Sameed Afzal is a Senior Stewardship Analyst at LGPS Central. He conducts investor–company engagements on climate, nature and human rights; proxy voting analysis and execution; and advocacy activities with policymakers and standard setters. He is involved in stewardship reporting and regularly delivers stewardship training to pension committees. He holds an MSc Environment, Development & Politics, a PGCert in Applied Financial Services Management, and a BSc Accounting and Finance. 

Currently Head of Stewardship and Integration at Universities Superannuation Scheme (Ltd), Ian joined Newton Investment Management in 1998 and was appointed as its first Head of Corporate Governance and, latterly, was the Head of Responsible Investment.

During his 24 years with the firm, Ian developed and expanded, globally, Newton’s approach to responsible investment, which included determining the house views and approaches in relation to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. As Head of Responsible Investment, Ian was responsible for ESG considerations throughout Newton’s investment process. This included establishing, implementing and communicating all ESG policies, principles, engagement, voting and research.

Aided by his team of Responsible Investment Analysts, Stewardship Analysts and ESG Data Analysts, together with the wider investment staff; Newton conducted investment research on ESG matters, engaged with companies, reported on stewardship activities and made active voting decisions, globally. In addition, Ian played a key role in determining Newton’s approach to sustainable investment and the evolution of fund strategies. Ian is also involved in shaping the debate on matters relating to ESG and stewardship through his membership of a variety of formal and informal groups.

Ian is a member of an Investment Committee and is a director and Trustee of a UK-based charity.

Allison is a member of the Responsible Investing team at Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. She is responsible for conducting corporate engagements on material ESG issues and proxy voting analysis and execution. She also supports the creation and implementation of thematic frameworks and initiatives for voting and engagement. Additionally, she contributes to ESG integration efforts for Nuveen’s Equities strategies, including supporting the maintenance and enhancement of the firm’s proprietary ESG scoring framework. Allison holds a BSc in Governance, Economics and Development from Leiden University College.

Natasha joined Glass Lewis in 2014, originally as an analyst on the UK and Ireland team. She subsequently managed the Northern European team which included the Nordics, UK and Ireland and authored several white papers, magazine articles, and data-centric projects in that time. Since September 2023, Natasha has been responsible for the oversight of research, engagement, and thought leadership for the EMEA and Latin America teams.  

Natasha has an academic background in Law with both an LLB (with minors in French and Politics) and LLM (focussed on comparative European Law) from the University of Limerick, where she subsequently taught for a number of years. Natasha recently graduated with a first-class honours Executive MBA from the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick.

Jen is the CEO of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN).

Led by investors with AUM of over $US 100 trillion, ICGN aims to strengthen markets and create long term value through effective corporate governance policy and practice. Jen represents ICGN on the Japanese Financial Services Agency’s Council of Experts and on the IFIAR stakeholder working group and the PCAOB IAG.

Jen joined ICGN from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where she was EMEA Head of Stewardship, driving engagement, proxy voting and industry collaboration efforts. In that role, Jen was a member of the Investment Association Company Reporting and Auditing Group and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Investor Advisory Committee. In 2022 Jen was also a member of the US Council of Institutional Investors Corporate Governance Advisory Council.

Previously, Jen was Deputy Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Affairs at the UK Financial Reporting Council, responsible for coordinating outreach with the global investment community, listed company leadership teams and board members across all areas of the regulator’s scope. Jen led policy outreach on ESG, audit and reporting matters including the creation of the 2020 UK Stewardship Code and the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code.

Jen started her career at PwC.

Jen holds a BA in Business, Accounting and Finance from the University of Newcastle and a Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.