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Name: Helena Olin
Title: Head of Real Assets
Organization: AP2
ESG Topics of Interest:
- Paris Agreement-aligned investments
- Sustainable Cities & Communities
- Work conditions & Human Rights
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What motivated you to join the GRESB Foundation Board?
I joined the GRESB Foundation Board because I believe that having a common benchmark to work around is crucial when trying to improve your portfolio, especially in order to understand where you need to improve and how to set targets. Ensuring the validity and accuracy of a benchmark is always a challenge, and in this case it is a very interesting and important challenge of which I’m proud to be part.
How does your organization view ESG and what is your organization’s approach to responsible investing?
The core purpose of the AP2’s sustainability work is to create and protect values. As an asset manager, the Fund’s objective is to address a range of factors involving the environment, ethics, social issues, and corporate governance, as they provide a better basis for analysis and investment decisions, as well as offer diversification. The Fund is also working to maintain a high level of trust and confidence by promoting a solid ethical and environmental approach, while also contributing to the development of sound practice in fund management issues.
Both sustainability and responsible ownership are a high priority for the Fund. A proactive approach to the environment, ethics, social issues, and corporate government is a means to attain the goal of a high-adjusted return.
How does your organization use GRESB and its data?
AP2 makes GRESB participation mandatory for all our direct real estate and infrastructure investments. Every year, we evaluate the assessment results and use GRESB as a tool to engage with our portfolio companies on ESG matters. We also find the GRESB Portfolio Analysis Tool and Data Exporter helpful as part of this exercise.
What is next for ESG and what role will organizations like GRESB play going forward?
Decarbonization is one of the biggest challenges the industry faces at this time. As such, I think the focus for GRESB going forward should be on performance and on being the voice for Net Zero Carbon.
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