leading impact asset managers with around EUR 3.2 billion in assets under advisory/management. Christoph manages Investor Relations and core business support areas such as the Finance, Fund Operations, Legal, Compliance, and IT. He spent over 20 years championing inclusive banking and development finance in emerging markets. Christoph has led institution building operations in Russia, Bulgaria, and Serbia; served as Managing Director of IPC; and became the first Managing Director of ProCredit Bank Germany in 2012. He joined the team of Managing Directors at Finance in Motion in 2018. Christoph is certified banker and graduated (M.A.) in economics from the Frankfurt University.
Dr. Thomas Friedrich
Senior Scientist
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
DI Dr. Thomas Friedrich, works as a senior scientist at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management specializing in fish ecology and sturgeon restoration since 2011.
He is managing or involved in several projects on fish monitoring and restoration of sturgeon stocks in the Pontian Region, both on a national level, as well as in internationally (LIFE-Sterlet, MEASURES, LIFE-Boat 4 Sturgeon). He teaches courses of fish taxonomy, fish ecology, monitoring of fish stocks and supervises bachelor and master thesis and engages in science communication and public dissemination. He is the treasurer of the World Sturgeon Conservation Society (WSCS), expert in the IUCN Sturgeon Specialist Group and Ex-Comm member of the Danube Sturgeon Task Force (DSTF).
Complementary he was an employee of a private enterprise focused on river restoration from 2008 – 2015 and organized the International Symposium on Sturgeons 8 (ISS8) in 2017 jointly with IGB-Berlin.
He is currently focused on the implementation of large- scale sturgeon conservation projects in the Danube River Basin.
Manuela M. Froehlich
Head of New Business & Relationship Management | Co-Founder & Partner
ThomasLloyd GAM (Schweiz)
Fondsfrauen
Manuela M. Froehlich is Managing Director, Head of New Business & Relationship Management for ThomasLloyd Global Asset Management (Schweiz) AG.
She is also co-founder and partner of Fondsfrauen, the largest German speaking career network for women in the financial industry.
She joined ThomasLloyd in 2020 and is responsible for managing wholesale and institutional client relationships. She is also responsible for business development including sourcing new opportunities and strategic partnerships to accelerate the firm’s rapid growth as a leading impact asset manager.
Manuela is a seasoned executive in the international financial industry for more than three decades and held senior leadership roles in London, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Luxembourg, before moving to Zurich.
Dr. Kai Goretzky
Partner
Dentons Europe
Dr. Kai Goretzky is a partner in Dentons’ Frankfurt office and part of the European Insurance Hub. He has focused on European insurance supervisory law, the IDD and insurance contract law, as well as the specific compliance issues of the insurance industry. He advises international insurers and intermediaries on entering the German insurance market as well as small and medium-sized insurers under Solvency II. Another focus of his practice is the digitization of the insurance industry. In addition, he advises banks and funds on the investment requirements of insurers and has experience in insurance-related M&A transactions.
Simon Gupta
Founder & Managing Director
Broadpeak
Simon Gupta is the Founder & Managing Director of Broadpeak GmbH, a Swiss-based International Advisory Company specializing in Impact Finance. He has over 20 years of experience in development finance in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Simon has been involved in setting up several blended finance structures on both the buy and sell side. Prior to founding Broadpeak, he worked for the financial institutions DEG, KfW Entwicklungsbank and responsAbility. He is also a partner at Investment Associates, where he leads the impact investing practice.
Dr. Florian Hauer
ESG/Sustainability Officer
KEPLER-FONDS
Dr. Florian Hauer has been responsible for ESG since 2020 and has managed equity funds (including KEPLER Ethik Aktienfonds, KEPLER Umwelt Aktienfonds, various special funds) at KEPLER-FONDS KAG since 2010. Before that, he worked as a research assistant at Johannes Kepler University Linz (Univ.-Prof. Dr. Cocca, Institute of Corporate Finance – Department of Asset Management) and since 2005 in the Securities Department at Hypo Oberösterreich. Florian Hauer studied economics at JKU Linz and at Cardiff Business School in the UK. In 2013, he completed the course of studies “Geld & Ethik“. He has many years of lecture experience on sustainable investments, among others as a guest lecturer at JKU Linz. He is also regularly quoted in the media on the topic of sustainable investments.
Gernot Hauzenberger
Fondsmanager
KEPLER-FONDS
Gernot Hauzenberger is working for the KEPLER FONDS KAG since 2019 and is a fixed income portfolio manager since 2019 with specialization on ESG investments and euro bonds. He is primarily responsible for the management of the KEPLER Ethik Mix Ausgewogen and several special funds. Furthermore, he is in the management team of the other KEPLER Ehik-funds and the KEPLER Europa Rentenfonds. In addition, he is also responsible for ESG in fixed income. He is a studied Mathematician (JKU Linz) with specialization on financial engineering. In 2021 he completed the course of studies “Geld & Ethik”. He has some years of lecture experience on sustainable investments and fixed income investments in general. He is regularly holding presentations at congresses, training courses and client events.
Reinhard Heiserer
Director
Jugend Eine Welt – Don Bosco Entwicklungszusammenarbeit
Reinhard Heiserer is the CEO / director of Jugend Eine Welt – Don Bosco Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, an Austrian aid organization that is dedicated to helping improve the life prospects of children and young people living at the margins of society around the world, since 1997. Reinhard Heiserer was born on October 18, 1964 in Tyrol, Austria. After his apprenticeship and work experiences as an electrical engineer, Reinhard Heiserer went to Ecuador in 1991 as an employee of the Austrian Development Service (ÖED – today Horizon 3000), where he worked at a street children’s and vocational training center of the Salesians of Don Bosco. His work and experiences in Ecuador had laid the foundation, which later build up to Jugend Eine Welt and in 1997 the organisation was established. The idea was to give Don Bosco’s work greater recognition within Austria and to gain more support for Don Bosco projects worldwide. To this date, Jugend Eine Welt continues to pursue this goal. Under the motto “Education overcomes poverty”, the organisation supports aid projects, street children programs, and educational projects in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. In addition to his role as managing director and chairman of the board of Jugend Eine Welt, he is also a board member of the Jugend Eine Welt non-profit private foundation, board member of the association Volontariat Bewegt and a representative of FAIRTRADE. Mr. Heiserer is also member of the board at CRIC (https://cric-online.org/) in order to promote and create impact investments, be it through the support of microcredit institutions, or the work with cooperative organizations, which enable marginalised groups to help themselves through loans and collaborative lending structures.
Günther Herndlhofer
Head of Investment
VBV Vorsorgekasse
Günther Herndlhofer has been the Head of Investments and authorised signatory of VBV – Vorsorgekasse AG since 2011. With an investment volume of currently more than euro 5.5 billion, VBV – Vorsorgekasse AG is the leading pension fund in Austria, whereby responsible investing is an essential component of the investment philosophy. ESG factors have been an integral part of every investment decision since the company was founded in 2002. Mr. Herndlhofer holds an MBA (Financial Management) and an MSc (Executive Management) and has many years of professional experience in portfolio management and corporate pension schemes. He has been considered an internationally recognised expert in the field of sustainable investment for years.
MMag. (FH) Marita Hofer
Authorized Signatory and Member of the CSR-Team
Allianz Vorsorgekasse and Pensionskasse
Marita Hofer has been working for Austrian pension funds and severance payment funds since 1997, always focusing on new trends and improvements. She joined Allianz Vorsorgekasse as Head of ‘Legal’ in 2016 and is also responsible for the ‘Key Account Management’ team. Founding the dedicated CSR-team and being part of many CSR-projects since, she influences sustainable activities of both companies, Allianz Vorsorgekasse and Allianz Pensionskasse. Marita Hofer is committed to more transparency in sustainable finance, a focus on impact investment and to (re-)educating young generations to a sustainable lifestyle.
MMag. Philip Hoflehner
Partner
Taylor Wessing Vienna
Philip Hoflehner is a Partner in the Corporate, M&A & capital markets as well as the Banking & finance teams of Taylor Wessing Vienna. He works with national and international clients on their cross-border M&A transactions and the related financing aspects. In addition, Philip specialises in capital markets and the regulatory system for investment funds and other financial instruments. He also advises on banking and security laws with a focus on disclosure obligations. He is fluent in German, English and French and regularly contributes to the sector press and professional publications.
Doris Holler-Bruckner
CEO and Chiefeditor / President
Holler GesmbH + oekonews
Bundesverband nachhaltige Mobilität
*Studies in business administration, parallel to various activities in the marketing and environmental sector and in the interior design industry
* 4-semester course in building biology/building ecology
* 1985-2002 Management position at the Holler construction company: project development and implementation of building biology and energy-efficient construction projects. International lectures on the subject of construction marketing
* Since 2002 Managing Director of Holler GesmbH / Communications department: PR and marketing with a focus on building ecology, renewable energy and sustainable topics
* Since 2003 editor-in-chief and publisher of OEKONEWS, Austria’s largest online medium for renewable energy and sustainability. Author of numerous specialist articles for other media
* President of the Federal Association for Sustainable Mobility since 2009: e.g. involved in the market launch of Tesla in Europe and organization of Electric Road Shows, participant in numerous international e-rallies and e-tours, including a world tour
Mag. Franz Paul Horn, M.Sc.
Sustainable Investments Officer
Security KAG
Franz Paul Horn is member of the sustainability team at Security Kapitalanlage AG, the investment management subsidiary of the GRAWE Group in Austria. He earned his bachelor’s in Biology as well as his masters’s degree in Ecology, both at the University of Vienna. Further he completed a BA in Mediamanagement (FH St. Pölten) and an MA in Communication Studies (University of Vienna). After working as a biologist and in nature conservation he is since 2021 strengthening the lead of Security KAG in matters of sustainability.
Mag. Thomas Kaiser, CFA
Asset Manager
IQAM Invest
Thomas Kaiser, CFA, works in Asset Management at IQAM Invest. He has been an asset manager at IQAM Invest since 2013 and is currently, the executive in charge of asset allocation and hedging strategies as well as of alternatives. He manages mutual funds and institutional mandates. He is a CFA® Charterholder and graduated from the Vienna University of Economics and Business in 2010, where he specialised in monetary policy and finance. He started his career at IQAM Invest overseeing institutional tenders and developing tailor-made investment portfolios that are managed using a quantitative approach.
Christian Kasten
Partner
DPE Investment
Christian Kasten is a partner at DPE Deutsche Private Equity in Munich and one of the two heads of the DPE Portfolio Management team. Mr. Kasten has been responsible for ESG measures at DPE since 2016 and also advises portfolio companies in connection with the planning and implementation of their own sustainability initiatives.
Dr. Rudolf Kinsky
Board Member
AVCO – Austrian Private Equity and Venture Capital
Rudolf Kinsky is Board Member at AVCO – Austrian Private Equity and Venture Capital Organisation. Furthermore, he represents DPE Deutsche Private Equity GmbH, a Munich based GP focused on mid-market transactions in German speaking Europe, as Senior Partner Austria, and is Advisory Board Member of APEX Ventures GmbH, a Vienna-based early stage Venture Capital fund. Rudolf looks back on an international career that spans over 40 years in private equity, investment banking and management consulting in the USA, UK, Germany, Austria and CEE. He worked at 3i Group, Charterhouse, Dresdner Bank, McKinsey & Co. and First Boston Corporation.
Rudolf lives in Vienna, is married and has 5 children. He received a law degree from the University of Salzburg, an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
Andreas Knörzer
Managing Partner
Knörzer Consulting
Andreas Knörzer ist geschäftsführender Inhaber von Knörzer Consulting und berät Finanzdienstleister mit Schwerpunkt Nachhaltigkeit. Von 2016 bis 2021 war er in veschiedensten Senior-Positionen, zuletzt als Vice Chairman, bei Vontobel Asset Management immer mit Nachhaltigkeitsbezug tätig. Von Ende 2013 bis 2015 gehörte er der Geschäftsleitung der zu Raiffeisen Schweiz gehörenden Notenstein Privatbank AG an. Bei der Bank J. Safra Sarasin in Basel hatte er von 1989 bis 2013 in diversen Führungsfunktionen als Pionier der nachhaltigen Vermögensverwaltung das nachhaltige Produkteangebot aufgebaut und die Positionierung der Bank als Marktführer in diesem Bereich wesentlich mitgestaltet.
Andreas Knörzer ist eidg. dipl. Betriebsökonom und eidg. dipl. Bankfachmann.
Er ist Mitglied des Strategieausschuss von EnergieSchweiz, einem Programm des Bundesamt für Energie, Co-Leiter der Arbeitsgruppe Wealth & Asset Management beim Branchenverband Swiss Sustainable Finance und fungiert als Nachhaltigkeits-Experte und Berater in verschiedenen Arbeitsgruppen von weiteren Verbänden. Zudem ist er Vorsitzender des Verwaltungsrat der Sustainable Real Estate AG und Mitglied des Verwaltungsrates von Twelve Capital AG und politisch auf lokaler Ebene engagiert. Andreas verfügt über mehr als 30 Jahre Erfahrung im Bereich der nachhaltigen Vermögensverwaltung.
Dr. Heidrun Kopp
Founder and Director
Institut für nachhaltiges Finanzwesen
Heidrun Kopp studied in Vienna, London and at the renowned Harvard Business School. She has many years of experience in the finance and banking sector with a focus on integrating ESG & Sustainable Finance into the core business of (financial) companies. Kopp is a sought-after speaker and successful host of her own podcast format “Green Money Talks by Heidrun Kopp”. She is the founder and director of the Institute for Sustainable Finance (www.inafina.org) and is intensively involved with a start-up idea for a platform for sustainable financial products. Since 2021, she has also been responsible for the continuing education programmes on ESG & Sustainable Finance at FHWien of WKW.
Marcella Kral
Senior Sales and Account Manager/Kooperationen B2B
ÖAMTC
Responsible at ÖAMTC in the New Business department for B2B cooperations in the area of charging solutions and e-mobility solutions. Deputy Head of Fleet Management at ÖAMTC until 2020.
Training at DONAU UNI Krems to become a klimaaktiv partner and at Glacier on the topic of sustainability.
Since 2017, Deputy Chairman of the Austrian Vehicle Fleet Association (FVA) and, in this capacity, in the organisation team of the annual two-day B2B E-Mobility Conference (eMOKON) in September at the Driving Technology Centre in Teesdorf. Listed as a trainer at Wifi on the topic of e-mobility and carpolicy.
Since 2022, member and ambassador of the Austrian Automotive Transformation Platform (AATP). The aim is to use the opportunities of structural change through decarbonisation in the automotive and supplier industry and to provide both additional employment and value creation.
Mag. Roland Kropf
Deputy Chairman of Supervisory Board
Alia
Roland has gained experience in the financial services industry over the past 25 years, both in management positions at international banks (Unicredit, Erste) and as a manager and partner in management consultancies for the financial service industry (Accenture, BMC professionals). Due to personal interest and customer demand, ESG has also come into focus in recent years. In this context, he is co-initiator of the ALIA project – after licensing by the FMA, ALIA will be Austria’s first impact bank (currently being founded). According to the motto “Let’s give money a new direction”, clean funds should be invested in clean projects with a positive impact on the environment, society and the economy. In addition, the company will leave a minimal negative environmental and social footprint.
Maximilian Kulhanek
Senior Portfolio Manager
UNIQA
Max Kulhanek is a senior portfolio manager with UNIQA Capital Markets GmbH, the insurer´s asset manager and part of the private equity team, responsible for managing the Group´s Private Equity portfolio. At its core, the portfolio is focused on buyout managers in developed economies with a history of sustainably responsible investment practices. Before the programme was launched, shorty before the COVID crisis set in, he was part of the Group´s Finance´s participations team and a.o. responsible for placing UNIQAs first Green Bonds. Before joining UNIQA in 2015, Max spent 10 years as an investment manager with Commenda Consulting, a boutique specialized on structuring and managing private equity portfolios of large Austrian institutional Investors, similarly focusing on US and EU based mid to large buyout managers. He holds a degree in business administration from the Viennese University of Economics and Business Administration.
Paul Lacroix
Head of Structuring
Ossiam
Paul Lacroix is the Head of Structuring at Ossiam. He joined Ossiam in 2016. In the beginning of 2019, he joined the portfolio management & research team as a product specialist. He had previously held sales positions at Sanso IS (2015) and Ossiam (between 2016 and 2019). He has a finance master’s degree from Kedge Business School.
Dr. Adam Lessing, LL.M.
Head CEE, Member of the Board LGT Austria
LGT Bank
Adam Lessing is the Head of Central & Eastern Europe and Member of the Board of LGT Bank Austria. His responsibilities encompass the activities of LGT in Central and Eastern Europe.
LGT Bank Austria is the Austrian entity of LGT, the world’s largest private banking and asset management group, wholly owned and managed by a family of entrepreneurs. LGT manages over 240 Bn. CHF of client assets in its global network. LGT’s clients include its owner, the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, for whom LGT acts as family office. LGT is recognized as a leader in sustainable finance across its three entities, LGT Private Bank, LGT Capital Partners and LGT Lightrock.
Adam Lessing is involved in all aspects of sustainability and is a Guest Lecturer on Sustainable Finaince at Central European University in Vienna. He is the author of various publications on legal and asset management topics. In March 2020 his latest book “Sustainable Investing against Climate Change“ was published by Braumüller, Vienna.
Prior to joining LGT Adam Lessing has held leading positions with international financial services companies. From 2010 to 2019 he was the Head of Central & Eastern Europe for Fidelity International, the global asset manager. Until 2009 he was the Head of Business Development Europe for the British asset manager AVIVA Investors in London and held responsibility for more than 400 bn USD of managed assets with a Europe-wide network of distribution offices. Earlier, Adam Lessing held leading positions with AXA Investment Managers, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and other financial institutions.
Adam Lessing holds a doctorate in law (Dr.iur.) from the University of Vienna and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a holder of the CWMA certificate and a court certified expert for banking and securities matters.
Natalie Leutgeb
Sustainability Consultant Financial Services
ClimatePartner
As Sustainability Consultant at ClimatePartner, Natalie Leutgeb is specialized in supporting companies within the financial services industry to gain insights into the carbon emissions related to their business operations as well as their financed emissions and subsequently develop climate strategies to facilitate effective reduction measures. Prior to her role at ClimatePartner, Natalie Leutgeb was an Analyst for Sustainable Investments with an emphasis on sustainability research in the financial industry at ESG Plus, a Vienna-based social business specialized on ESG-, SDG- and impact measurement tools for the financial sector.
Klemens Leutgöb
Geschäftsführer
e7 energy innovation & engineering
Klemens Leutgöb studied Social Economy at the University of Linz (focus: Environmental Economics, Strategic Management, Organisational Sciences). After research activities at the Vienna University of Technology, he was Business Unit Manager at the Austrian Energy Agency from 1994 to 2007. Since July 2007 he has been Managing Director of e7 Energie Markt Analyse GmbH.
Klemens Leutgöb is particularly concerned with the following topics: Energy policy instruments and measures, monitoring and evaluation of the effects of measures and programmes, climate protection policy, energy industry issues, energy efficiency and climate neutrality in buildings (focus: service buildings), life cycle cost analysis, energy services, green investment and green financing.
MMag. Christian Loy
Head of Research
rfu Unternehmensberatung
Christian Loy has studied Business Administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and Social Ecology at the Faculty for Interdiciplinary Studies. Since 2005 he works as sustainability analyst and consultant for the rfu. Apart of the development of rating methologies his focus is on assessment of countries and commodities. Further professional activities included social work, environmental education as well as scientific work in sustainability research. He contributed extensively to the common good economy in terms of both methodology and content.
Andrea Lösch
Head of Corporate Research
rfu Unternehmensberatung
Since 2021, I have been Head of Corporate Research at rfu Unternehmensberatung. In this role, I lead the research team specialising in ESG ratings of companies.
Before that, I was a Senior Sustainability Analyst (Corporates) at rfu Unternehmensberatung, responsible for sustainability analysis and ESG ratings of listed companies, with a focus on the information and communication technology, energy, healthcare, environmental services, agriculture and food sectors.
In 2015, I successfully completed my Master’s degree in Environmental and Bioresource Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences with a focus on regional development and biodiversity and land use. I had previously completed my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Bioresource Management in 2012.
Mag. Isabella Mammerler
Chief Risk Officer
Zürich Versicherung
Isabella started her career more than 20 yeara ago in the insurance business, she worked for various insurance companies in Austria (Wüstenrot, Uniqa) and abroad (Allianz, Swiss Re). She started her career as a regulator within the FMA, working on Solvency II since its beginning in 2002. Currently she works for Zurich Austria, holding the position of the CRO.
Jakob Mayr
Program Manager Sustainable Finance
WWF Austria
Jakob Mayr co-leads WWF Austria’s sustainable finance activities, working with a wide range of public and private stakeholders in the financial sector to support ambitious transition plans and financial and climate policy outcomes. Prior to joining WWF Austria, Jakob worked in risk management functions for banks in Vienna. He holds a master’s degree in Quantitative Economics from Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Mag. Friedrich Mostboeck, CEFA, CESGA
Head of Group Research, Erste Group Bank AG
President OVFA, Deputy Chairman EFFAS
Fritz Mostboeck is a graduate of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration and holds the EFFAS CEFA® and CESGA® diplomas. He is responsible for macro/fixed income, credit and equity analysis in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Austria. In addition, his division is responsible for the investment strategy, which mainly provides the input for Erste Group’s asset allocation. Mr. Mostboeck has many years of experience in dealing with globally active institutional investors, especially those investing in Central and Eastern Europe.
He is President of the OVFA (Austrian Association for Financial Analysis and Asset Management, www.ovfa.at) and Deputy Chairman of EFFAS (European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies, www.effas.com), the umbrella organization of all analyst associations with 18,000 members in Europe. He is a founding member of the “Austrian Working Group for Corporate Governance” (www.corporate- governance.at) and was also Chairman of the “EFFAS Commission on ESG” (Environmental, Social and Governance Issues) for many years, where he is still an active member. He is the author of numerous books and regularly publishes articles in financial publications and journals. He has written articles on capital markets in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as on corporate governance and corporate responsibility.
He is President of the OVFA (Austrian Association for Financial Analysis and Asset Management, www.ovfa.at) and Deputy Chairman of EFFAS (European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies, www.effas.com), the umbrella organization of all analyst associations with 18,000 members in Europe. He is a founding member of the “Austrian Working Group for Corporate Governance” (www.corporate- governance.at) and was also Chairman of the “EFFAS Commission on ESG” (Environmental, Social and Governance Issues) for many years, where he is still an active member. He is the author of numerous books and regularly publishes articles in financial publications and journals. He has written articles on capital markets in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as on corporate governance and corporate responsibility.
Christoph Müller-Thiede
Partner, Manager of Business Unit Designing Projects
M.O.O.CON
Christoph Müller-Thiede is partner and manager of building development at M.O.O.CON GmbH – the leading consultancy for identity-creating and sustainable buildings, processes and working environments based in Vienna, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Waidhofen.
Christoph Müller-Thiede studied civil engineering at the Vienna University of Technology and is active as a project manager in many complex new construction and renovation projects in Austria and abroad, as well as an external lecturer at the Vienna University of Technology. In June 2021, he was elected to the board of IG Lebenszyklus Bau.
In his work, he supports companies in the needs-based development and implementation of their real estate projects, which are aligned with their corporate identity. For him, office infrastructure is a management tool that makes a valuable contribution to achieving corporate goals.
Dagmar Nixdorf
Vorsitzende des Aufsichtsrats und Gründerin
NIXDORF Kapital
Born and raised in the German city of Paderborn. She originates from a family of entrepreneurs who are consistently committed to supporting society and environment, gained many years of experience in succession and turnaround management in Germany responding to the needs of investors. Founded NIXDORF Kapital AG to gather peers with focus on impact investing and mindful market transformation.
Nick Parsons
Managing Director, Head of Research
ThomasLloyd Group
Nick joined the ThomasLloyd Group in 2018. He serves as Managing Director, Head of Research. His scope of responsibility includes the macroeconomic research which underpins our ‘top down’ country selection in the ThomasLloyd Investment Process (TIP), the FX and currency research which informs our Treasury Management. Previously within the firm Nick also defined the policies which set out our approach to Responsible Investment. He now focuses on Thought Leadership in Asia’s energy transition. During a 35-year career in investment banking, Nick held various senior leadership roles in Global Markets Research. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Head of Research, UK & Europe at National Australia Bank. He also worked as Head of Markets Research at Commerzbank and Global Head of Currency Research at Banque Paribas. Nick is a regular speaker at conferences and events and a frequent contributor to TV and financial media. He holds a degree in Economics & European Studies from the University of Sussex and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragements of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA).
Cornelius Patt
CEO, Principal lnvestor
Voltares
Dr. Cornelius Patt, Master rer. soc. Oec, is CEO and principal investor of Voltares Group (privately held) which is dedicated to clean energy and is part of the 1 million tons initiative – aiming at taking out cumulatively 1 million tons of carbon in the current decade.
His studies in business administration at Vienna University of Economics (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien) were followed by a doctorate in the Department of Marketing in Vienna and New York.
From 1995 to 1999, Dr. Patt worked for Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, starting as consultant, followed by the supervision of consultancy projects in Munich. Dr. Cornelius Patt was Co-Founder and Member of the Management Board of zooplus SE since 1999 and Chairman of the Management Board/CEO since 2006. zooplus SE was taken public in 2008 and again taken private in 2021, at a valuation of € 3,5 bln, ending a successful public market presence with an annual IRR of approx. 30% over this 13-year period.
Dr. Cornelius Patt is an analytical and strategic thinker combined with an entrepreneurial spirit and a good grasp of tech for business. Among others, he received the “Private Equity Deal of the Year Europe” award in 2022 and the Sauren Golden Award – “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2015.
Adam Petrie
Partner, Infrastructure
Apollo
Adam Petrie is Partner, Infrastructure at Apollo and is responsible for the origination, execution and management of infrastructure investments across the transport, energy and digital sectors. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, Adam was a Partner at AMP Capital’s infrastructure business, where he completed a range of infrastructure investments across Europe and Asia-Pacific. Adam also served on a number of portfolio company boards.
Adam Petrie is a CFA charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Lincoln University, New Zealand.
Evelyne Pflugi
CEO and Co-Founder
The Singularity Group
Before co-founding The Singularity Group in 2017 she was the Portfolio Manager of the Energy Fund and active manager of various mandates in natural resources at GAM Investment Management in Zurich. Prior to this, Evelyne worked as a Portfolio Manager and Analyst at Capital Research Global Investors in London. She began her career at The Capital Group in Los Angeles, California. Evelyne holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology with concentrations in Food Science, Biochemistry and Biotechnology.
Mag. Johannes Puhr
Managing Director and CEO
fair-finance Asset Management
After starting a career in a regional bank, business administration studies in the field of corporate management, further specific training as CIIA and CEFA. Professional experience in the field of investment consulting for private clients and in the management of the proprietary portfolio of a bank. Subsequently change to the insurance industry and to the Winterthur Pension Fund Vienna for the development of a professional portfolio management. Authorized signatory and CIO at the joint subsidiary „BONUS“ of Zurich and Generali in the area of occupational (pension fund, provident fund and consulting company). From 2008 founding member and collaborator in the establishment of the Sinnova Group (formerly fair-finance). In the meantime independent management consultant and project manager in the area of mergers and acquisitions in a private bank. Since 2017, he founded and built-up fair-finance Asset Management and is a member of the of the Management Board of SINNOVA Holding AG.
Hendrik van Rahden
Managing Director
FIRSTavenue
Hendrik is responsible for distribution in German-speaking Europe and is based in Hamburg, Germany. Prior to joining FIRSTavenue, Hendrik co-founded Beit Capital Advisors, a placement agent focused on real assets. Prior to Beit, Hendrik was a senior business development professional within real assets at MPC Capital AG in Hamburg, where he focused on clients in Europe and Asia. He began his career at Allianz Global Investors in 2008, managing global dynamic multi-asset strategies for institutional clients and key accounts.
Hendrik received a BSc (Hons) in Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
Dr. Klaus Reisinger
Managing Partner
ClimatePartner
Klaus Reisinger is a passionate climate protector, which is why he also studied technical chemistry / process engineering and already devoted his dissertation to renewable energies. From 2003 to 2015 he was managing director of ALLPLAN GmbH and during this time also founded the company ClimatePartner Austria. From 2018-2022 he was partner of iC consulenten Ziviltechniker GesmbH. Since the beginning of 2023 Klaus Reisinger decided to work for ClimatePartner exclusively, that enables him to protect our climate all day long. Moreover, Klaus Reisinger is a visiting professor at Burgenland University since 2008 and teaches the topic “climate protection” there and in 2018 he was appointed to the board of IG Lebenszyklus Bau, where he is responsible for climate neutral real estate buildings.
Marie Ringler
Member of Global Leadership Group Ashoka
Vice-President European Forum Alpbach
Marie Ringler is one of the most sought-after thought leaders and speakers in the Ashoka community. Her bold and creative thinking on Systems Change, Social Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, rethinking Democracy and New Leadership has made her a frequent speaker international events and conferences including at Global Peter Drucker Forum, St. Gallen Symposium, Academie Europeenne de Philanthropie Strategique, ConSozial Nürnberg, REHA:NEXT, European Forum Alpbach, TEDxSalzburg, Zukunft Personal, numerous events of Ashoka’s corporate partners and Ashoka’s own global events. Marie Ringler is a member of Ashoka’s Global Leadership Group and leads Ashoka’s work in Europe.
She holds a number of board positions, including as Vice-President of the European Forum Alpbach and Specialisterne Foundation, and serves on several award juries. She was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Austrian Broadcasting Agency (ORF). She was born in Vienna, studied at the University of Vienna, and holds a degree from ESADE Business School, Spain and an MBA from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. In the late 90`s she helped build Public Netbase, an art institution dedicated to exploring the social implications of the internet and new technologies through the lens of art, and later became its managing director. She was elected to office as a Member of the Regional Parliament and City Council of Vienna in 2001, making her the youngest member. During her time in office, she focused on developing policy to drive innovations in society. She served on the Vienna Department of Commerce Advisory Board, initiated the city’s Open Source Software Strategy, and developed a federal policy program for Innovation. After two successful terms in office, she decided against a life-long career in politics and established Ashoka`s Austrian office in Vienna. She founded Ashoka’s Austrian office in 2011 and soon took over as Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe. In 2015 she became one of Ashoka’s Europe Directors, and in 2018 she was appointed European Leader of Ashoka. In her role as Director of Ashoka in Central and Eastern Europe she led Ashoka’s (re)launch efforts in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Israel. In her role as Europe Leader today, Ringler is advancing Ashoka’s work in over 25 country offices who support more than 700 Social Entrepreneurs (“Ashoka Fellows”). In addition, Ringler has led Ashoka’s Global Fellow Selection process in countries such as Argentina, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Mexico, Colombia, and the US for over 80 candidates.
She has appeared in international newspapers, magazines, TV debates and radio interviews, has written pieces in Wired magazine, Der Standard, Die Presse, and others, and contributed to books on rethinking politics and social change. Most recently her life journey was portrayed in Anna Badora’s “Dreizehn Leben. Frauenporträts, inspirierend und wegweisend.“ together with Brigitte Bierlein, Austria’s first female Chancellor, and 11 other inspiring European female leaders and made the cover page of SheConomy.
Kai Rintala
Managing Director
Taaleri Energia
Kai is the Managing Director of Taaleri Energia Funds Management and has over 21 years of experience in the infrastructure industry. Before joining Taaleri Energia in 2016, he worked for 10 years at KPMG, both in Helsinki and in London, advising public and private sector clients on infrastructure strategy and transactions across energy, transport and social infrastructure. Kai built and led KPMG’s infrastructure business at KPMG Finland with clients ranging from utilities and infrastructure funds to state ministries and construction companies. He has executed over 2 GW of wind transactions as well as transactions in hydro power, electricity distribution and decentralised heat services.
Kai holds a PhD in Construction Economics from UCL and an MSc in Engineering and Industrial Management from Tampere University of Technology.
Anna-Liisa Rissanen
Portfolio Manager
Evli
Portfolio Manager (institutions) at Evli with more than 5 years’ international experience from the financial industry and a strong expertise in sustainability across listed equities and institutional clients. She has studied finance (M.Sc. Economics) both in Finland and Sweden. Anna-Liisa has proven track record of equity analysis and portfolio management with strong understanding of ESG related regulatory changes and reporting requirements for companies and asset managers. At Evli, Anna-Liisa has developed ESG reporting as a part of equity research and portfolio management and is developing more sustainable investment strategies for institutional clients. Anna-Liisa is also responsible of Finnish direct equity investments and a member of Evli’s climate working committee.
Bertrand Rocher
Co-Head of Fixed Income
Mirova
Bertrand joined Mirova in 2010 and brings more than 25 years of experience in the industry with him. He started his career in 1997 and has been both a buy side and a sell side credit analyst covering industrials for various banks in Madrid, Brussels and Paris. He is a lecturer in equity valuations at Science Po. He ranked second at the Euromoney 2018 survey for two categories: autos, general industries.
Kristina Rüter
Managing Director und Global Head of ESG Methodology
ISS ESG
Kristina Rueter is Managing Director and Global Head of ESG Methodology with ISS ESG.
She is an ESG Rating, Research and Product Development pioneer with close to two decades of experience in shaping ESG solutions for investors. Responsible for the methodology of all ISS ESG Research products, including Corporate and Country Ratings, SDG Impact Ratings and Data as well as Norm-Based Research, Sector Based Screening, and Energy & Extractives, Kristina originally joined oekom research AG in 2003 and was Head of Research of oekom research, before acquisition by and integration into ISS in March 2018.
She has been driving innovations such as Green Bond Second Party Opinions, the Carbon Risk Rating, SDG Impact assessments as well as EU Taxonomy Alignment measurement and directly been supporting clients, e.g. with customized rating models and thematic indices. She has been an active participant in various international initiatives on voluntary reporting and quality standards and is a frequently requested thought leader on topics such as quality, credibility and materiality of ratings. Kristina holds a Master degree in Environmental Engineering from Technical University Berlin and is based in Munich, Germany.
Jonne Sandström
Portfolio Manager
Aktia Asset Management
Jonne Sandström: Jonne Sandström (M.Sc. Econ.) is a Portfolio Manager at Aktia, where he manages Aktia Short Term Corporate bond fund, UI-Aktia Sustainable Corporate bond fund and co-manages Aktia Corporate bond fund. Jonne joined Aktia in 2000 as a risk analyst and became a portfolio manager in 2005. After that he has been a member of Aktia’s corporate bond team managing portfolios ranging from government and covered bonds to hybrids and crossover.
Dr. Gunter Schall
Head of Development Communications
Austrian Development Agency
Gunter Schall is heading the Development Communications Unit in Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Prior to this assignment in November 2022, he served as head of ADA’s Private Sector and Development Unit. Before joining the ADA- Team in 2008 he worked as an advisor for trade and development policy at the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and as a research assistant at the Institute for Social Policy at the University of Freiburg. Gunter holds a PhD in economics.
Christine Scharinger
Managing Director
Scharinger Consulting
Power generation from renewable energy sources, e-mobility and sustainable financing have been topics that have determined my professional life for over 10 years. Working in this environment and accompanying companies and households on this transformation path is moving, ambitious, exciting, creative and very satisfying. You almost always end your working day with the feeling that you have made the environment a little bit better.
Mag. Günther Schiendl, CEFA
Member of the Executive Board
VBV-Pensionskasse and VBV Betriebliche Altersvorsorge
Mag. Günther SCHIENDL, CEFA, 55, is member of the executive board of VBV betriebliche Altersvorsorge AG, and chief investment officer and member of the executive board of VBV Pensionskasse AG.
He graduated from the University Innsbruck/Austria with a master degree in Economics and Business Administration, focusing on Finance and Investments. Post-graduate he added a CEFA (Certified European Financial Analyst) qualification.
At VBV the leading Austrian multi-employer pension fund with 8+ bn€ AUM and more than 350.000 pension plan members, he oversees the investment business and the development and implementation of the sustainable finance strategy.
Prior positions were head of investments at APK Pensionskasse, head of product development at the Austrian Derivatives Exchange ÖTOB, and head of domestic equity research at Bank Austria.
He is Member of the EDHEC-Risk Advisory Board of EDHEC Business School, Nice and was Lecturer in Finance at the Vienna Business University and at the Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA) program in Vienna.
Mag. Karin Schlemaier
Board Member
Niederösterreichische Vorsorgekasse AG – NÖVK
Karin Schlemaier has been appointed to the board of Niederösterreichische Vorsorgekasse AG in May 2018, and is responsible for investment and sustainability. She is also in charge of asset-liability management at HYPO NOE Landesbank für Niederösterreich und Wien AG with the main focus on management of interest rate in the banking book.
Growing up in the Tirol/Austria, Karin Schlemaier went to the commercial academy in Kitzbühel and completed her studies in business education at the University of Innsbruck. She has been working in the banking business for more than 20 years, covering many fields of expertise and concentrating on treasury and ALM. In 2013, she has joined HYPO NOE in Vienna where she worked in strategic planning and is currently responsible for ALM.
Dr. Jürgen Schneider
Director-General
Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
Jürgen Schneider is the Director-General of the Directorate-General VI – Climate Action and Energy at the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology in Austria. He holds a phD in chemistry. Before joining the Ministry 2018, he was spokesman and member of the management board of the Environment Agency Austria. He lead the work on climate change and energy at the Environment Agency Austria for more than a decade. From 2002 to 2004 he worked at the World Health Organisation as a project manager in the field of environment and health. He is also co-editor of the first Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change.
Dr. Ralf Seiz
CEO
Finreon
Dr. Ralf Seiz ist CEO und Inhaber von Finreon. Zudem ist er Lehrbeauftragter an der Universität St.Gallen (HSG) und Mitglied mehrerer Verwaltungs- und Stiftungsräte. Dr. Seiz war Assistant Professor an der Universität St.Gallen (HSG), Gründer und Geschäftsführer einer Beratungsfirma, sowie davor Business Analyst im Bereich Financial Services. Bevor er in Ökonomie promovierte (Dr. oec. HSG), schloss er sein Studium der Physik an der ETH Zürich ab (Dipl. Phys. ETH) und arbeitete unter anderem am CERN in Genf. Dr. Ralf Seiz hat eine langjährige und ausgewiesene Erfahrung im Bereich Asset Management, Pension Finance und Mathematical Finance. Die Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) zählte ihn mehrfach zu den einflussreichsten Schweizer Ökonomen. Dr. Ralf Seiz is CEO and owner of Finreon. He is also a lecturer at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) and a member of several boards of directors and foundations. Dr. Seiz was Assistant Professor at the University of St.Gallen (HSG), founder and CEO of a consulting firm, and before that Business Analyst in the Financial Services sector. Before obtaining his doctorate in economics (Dr. oec. HSG), he completed his studies in physics at the ETH Zurich (Dipl. Phys. ETH) and worked, among others, at CERN in Geneva. Dr. Ralf Seiz has many years of proven experience in asset management, pension finance and mathematical finance. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) ranked him several times among the most influential Swiss economists.
Mag. Sylvia Smetana
Founder & CEO Divershefy
Divershefy
GrowPro Advisory
Sylvia Smetana is the Founder of Divershefy Inc. and GrowPro Advisory Pvt. Ltd. For more than 25 years Sylvia has held leading roles such as Director of Finance, Advisor, Entrepreneur and Board member in organizations located in Europe, US and India. She worked with value driven CEOs and business owners to build diverse high performing business cultures and empower women to reach the top. With an MBA from the University of Vienna (Austria) she started her career with KPMG and has many years of experience as Change Leadership expert.
Sylvia’s passion is helping women to become top global leaders and enabling more diversity in leadership. Through Divershefy she and her team train, mentor and place women into Board and C-level positions.
She is hosting Divershefy Panel discussions, monthly Masterclasses and the annual Divershefy Conference as well as speaking at other organizations conferences and events.
Dusko Stjepanovic
Head of Green Banking
REEEP – Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
Mr. Stjepanovic is Head of Green Banking at REEEP, where he is responsible for impact investing and development of green financing instruments.
He leads the operations with financial institutions in global renewable energy markets, constructing investment and financing solutions in low and middle-income countries. He is a member of the global taskforce on Mobilizing Investment for Clean Energy in Emerging Economies at the World Economic Forum, which is comprised of expert groups and the world’s leading universities. He’s also advising several European Union ministries and government members in green financing solutions as well as some of the leading asset managers in the private sector.
Mr. Stjepanovic is a recognized expert in the global investment industry with more than 15 years of investment and risk management experience in banking, insurance and consulting.
Hadley Taylor
Programme Manager, Policy and Regulatory Frameworks
Sustainable Energy for All
Hadley currently leads the Policy and Regulatory Frameworks team at Sustainable Energy for All; an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations and leaders in government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). She has over 12 years of experience in the energy access sector, working primarily with governments to improve enabling environments and designing national programmes to increase electricity access through off-grid and mini- grid solutions.
Hadley started her working career at the Ontario Energy Regulatory Board and electricity system operator, where she became interested in how renewable energy opportunities (and challenges) translate into the development context. Since then, she has worked at a Berlin-based consultancy designing end-user finance schemes for Solar Home Systems in Pakistan and directly with IDCOL in Bangladesh. She has also previously held a position with the EU Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility (hosted by GIZ), managing policy advisory projects in several African countries, as well as working closely with the African Union for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership.
Hadley holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Hertie School of Governance and a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Global Development Studies from Queen’s University.
Gabriela Tinti, CPM
Head of Equity Desk Austria
Erste Asset Management
Gabriela Tinti is heading the Vienna based Equities Desk of Erste Asset Management since November 2020. She has been in the company since 2008 as a Senior Professional Equity Fund Manager with focus on global emerging markets and real estate equities. She also has profound experience in the field of sustainable investments. Gabriela is Lead Manager of ERSTE STOCK EM GLOBAL, two institutional sustainable Emerging Markets mandates as well as two real estate funds.
Gabriela has many years of experience in the financial industry. At the beginning of her career in 1988 she worked nine years at Creditanstalt Bankverein where she was able to gain a wide range of experience in the securities sector, private and corporate banking, international finance and corporate finance. Subsequently, she was a stock trader at Raiffeisen Zentralbank and spent six years at Capital Invest KAG (now Amundi) as an equity fund manager Prior to joining Erste AM, she led the asset management of Wiener Privatbank SE. Gabriela is a „Certified Portfolio Manager“Manager“(CPM).
Cornelius Türk
Investment Management
Caritas der Erzdiözese Wien
Cornelius Türk started his career in 2000 with PVM Oil Associates as an oil derivatives broker in Vienna. Thereafter, he moved to Raiffeiseen Capital Management where he served as an analyst in the Fund of Funds department. In 2006 he joined Fortis Investments / BNP Paribas in London, to head up their manager of managers and Fund of Funds research desk. After five years of self-employment he joined Caritas in 2015, where he helped to set up and develop ‚Caritas Foundation Austria‘, which became soon the most successful charitable foundation in Austria. Since 2022 Cornelius is responsible for the investment decisions of Caritas der Erzdiözese Wien.
Mag. Patrizia Ilda Valentini
Business Development Manager EV & New Mobility
Brand Manager Mobilize
Renault Österreich
Patrizia Ilda Valentini studdied commercial science at the University of Econimcs in Vienna and is integral systemic coach. Since 22 years she has been working for Renault, pioneer of e-mobility in Austria and Europe. As Business Development Manager for electric cars end new mobility, as well as Brand Manager MOBILIZE, she is in charge of new mobility concepts, intelligent charging solutions, circular economy and counseling of electrification of car fleets. She has been head of Austrian Mobile Power’s (www.austrianmobilepower.at) task force market development for e-mobility (www.austrianmobilepower.at), represents Renault Österreich (www.renault.at) as member in the Bundeverband eMobility Austria (www.biem.at). Since 5 years she has been member of the strategy board of the innovation laboratory act4energy (www.act4.energy) and since 2022 she is ambassador, member of the advisory counsil of the Austrian Automotive Transfomation Platform (www.aatp.at). As e-mobility excpert she has been keynote speaker and guest to podiums discussions at multiple events. She holds regularely speaches and lectures about circular economy in the automotive industry at universities and colleges for higher education. At the moment she is writing her first book, a fablestory for grown-ups, that she hopes to publish very soon.
Mag.a Caroline Vogl-Lang
Desk Officer
Federal Ministry for Climate Action
Environmental Economist – Master in Environmental System Sciences with the special focus on economics at the University in Graz; since 1999 Desk Officer in the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action respectively in the predecessor ministries; expertise and engaged in the areas of environmental economic accounting, sustainable resource use, Growth in Transition, social-ecological transformation – a just transition towards a climate-neutral, resilient society and economy – as well as Green Finance dealing with the mobilization of private capital for climate protection.
Joachim Waltl, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
Security KAG
Joachim Waltl, CFA, is a senior portfolio manager at Security Kapitalanlage AG, the investment management subsidiary of the GRAWE Group in Austria. He joined Security KAG in 2015. Joachim has a 26 years of experience in the fund management and investment banking industry. Bevor joining Security KAG, he acquired extensive experience in the management across a range of markets and investment strategies. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Michael Wancata
Member of the Executive Board
Development Bank of Austria
Michael Wancata is member of the Executive Board of the Development Bank of Austria (OeEB). Previously, Mr. Wancata has served at Austria’s export credit agency Oesterreichische Kontrollbank (OeKB) in various positions, inter alia, at the Export Acceptance Credits Department and the Export Guarantees Underwriting Department. His last position at OeKB was Deputy Head of the Project and Environmental Risk Analyses Department.
Since 2007, Mr. Wancata was intensely involved in the design and establishment of the Development Bank of Austria, which started operations in March 2008. OeEB is active in a number of developing and transition countries worldwide and has realized numerous projects with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector and the areas of microfinance and SME-financing.
Mr. Wancata is also involved in the promotion of the topic “private sector development in developing countries” in Austria, with a view to raise awareness of this topic within the Austrian development corporation.
Between 2011 and 2014 and now once again, Mr. Wancata is a member of the Board of Directors of the European Development Finance Institutions association (EDFI). He also acts as an Advisory Board member and Board of Directors member on behalf of OeEB as an investor in different private Equity Funds.
Volker Weber
Chairman of the Board
Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (FNG)
Since 2019, Volker Weber has been a member of the board of NIXDORF Kapital AG as Chief Sustainability Officer. Activities as managing director and board member at various financial service providers and investment companies. Voluntary work as chairman of the board of the FNG – Forum Sustainable Money Investments e. V.. Volker Weber is responsible for the sustainability strategy in the company and the products. He has a degree in business administration and is the author of numerous studies and specialist publications in the field of sustainable investments.
Julia Wittenburg
Head Active Ownership, Executive Director
Bank J. Safra Sarasin
Julia Wittenburg joined Bank J. Safra Sarasin in 2019 and manages engagement activities for the bank’s asset management division. She is also responsible for overseeing proxy voting and conducting ESG investment research for the financial sector.
Julia has spent over 20 years in the corporate governance community, including as an investor, corporate advisor and research analyst, primarily focused on European markets. Prior to joining BJSS SAM, she was a principal at CamberView Partners, a corporate governance and activism advocacy consultancy in San Francisco and at BlackRock Investment Management in London.
