First Sentier Investors announces new Global Head of Responsible Investment, bolsters team

Friday, 25 November 2022: Leading global investment manager, First Sentier Investors (FSI), has appointed Kate Turner as Global Head of Responsible Investment (RI) and bolstered its RI team with four new appointments.

Sydney-based Turner replaces Will Oulton, who is retiring from the business at the end of the year. The new RI hires include: 

• Finian Power, Head of ESG Policy & Regulation: Appointed to the role in October this year, Power was previously Head of Investment Management in FSI’s Dublin office. Power now plays a leading role in developing the firm’s understanding of current and emerging ESG/sustainability policy and regulatory issues globally, drawing on more than 20 years’ experience in managing regulatory change in asset management.
• Bjorn De Smedt, RI Specialist: Sydney-based De Smedt is a corporate governance, climate change and sustainability specialist with over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry and a deep knowledge of ESG data and analytics. Prior to joining FSI in October this year, he worked for Institutional Shareholder Services for 12 years.
• Rhys Foulkes, RI Specialist: Foulkes has spent the past 15 years in investment management focused on fixed income, most recently as Senior Credit Analyst at FSI, developing a special interest in ESG. Based in London, Foulkes will transition into his new RI role in the coming year.
• Belinda White, RI Specialist: Sydney-based White has long been an advocate for increasing gender diversity in the workplace and championing financial gender equality, and has spent the past 20 years working in external stakeholder engagement. For the past three years, she has held the role of Senior Communications Manager at FSI and will move into her new RI role in January 2023.

The recent additions follow on from the appointment of RI nature and biodiversity specialist Joanne Lee, based in Hong Kong earlier this year, and Sydney-based RI Analyst Will Bartlett last year.

FSI Chief Executive Officer Mark Steinberg said the team’s expansion demonstrates the firm’s commitment to positioning FSI as a leading advocate of, and performer in, RI globally.

“For the past 15 years, First Sentier Investors has had a focus on responsible investment and stewardship. We have an important role to play as an active asset management business. We believe the more we can come together as an industry, with a shared purpose and to share ideas, the greater chance we have to create a better tomorrow. We also believe that in order to differentiate our business and contribute to a sustainable economy and society, we need to collaborate with our clients, competitors and broader stakeholders. 

“I would like to personally thank Will for his significant contribution to the business and to the industry over the last 10 years. During this time, he helped set up the Responsible Investment team and more recently played a central role in establishing the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute. Pleasingly, he will remain actively engaged with FSI in a non-executive/consultancy capacity.

“I am delighted to internally appoint Kate as successor to this important role. For the past three years, Kate has played an integral role in working with our investment and Responsible Investment teams to support integration of ESG considerations into our investment processes, while also regularly engaging with clients and stakeholders.

“Along with our new appointments, our global RI team is now well-positioned to advise on increasingly complex ESG regulations, and work with investment teams on critical issues including climate change, human rights and modern slavery, diversity and biodiversity – all with the aim of driving long-term investment performance and helping address some of society’s significant challenges,” Steinberg said.

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About First Sentier Investors

First Sentier Investors manages US$134.4 billion in assets (as at 30 September 2022) on behalf of institutional investors, pension funds, wholesale distributors, investment platforms, financial advisers and their clients worldwide.

The firm operates as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. First Sentier Investors’ expertise spans a range of asset classes and specialist investment sectors focused on delivering sustainable investment success based on responsible investment principles.

Formerly known as First State Investments, the firm was acquired by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc in August 2019. 

For more information, visit www.firstsentierinvestors.com