In this episode our partner Tomer Strikovsky sits down with Thorsten Heller, a pioneer in digital infrastructure for the energy transition. As the founder of Greenbird, an ETF Partners–backed company that became a global leader in data integration for utilities before being acquired by GE Vernova, Thorsten shares his journey from startup founder to corporate innovator — and what it takes to power the grids of the future.
They discuss how data integration, AI, and real-time analytics are transforming the way utilities operate — shifting from a one-way to a bidirectional energy flow. Thorsten explains why the invisible layer of data is critical to enabling renewable energy, flexibility, and resilience in the modern grid, and why utilities can no longer operate without AI.
In this episode you’ll learn about:
Why the energy transition is no longer theoretical — it’s here and accelerating fast.
Why Data infrastructure is as vital as physical infrastructure in building a resilient, sustainable grid.
Why utilities need to evolve from management to orchestration, powered by AI.
How startups can make a global impact — but sometimes joining a bigger platform scales that impact faster.
How the next wave of innovation will come from AI-enabled, decentralised grid intelligence.
Chapters
00:00 The Shift to Bidirectional Energy Flow
02:45 The Birth of Greenbird and Its Mission
05:15 Understanding the Data Challenge in Utilities
08:46 The Spaghetti Architecture of Data Integration
11:07 Data's Role in Sustainability and Energy Transition
13:10 AI's Impact on Utilities and Data Foundations
15:31 The Evolution of Energy Data
17:46 Greenbird's Journey to Acquisition
22:40 Integration into GE Vernova and GridOS
26:57 The Current State of the Energy Transition
30:38 AI as a Necessity for Future Grid Management
36:23 Advice for Future Energy Tech Founders
About Thorsten Heller
Thorsten Heller is Chief Innovation Officer at GE Vernova, where he leads efforts to build the next-generation software portfolio GridOS. He was the founder and CEO of Greenbird, a Norwegian startup that became a global leader in data integration for utilities (Utilihive) and was acquired by GE Vernova in 2023. Thorsten has worked with over 200 utilities worldwide and is a recognised thought leader on digital transformation in the energy sector.
Follow Thorsten Heller here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thorstenheller/
Follow Tomer Strikovsky here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomerstrik/
Find out more about GE Vernova here: https://www.gevernova.com/
Find out more about ETF Partners here: etfpartners.capital
Explore the extraordinary potential of quantum computing!
In the latest episode of Sustainability Talks, ETF Partners’ Managing Partner Patrick Sheehan sits down with Steve Brierley, CEO & Founder of Riverlane, the world leader in Quantum Error Correction, to explore the extraordinary potential of quantum computing.
For decades, quantum computing has felt like science fiction — powerful in theory but always just out of reach. That is beginning to change. As Steve explains, we are entering a new era where quantum computers will soon be able to solve problems that even the world’s most advanced supercomputers cannot.
The conversation dives into:
Why quantum computing is a radically new capability that can solve problems classical computers cannot
How it could revolutionise drug discovery, materials design, and sustainable fertiliser production
The role of error correction in making quantum computers commercially viable
The huge market potential and environmental impact of this next frontier in technology
How geopolitics and innovation are shaping the future of computing and AI
As Steve notes, the next few years will be pivotal: the technology is advancing rapidly, investment is scaling, and the race to build a quantum future is intensifying across the globe.
This episode paints an inspiring picture of how harnessing the laws of nature at the atomic level could unlock innovations critical to building a more sustainable world.
Chapters
00:00 The Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
02:23 Introduction to Quantum Computing
04:10 Understanding Quantum Computing
06:32 The Progress and Future of Quantum Computing
09:39 The Era of Mega-Qubits
11:14 Applications of Quantum Computing
13:49 The Market Potential of Quantum Computing
16:33 Challenges in Quantum Computing
19:42 The Role of Quantum Error Correction
24:59 Current Status and Future Trends in Quantum Computing
30:27 Geopolitical Implications of Quantum Technology
34:51 The Future of Quantum Computing and AI
About Steve Brierley
Dr. Steve Brierley is founder and CEO of Riverlane, a quantum computing company with a difference. Riverlane is the global leader in what is called quantum error correction.
Steve founded Riverlane in 2016 to build the error correction stack for quantum computers. Driven by his conviction that fault-tolerant quantum computers will accelerate human progress, Riverlane partners with leading quantum hardware companies to make that happen sooner.
Steve has worked in quantum for over 20 years and is an expert advisor to the UK government. He holds a PhD in quantum information, spent a decade in the intelligence community and worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge leading major research projects in quantum computing. In January 2024, Steve was awarded an OBE for his services to quantum computing.
Find out more about Riverlane here: https://www.riverlane.com
Follow Steve Brierley HERE
Find out more about ETF Partners here: https://etfpartners.capital/
In this episode of our Sustainability Talks podcast, our Managing Partner Patrick Sheehan sits down with Christoph Gebald, CEO & Founder of Climeworks, the global leader in carbon dioxide removal. Together, they explore how direct air capture (DAC) is evolving from academic research to a commercially viable climate solution — and why it's becoming indispensable in the race to net zero.
With over 15 years of experience building DAC technologies, Christoph shares how Climeworks is scaling the science of carbon removal into a business poised to operate at gigaton scale by 2050. Recognised by TIME as one of the most innovative leaders in climate action, he brings unique insight into the intersection of engineering precision, commercial ambition, and climate urgency.
In this episode, we cover:
What direct air capture is — and why it matters now more than ever
The evolution of DAC from lab-scale prototypes to large-scale plants
Key breakthroughs and cost-reduction strategies shaping the field
The role of corporate partnerships in driving early adoption
Financing climate infrastructure and aligning with impact investors
How Europe’s regulatory leadership is shaping global carbon markets
What it takes to turn climate science into scalable business models
"We’re no longer just inventing technology — we're building the foundations of a trillion-dollar industry.
Why it matters:
Direct air capture is one of the few climate technologies that can physically remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. But making it economically viable requires innovation not just in engineering — but in business models, market design, and policy alignment. This episode dives into all three, offering valuable perspectives for investors, corporates, policymakers, and climate tech founders alike.
Listen to this episode in full below or on your favourite podcast platform HERE
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Direct Air Capture and Its Importance
03:02 The Need for Mechanical Solutions in Carbon Removal
05:59 Scaling Technology and Cost Reduction in Direct Air Capture
08:59 Energy Consumption and Sustainability in Carbon Capture
11:55 Market Dynamics and Business Models for Carbon Removal
14:59 Cost Reduction Pathways and Future Projections
17:56 Building a Business in the Carbon Removal Space
25:23 The Trillion Dollar Climate Industry
26:22 Understanding Customer Needs in Carbon Credits
27:50 From Technology to Full Solutions
28:37 The Role of Corporate Partnerships
31:29 Navigating Market Volatility
35:31 Europe's Market Dynamics and Regulation
39:34 Optimism for the Future of Carbon Capture
About Christoph Gebald
Dr. Christoph Gebald is CEO & Founder of Climeworks, the global leader in carbon removal. With over 15 years of experience in direct air capture technology, Christoph is considered a pioneer in this growing and crucial industry. Under his leadership, Climeworks has developed groundbreaking direct air capture plants that physically remove CO2 from the atmosphere, working toward the ambitious goal of removing carbon dioxide on a gigaton scale by 2050.
Recognised by TIME as one of the 100 most innovative leaders driving business climate action, Christoph brings a mechanical engineer's precision and a visionary's outlook to the challenge of climate change. Christoph is a mechanical engineer (ETH Zürich and UC Berkeley) and holds an MSc with distinction and a PhD from ETH Zürich.
Find out more about Climeworks HERE
Follow Christoph Gebald HERE
In this episode of Sustainability Talks, our Senior Partner Remy de Tonnac is joined by Patrick Odier — Chairman of Building Bridges, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lombard Odier Group and President of Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF) — for a powerful discussion on the urgent need to embed sustainability at the heart of global finance.
Patrick brings decades of leadership in the financial world and has emerged as a champion of sustainable investment. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on his personal journey—from a traditional finance background to spearheading pioneering initiatives like Building Bridges, which connects public and private capital around sustainable development.
Together, Remy and Patrick explore:
Why global finance must become sustainable finance—or risk obsolescence
How qualitative analysis has reshaped investment strategies over the past 30 years
The role of metrics like “temperature contribution” in assessing corporate climate risk
The importance of carbon pricing and accounting for environmental externalities
The challenges—and opportunities—posed by political headwinds and regulatory fatigue
How technology and innovation are essential to accelerating the sustainability transition
Why optimism is a crucial tool in driving long-term systemic change
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of finance, sustainability, and innovation, and how collaborative leadership can unlock transformational change at scale.
Chapters
00:00 The Current State of Sustainability Discussions
09:47 Patrick Odier's Journey into Sustainable Finance
20:03 Metrics for Sustainable Investment
30:00 The Role of Public and Private Capital
32:46 Technology and Optimism in Sustainability
About Patrick Odier
Patrick Odier is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lombard Odier Group. He acted as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd. from 2014 -2022. Previously, he was Senior Managing Partner of the Lombard Odier Group from 2008 until 2022.
He joined the Lombard Odier Group in 1982 and completed his training in Zurich, New York, and Montreal before becoming a Managing Partner in 1986. He holds an economics degree from the University of Geneva and an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago.
Patrick Odier is president of Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF). He is also Chairman of Building Bridges. He was Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association from 2009 to 2016 and was a member of the Board of economiesuisse (Swiss Business Federation) from 2004 to 2022. He also serves on the boards of several academic and philanthropic organisations.
Find out more about Lombard Odier Group HERE
Find out more about Swiss Sustainable Finance HERE
Find out more about Building Bridges HERE
In the latest episode of Sustainability Talks, ETF Partners’ Managing Partner Patrick Sheehan is joined by Rafel Jorda Siquier, founder and CEO of Open Cosmos, a company at the cutting edge of space innovation. This conversation takes us on a journey through the stars—exploring how satellites are fast becoming essential tools in the fight against climate change.
Founded in 2015, Open Cosmos has quickly become one of the few companies capable of delivering end-to-end satellite missions—from design and build, to launch and operations. From monitoring deforestation and wildfires to enabling space-based AI and telecommunications experiments, Open Cosmos is making space technology more accessible and impactful than ever before.
Rafel’s mission is bold: democratise access to space and make satellite data useful and available to organisations of all sizes. In this episode, he shares how Open Cosmos launched its first satellite within just eight months, has maintained a 100% mission success rate, and is now delivering multi-million euro satellite constellations and national geospatial platforms. He also reflects on the importance of collaboration across Europe to grow the space sector and deliver on global sustainability goals.
Whether it’s responding to humanitarian disasters, monitoring essential climate variables, or building a 6G telecoms lab in orbit, this episode highlights how space can—and must—play a central role in addressing today’s most urgent planetary challenges.
Listen now to learn about:
The rapid rise of Open Cosmos and its unique position in the global space market
How AI-powered satellites like Phisat-2 are enabling real-time climate data
The Menut satellite and its role in monitoring deforestation and wildfires
Why governments like Peru are turning to Open Cosmos for sustainable development
How Europe can lead the future of space through ambition and cooperation
Chapters:
00:00 The Multipolar World and Europe's Strengths
02:31 Open Cosmos: Revolutionizing Access to Space
08:03 Innovations in Satellite Technology and Applications
15:34 Real-World Impact of Satellite Data
20:42 The Future of the Space Industry
26:59 Europe's Role in Global Space Collaboration
30:20 The Vision for Open Cosmos and Global Problem Solving
About Rafel Jorda
As CEO and founder, Rafel leads the Open Cosmos team. From leading the team to delivering the first satellite mission within eight months, to managing the expanding team and range of customers today, Rafel has overseen the overall company strategy and directed its execution, all whilst working towards the original mission of democratising access to space. After studying aerospace engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona and completing an MBA, Rafel worked at large corporations, such as Airbus Defence and Space, as well as small innovative space start-ups, such as zero2infinity.
Find out more about Open Cosmos here: https://www.open-cosmos.com
Metals are the invisible backbone of our sustainable future, powering electric vehicles, AI infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and global data centres. But with rising demand and tightening supply chains, how prepared are we to meet the needs of the energy transition?
In this episode, our partner Tomer Strikovsky speaks with Alon Olsha, Senior Metals and Mining Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, to unpack the complex world of metals and mining. Alon brings deep insight into how critical minerals like copper, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements shape everything from climate strategy to geopolitics.
Together, they explore:
Why copper demand could rise by 70% over the next 25 years
The challenges in scaling mining operations to match demand
How China came to dominate the global refining landscape
The paradox of needing more mining to achieve less carbon
The slow but growing role of innovation and AI in mining
Editor's Note: This episode was recorded on the 23rd July, 2025, prior to the unexpected 30 July announcement that the US would exclude raw copper from its tariff measures.
Chapters:
00:00 The Role of Metals in Global Trade and Sustainability
03:12 Understanding Different Categories of Metals
05:46 The Demand for Metals in the Energy Transition
08:54 Geopolitics and Metal Supply Chains
12:01 Challenges in Mining and Production
15:13 The Environmental Impact of Mining
17:48 The Influence of Major Mining Companies
21:06 Technological Innovations in Mining
24:07 Future Outlook for Metal Supply and Demand
About Alon Olsha:
Alon Olsha is a Senior Analyst covering Metals and Mining at Bloomberg Intelligence, based in London. With over two decades of experience spanning equity research, fund management, corporate finance, and government advisory, Alon brings deep expertise in global mining markets and decarbonisation strategies.
Before joining Bloomberg in 2022, Alon held senior roles within the UK government, including Head of the Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure Fund at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), where he led initiatives supporting the UK’s low-carbon transition. Earlier, he served as a corporate finance advisor to BEIS, focusing on special situations in the steel sector and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Previously, Alon was a Senior Equity Analyst at Macquarie, leading coverage of major global mining companies. He began his career in South Africa as a fund manager and analyst at STANLIB and as Associate Director in the M&A advisory team at i capital.
Alon holds extensive sectoral knowledge across mining, energy transition, and industrial decarbonisation, offering insight into the evolving dynamics of resource and capital markets.
Find out more about Alon Olsha HERE
In this episode of Sustainability Talks, ETF Partners’ Tomer Strikovsky sits down with Coen van Oostrom, founder and CEO of Edge Technologies, a global leader in sustainable real estate. They explore Coen’s early journey into climate-focused development, the challenges of transforming an emissions-heavy industry, and how Edge became synonymous with high-performance, net-zero buildings.
Coen shares sharp insights on how AI is revolutionising construction and building management, why policy engagement matters more than ever, and how sustainability and profitability are not only compatible — they’re mutually reinforcing. It’s a deep dive into the innovation, regulation, and mindset shifts needed to decarbonise the built environment.
Key Takeaways:
Coen Van Oostrom is a true pioneer in sustainable real estate.
Net-zero buildings produce as much energy as they consume — but achieving that requires more than just solar panels.
The real estate sector is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions.
AI and smart data are transforming how we design, operate, and manage buildings.
Lifecycle thinking and embodied carbon are becoming central to next-gen construction.
Policy engagement is essential to scaling green innovation.
The current environmental and economic crises present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the transformation of real estate.
Understanding total lifecycle costs is key to unlocking both ROI and sustainability impact.
Chapters:
00:00 — The Genesis of Sustainable Real Estate
02:54 — Navigating Challenges in Real Estate Development
05:56 — The Shift to Sustainable Practices
09:13 — Understanding Net Zero Buildings
12:10 — The Role of Technology in Sustainability
15:08 — Defining Sustainable vs. Net Zero Buildings
18:04 — Addressing Emissions in Existing Buildings
25:19 — Navigating Social Aspects of Technological Interventions
28:04 — Innovations in Construction and Real Estate
30:31 — Next Sense: Revolutionising Building Management
33:41 — AI’s Role in Building Maintenance
36:52 — The Future of Decarbonisation in Real Estate
39:23 — Leadership and Vision for Europe’s Future
About Coen
Coen van Oostrom is a true pioneer in sustainable real estate and the founder and CEO of EDGE Technologies. Edge is considered the global leader in sustainable buildings — known for developing the world’s smartest building, equipped with 28,000 sensors and personalised workspace controls. They’re also behind some of the greenest buildings ever certified.
Coen started Edge in Amsterdam nearly 30 years ago, and what began as a bold local vision has grown into a global platform. To date, Edge has developed almost 2 million square meters of sustainable real estate across Europe, the UK, and North America, with over €5 billion in projects. In 2022, Macquarie took a significant minority stake, helping to accelerate growth even further.
Through Edge, Coen has proven that environmental performance and commercial success don’t just coexist — they actually reinforce each other.
In this episode of Sustainability Talks, ETF Partners' Zoë VanderWolk sits down with Pavan Sukhdev, CEO and founder of GIST Impact, to unpack one of the most pressing topics in sustainable finance today: the evolution—and the future—of ESG ratings.
Pavan is a globally respected voice in sustainability and environmental economics, known for leading the UN’s “Green Economy Initiative” and the landmark TEEB study (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity). As the founder of GIST Impact, he works at the cutting edge of impact measurement, helping companies and investors understand their holistic value—and the externalities that traditional ESG frameworks often overlook.
Key Themes from the Episode:
Why ESG ratings alone are not enough—and how they’ve become “a pig’s breakfast” of inconsistent metrics
The need for clearer frameworks to evaluate direct and indirect corporate impacts
How to bridge the gap between NGO perspectives and business realities
The role of technology in both creating and solving sustainability challenges
Why today’s externalities are tomorrow’s risks—and how investors can use this insight to drive positive change
"Be approximately right rather than precisely wrong." — Pavan Sukhdev
The conversation follows Pavan’s journey from scientist to banker to sustainability advocate—a path shaped by personal revelations (including fatherhood) and a growing recognition of nature’s invisible economics. His recent TED Talk, “The Birth, Life, Death and Afterlife of ESG Ratings,” sets the stage for a candid, thought-provoking discussion on how we must evolve beyond box-ticking toward true impact investing.
Memorable Quotes:
"Why would I not want to know these things?"
"If you want to be sustainable, be positive impact."
"Today's externalities are tomorrow's risks."
About Pavan Sukhdev
Pavan Sukhdev is the CEO and founder of GIST Impact, a company established in 2008 with the vision of creating a sustainable tomorrow – a world where humans live in harmony with nature and enjoy the benefits of a green and equitable economy of permanence. As the CEO of GIST Impact, Pavan collaborates with corporations and investors, leveraging impact economics and technology to measure a business' holistic value contribution to the world.
Pavan's remarkable journey has taken him from scientist to international banker to environmental economist, bringing him to the forefront of the sustainability movement. His extensive work in sustainability and the invisible economics of nature led to his appointment as head of the United Nations' "Green Economy Initiative" and leader of the G8+5 study, "The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity" (TEEB).
In his recent TED Talk, "The Birth, Life, Death and Afterlife of ESG Ratings," Pavan walks us through the evolution, challenges, and shortcomings of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings. He envisions an 'afterlife' for ESG ratings, where externalities – a company's indirect impacts or side effects on the environment and society – are accounted for, where we as a society are able to grasp the full picture of corporate impacts, and to use this information to better our decision making and ultimately, sustain our future.
ETF Partners is excited to share the latest episode of Sustainability Talks, where our partner Remy de Tonnac is joined by Mathias Boissonot, CEO and co-founder of Handprint — a company pioneering how businesses generate positive planetary impact.
From his early days as a hacker to leading over 200 tech R&D projects across Europe and Asia, Mathias brings a rare blend of tech-savvy and environmental vision. In this wide-ranging conversation, he outlines how Handprint is helping companies transition from extractive to regenerative business models by embedding measurable, nature-positive actions directly into their operations.
“A regenerative economy is an economy that benefits nature.”
— Mathias Boissonot, Sustainability Talks, Episode 26
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
Why carbon offsetting isn't enough
Mathias challenges the current reliance on carbon offsetting, arguing it often allows businesses to outsource their responsibility. Instead, he champions a proactive model that invests in future ecosystem services — what he calls nature equity.
How Handprint uses advanced tech to quantify impact
With tools like satellite imagery, algorithmic verification, and an evolving impact science framework, Handprint enables companies to support vetted, regenerative projects — and measure the value of ecosystem services in real-time.
Sustainability as a revenue driver
Mathias argues that sustainability is not a cost centre, but a strategic growth driver — one that builds brand equity, customer engagement, and long-term value.
Advice for founders and leaders
For those looking to align with regenerative models, Mathias offers practical advice: start with transparency, measure impact holistically, and think beyond compliance toward creating demand for sustainability.
Tune in now to hear how businesses can go from doing less harm to doing more good — and what the future of regenerative capitalism might look like.
About Mathias Boissonot
Mathias Boissonot is the visionary Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Handprint, the leading Regeneration as a Service platform. Handprint enables corporations to select from a range of curated and verified impact projects aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Handprint cuts up to 80% of the intermediary costs traditionally associated with impact projects thanks to the use of technologies like satellite imagery and machine learning for verification, offering the highest dollar-to-impact ratio in the market.
With nearly a decade of experience working on R&D in over 200 tech startups across Europe and Asia, Mathias brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the world of sustainable technology. As the founder of Green, an urban gardening IoT company, and a respected contributor and mentor in the startup ecosystem, Mathias is a true innovator in the field.
Today, Handprint is on a mission to empower the economy's transition from extractive to regenerative practices. By enabling companies to integrate planet-positive actions into their business activities profitably and seamlessly, handprint is redefining impact for the 21st century. With advanced technology, including verification systems and satellite imagery, handprint is leading the charge in impact science, automation, quantification, and verification.
Rewilding with Ben Goldsmith and Tomer Strikovsky
In this special video episode of Sustainability Talks, our partner Tomer Strikovsky hosts an in-person sit-down discussion with Ben Goldsmith, the UK's leading voice in rewilding, to explore the concept of nature capital and its implications for conservation and sustainable farming. The conversation delves into the differences between rewilding and traditional conservation, the benefits of rewilding for ecosystems and communities, and the resistance faced by farming communities.
They discuss innovations in farming policies, the importance of urban biodiversity, and the emerging markets for biodiversity credits as a means to scale rewilding efforts. The episode emphasises the need for a cultural shift towards valuing nature and integrating it into our daily lives. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the critical intersection of finance, biodiversity, and rewilding. They discuss the emerging legal requirements for companies to disclose their impacts on nature, the role of institutional investors in natural capital, and the innovative technologies driving the nature tech revolution. The conversation highlights the importance of keystone species like beavers in ecosystems, the vision for rewilding at Kenwood Farm, and the opportunities for startups in nature tech. They also explore the potential of financial innovation and AI in enhancing biodiversity management, while addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
About Ben Goldsmith
Ben is one of the leading voices on rewilding in the UK. He’s been active in both conservation and sustainable investment for more than two decades. He co-founded and led sustainable investment firms such as Nattergal Nature Capital, WHEB Asset Management, and the listed investment trust Menhaden Resource Efficiency.
Beyond investing, Ben has played a huge role in environmental philanthropy. He co-founded the UK Environmental Funders Network and chairs both the Conservative Environment Network and the Conservation Collective. He’s also served as a trustee of CIFF and was a non-executive director at DEFRA, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, where he helped shape groundbreaking environmental policies.
Ben is also the author of the highly acclaimed book God is an Octopus and the host of Rewilding the World—probably the leading podcast worldwide on the topic of rewilding.
Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rewilding and Nature Capital
02:53 Understanding Rewilding vs. Conservation
06:05 The Benefits of Rewilding for Ecosystems and Communities
08:57 Addressing Resistance to Rewilding
12:06 Innovations in Farming and Environmental Policies
16:49 Living with Nature: Urban Biodiversity and Connection
22:52 Scaling Rewilding through Nature Capital
26:01 The Future of Biodiversity Credits and Corporate Responsibility
26:47 Nature-Related Financial Disclosure and Biodiversity Credits
28:13 The Role of Institutional Investors in Natural Capital
30:32 The Nature Tech Revolution
32:06 The Importance of Beavers in Ecosystems
35:51 Kenwood Farm: A Vision for Rewilding
39:12 Opportunities in Nature Tech Startups
40:44 Financial Innovation in Natural Capital
42:41 AI's Role in Biodiversity Management
45:56 Reintroduction of Species and Climate Change
47:30 Quick Fire Round: Insights and Reflections
In the latest episode of Sustainability Talks, Managing Partner Rob Genieser sits down with Uday Khemka, a passionate climate advocate, renewable energy entrepreneur, and one of India’s most thoughtful voices on sustainable development. This powerful conversation explores the urgent challenges and bold opportunities at the intersection of climate change, finance, and innovation.
With nearly 30 years of entrepreneurial and investment experience across emerging markets, Uday has been at the forefront of sustainable energy transformation, particularly in India.
As the founder of SUN New Energy Holdings and a key partner in SUN Mobility, Uday has been instrumental in advancing renewable energy, energy storage, and electric mobility infrastructure. His climate leadership extends beyond business - as Vice Chairman of The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, he has focused on climate change mitigation for three decades, dating back to the first COP in Rio in 1992.
At a time when we're seeing significant political shifts away from climate priorities, Uday's insights on how Europe, India, and other emerging economies are stepping into leadership roles in climate innovation are particularly valuable. His global perspective offers a timely look at how regions beyond the US are seizing the opportunity to lead the next wave of climate solutions and investments.
Educated at Eton, Cambridge, and Harvard Business School (where he graduated with distinction as a Baker Scholar), Uday brings a rare combination of business acumen, policy expertise, and philanthropic vision to the climate challenge. He has advised sovereign and pension institutions on climate finance since 2004 and serves as a Senior Climate Advisor to the Institutional Investors Roundtable, representing over $13 trillion in assets.
Chapters:
00:00 Uday's Journey into Climate Advocacy
07:00 Reflections on COP Meetings and Their Evolution
09:49 The Role of the Global South in Climate Finance
12:50 The Impact of U.S. Leadership on Climate Initiatives
15:51 Grassroots Philanthropy and Systemic Change
18:52 The Intersection of Business and Climate Solutions
22:11 The Role of Academic Institutions in Climate Research
24:47 Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Change
35:21 Innovations in the Green Economy
40:41 Electric Mobility and Sustainable Solutions
43:12 Overcoming Resistance to Change
44:33 Optimism in Climate Solutions
47:29 The Future of AI and Sustainability
In this episode of Sustainability Talks our host and Managing Partner of ETF Partners, Rob Genieser, engages with Rakhi Kumar, Senior Vice President at Liberty Mutual, to explore the integration of sustainability within business strategies, particularly in the insurance sector. Rakhi shares her journey into sustainability, the establishment of the Climate Council at Liberty Mutual, and the importance of aligning climate strategies with business objectives.
The conversation delves into the role of the insurance industry in promoting climate resilience, the creation of the Climate Transition Center, and the opportunities that arise from the transition to sustainable practices. Throughout the discussion, Rakhi emphasises the need for pragmatic approaches and the potential for innovation in addressing climate challenges.
About Rakhi Kumar
Rakhi Kumar is Senior Vice President at Liberty Mutual, where she leads efforts to integrate sustainability across the global enterprise. She chairs Liberty’s Climate Council, an internal cross-functional group that is developing and coordinating the company’s climate-related activities. She also represents Liberty on the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) Forum and the Institute of International Finance’s Sustainable Finance Policy Expert Group.
Rakhi joined Liberty in May 2020, prior to which she led State Street Global Advisors’ ESG Investing and Asset Stewardship activities. Other organizations she has worked at include the Institute of International Finance, Ernst&Young, Moody’s and Booz Allen. She serves on the Advisory Board of Persefoni, a SaaS-based carbon accounting, reporting and management platform and is a member of the North American S&P Global Sustainable1 Investor Client Council.
Rakhi is a globally recognized leader in the area of sustainability and was recognized as such by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). She has also been identified as Boston's 100 Most Influential People of Color and is a recipient of the Abigail Adams Award for her work in promoting gender diversity on corporate boards.
She earned her MBA ('02) from Yale University and her Bachelors of Commerce ('95) from Bombay University. She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India since 1997 and completed a certification in Life Cycle Assessments from MIT in 2023.
Follow Rakhi Kumar on LinkedIn: HERE
Listen to all the episodes of Sustainability Talks HERE
Follow ETF Partners: Website / LinkedIn / Medium
In this insightful episode of Sustainability Talks our Senior Partner Remy de Tonnac is joined by John Elkington, a world-renowned authority on corporate responsibility and sustainability. Together, they explore John's pioneering journey into the world of corporate responsibility, tracing the evolution of the sustainability movement and the emergence of ESG principles.
From his early work to the present day, John shares his experiences, challenges, and observations on how the landscape of corporate responsibility has transformed over the years. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that delves deep into the past, present, and future of sustainability in business.
About John Elkington
In 2004, BusinessWeek recognised John Elkington as “a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades.” This accolade was followed by The Evening Standard in 2008, which listed him among the ‘1000 Most Influential People’ in London, hailing him as “a true green business guru” and “an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable.” His influence was further affirmed in 2009 when a CSR International survey ranked him fourth among the Top 100 CSR leaders, placing him alongside prominent figures such as Al Gore, Barack Obama, the late Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, and Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank.
John Elkington's multifaceted career can be outlined through the ten roles he plays. As an advisor, he has served on over 70 boards and advisory boards across business, government, and citizen sector organisations. Currently, he chairs advisory boards for Neste and Novartis and is actively involved in around 20 organisations. As an advocate, Elkington champions emerging agendas including environmental sustainability, social innovation, entrepreneurship, and exponential progress.
In his capacity as an author, Elkington has written or co-written 20 books, with his latest work being "Green Swans: The Coming Boom In Regenerative Capitalism" (scheduled for release in April 2020 from Fast Company Press), along with over 50 published reports. His role as a consultant has seen him successfully execute numerous projects for leading clients. Furthermore, he has held directorships in successful businesses and organisations, as well as in two social enterprises that ultimately failed.
Elkington’s editorial contributions include his tenure as editor for several publications such as The ENDS Report (1978-1983), Earthlife News (mid-1980s), and Biotechnology Bulletin (for 15 years starting in 1983). As a journalist, he has penned hundreds of articles and blogs. He also holds academic positions as a Visiting Professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility/Cranfield University, Imperial College, and University College London (UCL).
Finally, as a sought-after speaker, Elkington has delivered over 1,000 speeches, addressing audiences ranging from the World Economic Forum and corporate board meetings to town hall events.
Find out more about John Elkington here: https://johnelkington.com/
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In this episode of Sustainability Talks our host Rob Genieser, Managing Partner at ETF Partners, sits down with Christine LOH, a leading voice in environmental policy and sustainability.
Christine LOH is a distinguished academic and former politician, currently serving as Chief Development Strategist at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. With a strong focus on environmental and sustainability issues, her work spans academia, government, and the private sector.
Christine LOH shares her unique journey from the world of commodities trading to her impactful roles in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council and as Under Secretary for the Environment. The conversation dives deep into her pioneering work with Civic Exchange, a think tank she co-founded, and her ongoing efforts at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where she’s shaping the next generation of sustainability leaders.
More About Christine LOH
Christine LOH is a distinguished academic and former politician, currently serving as Chief Development Strategist at the Institute for the Environment at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). With a strong focus on environmental and sustainability issues, her work spans academia, government, and the private sector.
Loh’s career began in the private sector, where she gained significant experience in commodities trading and held various senior management positions. She transitioned to public service in 1992 when she was appointed to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. During her tenure, she was known for championing environmental protection, transparency, and public engagement in policy-making.
After leaving politics, Loh co-founded Civic Exchange in 2000, a Hong Kong-based public policy think tank. Under her leadership, Civic Exchange became a leading voice on environmental policy and sustainable development in Hong Kong and the region. Her work with the organisation solidified her reputation as a key advocate for climate action and urban sustainability.
Loh later joined the Hong Kong government as Under Secretary for the Environment from 2012 to 2017. In this role, she played a pivotal part in shaping Hong Kong’s environmental policies, particularly in areas such as air quality, waste management, and climate change. Her efforts contributed to significant advances in Hong Kong's environmental governance.
In addition to her government service, Loh is an accomplished author, writing extensively on environmental, historical, and socio-political topics. Her books and articles reflect her deep understanding of Hong Kong’s unique position at the intersection of East and West, as well as her commitment to fostering a sustainable future.
Throughout her career, Christine LOH has received numerous accolades for her contributions to environmental protection and public policy. She remains a prominent figure in the global sustainability community, leveraging her diverse experience to promote innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. At HKUST, Loh continues to influence the next generation of leaders, sharing her insights on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Follow Christine LOH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineloh
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Welcome to the latest episode of Sustainability Talks, the podcast delivering real talk on the future of sustainability and innovation, brought to you by ETF Partners, Europe's original sustainability and impact venture capital firm.
In this episode, our Partner Zoë VanderWolk hosts a special roundtable discussion with some of the founders of our esteemed portfolio companies including Fairly Made, Dexter Energy & Hellas Direct. This dynamic conversation explores the challenges they faced, the victories they've celebrated and how technology has been an indispensable ally in their journey to drive sustainability forward.
Our guests also share practical advice and insights for other businesses looking to tread the path of sustainability, ensuring that the road to a greener future is one that we could all embark on together.
Meet Our Guests
Alexis Pantazis is the Co-Founder of Hellas Direct, a company redefining insurance with a focus on transparency and customer empowerment, proving that even traditional sectors can pivot towards more sustainable practices.
Laure Betsch is the Co-Founder of Fairly Made, a company transforming the fashion industry by providing unparalleled transparency and promoting ethical manufacturing processes.
Hubert Penn is the CCO & Co-founder of Dexter Energy, a company at the forefront of utilising AI to optimise energy usage for businesses demonstrating the power of technology in achieving efficiency and sustainability.
Find out more about our guests below:
Alexis Pantazis
Alexis Pantazis is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hellas Direct. Prior to Hellas Direct, he was an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs where he led principal investing and new strategic initiatives for the firm in the European investment management field. A former strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group, he also worked for Miramax Films in New York and the Competition Directorate General of the European Commission in Brussels. Alexis is a Fulbright and British Chevening Scholar, a Robert & Diane Levy Fellow and has been honoured with the prestigious EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Cyprus 2022.
Find out more about Hellas Direct on hellasdirect.gr/en
Laure Betsch
Laure Betsch is the co-founder of Fairly Made, a Parisian start-up founded in May 2018 which helps fashion companies become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Betsch, a graduate of Parisian management school IESEG, teamed up with high-school friend Camille Le Gal to jointly set up Fairly Made, with the goal of “helping labels create collections that are both attractive and sustainable.” Fairly Made is based in Paris in the sustainable fashion incubator La Caserne, and is a green tech company that advocates a more environmentally friendly fashion, with sustainability as its driving principle.
Find out more about Fairly Made on fairlymade.com
Hubert Penn
Hubert Penn is the founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Dexter Energy, where he helps build and commercialise the industry’s leading AI-based forecasting and trade optimisation services. He started his career in private equity after which he kickstarted a leisure business. Hubert holds an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from TU Delft and is a Certified Management Accountant.
Find out more about Dexter Energy on dexterenergy.ai
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We’re heading to the movies for our latest episode of the ‘Sustainability Talks’ podcast. Our host and managing partner Rob Genieser sat down with Hollywood screenwriter and director Jeffrey Nachmanoff who wrote the screenplay for the 2004 blockbuster film 'The Day After Tomorrow'. The film depicts the catastrophic effects of climate change and the dawning of a new ice age.
Life often imitates art, but how much of the film’s predictions have come to pass? The answer is in places as chilling as the film's closing scenes. In this episode we explore Jeffrey’s journey into filmmaking, the science behind ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, and how telling fictional stories can have real-world resonance.
Whether you’re a film enthusiast or a sustainability expert, this episode offers a unique perspective that combines the world of entertainment with pressing global issues.
More About Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Jeffrey Nachmanoff was born and raised in Virginia and moved to London with his family as a teen. He majored in Visual Arts and English at Harvard, where he somehow convinced his instructors to give him credit for travelling with a family circus as a senior thesis. The photo-documentary book he made about the experience, a mix of black and white images and oral histories, convinced him that what he really wanted to do was tell stories with pictures. He subsequently went to USC film school and, after a brief stint as an editor, embarked on a career as a director and screenwriter.
His big break came when he wrote the ecological disaster movie “The Day After Tomorrow.” He spent several years as a screenwriter before transitioning to writer/director on the feature film “Traitor,” an international espionage thriller starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce.
Nachmanoff’s extensive television credits include directing the pilots for the dramas “Detroit 187” (ABC), “Chicago Fire” (NBC), and Hostages (CBS), which he also wrote and served as co-showrunner on for the series. In addition, he co-wrote the pilot for “Legends” (TNT). His episodic directing work includes “Homeland” (Showtime), “The Brave” (NBC), “The Passage” (FOX), “Lovecraft Country” (HBO), “Echo 3” (APPLE) and “Daredevil: Born Again” (MARVEL). He served as a consulting producer on Chicago PD (NBC) and directed the independent sci-fi feature “Replicas” (starring Keanu Reeves). He currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.
Find out more about Jeffrey Nachmanoff and his work HERE
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The team at ETF Partners presents 'Sustainability Talks', a new series featuring in-depth conversations with influential leaders from across the global sustainability, investment, and startup ecosystems. The podcast examines the biggest challenges and opportunities in delivering sustainable prosperity.
Find out more about ETF Partners here: etfpartners.capital
Theme music by Lee Olivier Hall. Listen on Spotify
In this episode of Sustainability Talks, our Managing Partner Rob Genieser checks back in with Professor Tim Benton, Chair of Chatham House’s Climate Change Science programme, that works to develop evidence-based solutions for tackling climate change.
Our regular listeners will remember that Professor Benton was a guest on the podcast back in March 2023. Tim is back to discuss the key points from COP28 and the prospects for climate investment and action in 2024. Tim shares his expert insights on how environmental risks impact societies and the strategies needed to mitigate, adapt to, and build resilience against these risks. Tim and Rob also discuss the ongoing challenges around food security, a pressing concern in the context of climate change.
About Professor Tim Benton
Professor Tim G. Benton leads the Environment and Society Centre at Chatham House. He joined Chatham House in 2016 as a distinguished visiting fellow, at which time he was also dean of strategic research initiatives at the University of Leeds. From 2011–16 he was the ‘champion’ of the UK’s Global Food Security programme which was a multi-agency partnership of the UK’s public bodies (government departments, devolved governments and research councils) with an interest in the challenges around food.
As a leading expert on food security and food systems, he has worked with UK governments, the EU, G20 and a range of other governments around the world, as well as leading businesses and civil society organizations, and has conducted many foresight exercises on the future of food systems, how to increase their resilience to climate change, reduce their environmental footprints and increase public health through nutrition. He has been a global agenda steward of the World Economic Forum and was an author of the IPCC’s Special Report on Food, Land and Climate (2019), and the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment (2017, 2022).
He has published more than 200 academic papers, many tackling how systems respond to environmental change. He has an h-index of 83, and >35,000 citations on GoogleScholar. His work on sustainability leadership has been recognized with an honorary fellowship of the UK’s Society for the Environment, and a doctorate honoris causa from the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. He also remains a (part-time) Research Professor at the University of Leeds.
Find out more about Chatham House at chathamhouse.org
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In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting the insightful Maryam Golnaraghi, Director of Climate Change & Environment at The Geneva Association. With a 25-year career spanning executive leadership, entrepreneurship, and advisory roles in private and public sectors, Maryam is a seasoned expert.
In this episode, Maryam joins our managing partner Patrick Sheehan for a lively and in-depth conversation about her fascinating journey into the realms of sustainability and the transformative projects she has spearheaded.
About Maryam Golnaraghi
Over the last 25 years, Maryam’s career has spanned working as a senior executive, founder& entrepreneur and serving on advisory boards in private and public sectors and the United Nations. She has launched, led and managed transformative climate change initiatives and multi-stakeholder partnerships with systemic impacts, to enable transitioning to a resilient low-carbon economy. In 2020, Maryam was included on the list of 20 ‘Most Influential on Climate Change’ by InsuranceERM and among the top 100 influencers in the world on ‘Resilience’ by The Leaders’ Magazine.
Since 2015, Maryam is the Director of Climate Change and Environment at The Geneva Association, the strategic international think tank, whose members are CEOs of 90 largest insurance companies, globally. Working with corporate boards and CEOs, regulatory and standard setting bodies, fintech and insurtech firms, governments and policy makers, she leads strategic initiatives to innovate and scale up insurance industry’s contributions as risk managers and investors to transitioning to a resilient low-carbon economy.
From 2004 to 2014, Maryam was the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction Program at the World Meteorological Organization, where she headed up and built an international program and led major initiatives with 40+ governments for development of their national polices, institutional and operational capacities in climate and disaster risk management. Maryam was actively involved in the formulation and implementation of international framework agreements for disaster risk reduction and the UN climate change agreements. She developed the initial concept of demand-driven climate information services and data policies to enable private-sector access to publicly-funded, climate data and modelling for decision-making support. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, she served as an adviser to former U.S. President Clinton in his capacity as the UN Special Envoy on Tsunamis. She negotiated international agreements and coordinated activities that enabled the development and dissemination of tsunami alerts to all countries in less than five minutes.
From 1997 to 2004, as founder and CEO of Climate Risk Solutions, Inc. the first climate risk analytics and advisory firm, headquartered in Boston, USA, she delivered innovative climate-risk assessment and risk management solutions to companies in the energy, agriculture and financial sectors and the U.S. government.
Maryam mentors high-tech start-ups with climate risk analytics and net zero transition focus. She serves on a number of executive and advisory boards of companies, governments, centers of excellence and multi-lateral organizations, and is a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Her work is regularly featured by platforms such the Economist Climate Summit, Responsible Investor, ClimateAction, Risk.net, InsuranceERM, among others.
She has authored numerous internationally referenced reports on climate change as well as a book, “Partnerships in Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems” (Springer-Verlag).
Maryam holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, an MS in Applied Physics and a PhD in Physical Oceanography from Harvard University after which she served as a senior research fellow at the Harvard Business School.
Follow Maryam Golnaraghi HERE
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It's time for our latest episode of Sustainability Talks and we're thrilled to have our Partner & Head of Sustainability & Investor Relations Zoë VanderWolk hosting this episode. Zoe is joined by strategist, investor and serial entrepreneur Azeem Azhar. Zoe and Azeem discuss the intricate dynamics shaping the future of sustainability startups and VCs. They explore thought provoking topics such as how ESG factors are influencing investment decisions and the potential of technology as a catalyst for sustainable innovation. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities startups face while embedding sustainability into their business models.
You can follow Azeem on Twitter and Instagram.
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