Finance plays a crucial role in facilitating the transition to a sustainable, equitable economy and society in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is the driving force behind essential infrastructure, food, water, and housing.
The Climate Change Commission has estimated that approximately $34 billion of new capital will be required in the next 12 years to support the country's low-carbon transition. This figure is expected to increase over time. Creating a sustainable financial system is essential to ensuring a thriving and prosperous society in a future with lower emissions. It is a critical component of our economic proposition in the coming decade.
Offshore banks fund the majority of Aotearoa New Zealand's external liabilities. As environmental and social accountability expectations change rapidly among global capital providers, customers, consumers, and talent, we must remain connected and aligned with global developments in sustainable finance as a net importer of capital. Urgent action is required to scale up sustainable finance and redirect money from polluting, extractive, and unsustainable activities towards climate and sustainability solutions. A shift in mindset and a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors and Iwi and Māori is essential to achieving this. We need access to data, disclosures, definitions, and skills to expand the scope of sustainable finance, drive tangible economic outcomes within planetary and social limits, and leverage the best talent available.
The potential opportunities for building a financial system that supports social, environmental, and cultural outcomes are vast.
Join us as we hear from the players in the Sustainable Finance space – what they've currently got to offer, and how they see it working or changing down the line.
Timings:
9.00am : Welcome & introduction from B.linc
9.05am : Keynote address 1 - Dean Spicer , ANZ
Define Sustainable Finance and how it can be used by Farmers to maximise their farm endeavours. Share your thoughts on how this funding could help farmers and why it is so essential for Farmers to make use of it.
9.25am : Keynote address 2 - Steve Dixon, ANZ
What is ANZ offering and how easy is it for farmers to access sustainable finance? Tell us about what results you’ve had so far and any learning you are taking into considerations when setting what sustainable finance might look like in the future?
9.45am : Keynote address 3 - JD VanHeerden, Synlait
Tell us about the process of applying for Sustainable and what differences has it made to business practices? What are your plans? What advice do you have for others considering applying?
10.05am : Panel discussion/Interactive Q&A session with audience
10.30am : Event finishes
Our speakers
Dean Spicer, CFA
born at ~321.8 ppm CO2e
Head of Sustainable Finance NZ, ANZ New Zealand Limited
Dean whakapapa’s to Canterbury and graduated with a B Com from Lincoln University last century. He also studied for one year at California State University Fresno, on an exchange between the two universities.
Dean has spent more than 25 years in financial markets covering equities fund management and debt capital markets, both in New Zealand, the UK and continental Europe.
He joined ANZ in 2006 on his return from London, where he had been responsible for interest rate and credit distribution to key UK and German investors. In 2008, Dean was appointed Head of Capital Markets, a position he held until March 2020, when he was appointed to his current role as Head of Sustainable Finance NZ.
He was also part of the Aotearoa Circle’s sustainable finance working group in 2021, which contributed to the report, ‘Roadmap for a sustainable financial system by 2030’. He is currently a member of the Centre for Sustainable Finance, banking implementation group.
His passion is to help foster the development of New Zealand’s sustainable finance market, with a particular interest in impact investment.
Steve Dixon, ESG Specialist ANZ Business
Steve has a 20+ year history working in sustainability and environment including management roles at the Ministry for the Environment, Toitu Envirocare, and in consultancy. Steve’s role at ANZ is to support ANZ clients and bankers to understand the business risks and opportunities of climate change and sustainability and to support clients to implement solutions including with ANZ products such as the Business Green Loans.
JD VanHeerden, Synlait
After completing a M.Sc. in Business Mathematics and Informatics, I started my career in the Banking Industry in South Africa as a Portfolio Risk Manager. I then decided to go into the Investments field, focusing on Quantitative Investment Research within the South African Pension Fund industry. I decided to further my research in the investments field and joined the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Stellenbosch University. I started a small Investment Consulting business which I managed together with my work as an academic, and completed my Chartered Financial Analyst qualification as well as a PhD in Investment Management during that time. In 2016 I relocated to NZ to join Lincoln University, continuing my focus on Investment Research and lecturing in Investments and Financial Risk Management. In 2019 I joined Synlait Milk Ltd as a Finance Business Partner and currently hold the role of Finance Manager of the Ingredients (Commodity) Business Unit.
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