The P+II Symposium

Friday, 6 March 2026 · 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Imperial Business School, South Kensington

Join students, academics, and practitioners from across the sustainable finance ecosystem for a full day of keynotes, panels and networking. Timings and speakers are subject to final confirmation.

Register here:

See agenda below for more information

Agenda

  • 9:00 A.M. Welcome & Opening Remarks​
  • 9:10 A.M. Keynote | Sustainability Themes Shaping Global Markets
  • 9:30 A.M. ​Panel | Investor Action in Sustainable Finance - Reality of ESG Backlash​
  • 10:45 A.M. ​Coffee & Networking Break​
  • 11:15 A.M. ​Panel | Public-Private Partnerships​
  • 12:30 P.M.​ Lunch
  • 1:30 P.M.​ Panel | The Energy Transition in Perspective​
  • 2:45 P.M. ​Fireside Chat | Scaling Positive Investment​
  • 3:15 P.M. ​Tea & Networking Break​
  • 3:45 P.M.​ Panel | Positive Investment Trends on the Horizon​
  • 5:00 – 6:30 P.M.​ Drinks Reception​

Location

  • Morning sessions: Room: BLKT 229, Blackette Laboratory, 21 Prince Consort Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ
  • Afternoon sessions: SAFB G01, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College Rd, London SW7 2AZ

Note: The Agenda & Speakers are subject to change

Speakers:

Ian Simm |Keynote

Founder & CEO, Impax Asset Management; Member, UK Government’s Net Zero Council

Stefano Vitali | Panel: Investor Action in Sustainable Finance

European and APAC Head of Sustainable Finance, RBC

Caroline Haas | Panel: Investor Action in Sustainable Finance

Head of Sustainable Finance Advisory, NatWest Group

Cornelia Gomez | Panel: Investor Action in Sustainable Finance

Managing Director & Global Head of Sustainability, General Atlantic

Tarek Cheaib | Panel: Public-Private Partnerships

Investment Executive (Industries, Technology and Services), British International Investment

Isabel Blanco | Panel: Public-Private Partnerships

Head of Impact, Infrastructure & Natural Resources, EBRD

James Close | Panel: Public-Private Partnerships

Director, FourTwoThree; Former Head of Climate Change, World Bank Group

Mark Daly | Panel: The Energy Transition in Perspective

Head of Technology & Innovation, BloombergNEF

Eliz Ozdemir | Panel: The Energy Transition in Perspective

Senior Manager, OGCI (Oil and Gas Climate Initiative)

Ashleigh Gray | Panel: The Energy Transition in Perspective

Managing Director, Octopus Energy Generation

Hugo Mkhize | Panel: The Energy Transition in Perspective

Investor at Climate Investment

Sean Kidney | Fireside Chat

Founder and CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative

Nic Gorini | Panel: The Future is Now

Managing Partner, Spin Ventures

Constance de Wavrin | Panel: The Future is Now

Global Lead – Orange Movement, Impact Investment Exchange

Grant Ballard-Tremeer | Panel: The Future is Now

Founder & Visionary, E Co.

  • 9:10 - 9:30: Keynote | Sustainability Themes Shaping Global Markets

    We will hear from our keynote speaker, Ian Simm, Founder & CEO, Impax Asset Management; Member, UK Government’s Net Zero Council.

    Against a backdrop of diverging global approaches, shifting political sentiment, evolving regulatory frameworks and changing investor priorities, this keynote sets out the current state of play in sustainable finance. Drawing on Impax’s experience across markets, the keynote explores how the transition is progressing, where momentum is stalling, and why private sector leadership remains critical to delivering a low-carbon economy.

  • 9:30 - 10:45: Panel | Investor Action in Sustainable Finance - Reality of ESG Backlash​

    From the collapse of the Glasgow Financial Alliance to Net Zero to ESG backlash in the United States, opponents have argued sustainable finance is dead. Yet, between the EU’s launch of SFDR 2.0 in Autumn 2025 and record sums of capital going into sustainability projects, optimists argue there has never been a better time to be in an ESG-aligned investor. This session will explore investor perspectives on the state of sustainable investing, unpacking how the private sector is responding to significant geopolitical turmoil and the pressing ongoing needs of the energy transition.

    Speakers

    • Caroline Haas, Head of Sustainable Finance Advisory, NatWest Group
    • Stefano Vitali, European and APAC Head of Sustainable Finance, RBC
    • Cornelia Gomez, Managing Director & Global Head of Sustainability, General Atlantic

  • 11:15 - 12:30: ​Panel | Public-Private Partnerships:​ Investing for Sustainable Development

    At COP29, the world committed to a $1.3 trillion annual financing target including $300 billion of public financing. The scale of investment required means blended finance and public-private infrastructure partnerships will be essential for achieving sustainable development in both developed and developing countries. This session will explore success cases of concessional capital channelling meaningful investment and will also examine limitations where new instruments are needed to go further.

    Speakers

    • Tarek Cheaib, Investment Executive (Industries, Technology and Services), British International Investment
    • Isabel Blanco, Head of Impact, Infrastructure & Natural Resources, EBRD
    • James Close, Director, FourTwoThree; Former Head of Climate Change, World Bank Group

  • 1:30 - 2:45: ​Panel | The Energy Transition in Perspective: ​Meeting the Technological and System Needs of Net Zero

    According to the IEA, fossil fuels still make up 60% of the global energy supply despite increasing efforts to prioritise electrification, phase out coal-fired power plants, and expand government policies supporting green energy. The scale of the transition, and the challenge of delivering affordable, reliable and secure energy, helps explain the difficulties of moving away from fossil fuels. This session will explore the realities of large-scale energy transformation from a supplier perspective, including the investment, critical minerals and deployment required to accelerate the transition.

    Speakers

    • Mark Daly, Head of Technology & Innovation, BloombergNEF
    • Ashleigh Gray, Managing Director, Octopus Energy Generation
    • Eliz Ozdemir, Senior Manager, OGCI (Oil and Gas Climate Initiative)
    • Hugo Mkhize, Investor at Climate Investment (founded in 2017 by OGCI)

  • 2:45 - 3:15: Fireside Chat | Scaling Positive Investment

    Speakers

    • Sean Kidney, Founder & CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative

  • 3:45 - 5:00: Panel | The Future is Now: Positive Investment Trends on the Horizon

    From social impact bonds to orange bonds, from philanthropy to nature-based solutions, London is leading the way in innovative finance to support positive global impact. This session will explore how the latest trends in positive investment are pushing the boundaries of sustainable finance to unlock the solutions we need for people and planet. Hear from experts about how the next generation of positive investment will help create a brighter tomorrow.

    Speakers

    • Nic Gorini, Managing Partner, Spin Ventures
    • Constance de Wavrin, Global Lead – Orange Movement, Impact Investment Exchange
    • Grant Ballard-Tremeer, Founder & Visionary, E Co.