The sustainability nonprofit Ceres announced today that seven new leaders have joined its Board of Directors and President’s Council in the last six months.
The new Ceres board members are Georges Benjamin, the Executive Director of American Public Health Association (APHA), Bob Litterman, a founding partner of Kepos Capital, Bertrand Millot, Vice-President, Risk Management, Fixed Income and Head of Climate Risk and Issues at Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), and Anne Simpson, Managing Investment Director, Board Governance & Sustainability, California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS).
Dr. Georges Benjamin
Dr. Benjamin, former Secretary of Health for the state of Maryland, is a well-known health policy leader, practitioner and administrator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the nation’s oldest and largest organization of public health professionals. Dr. Benjamin has been critical in making the link between sustainability and public health. Under his leadership, the APHA has taken a number of steps to address the health emergency that is brought about by climate change with an emphasis on environmental justice and equity.
Dr. Bob Litterman
Dr. Litterman is a founding partner of Kepos Capital, a New York City based systematic global macro firm, and the Chairman of the Kepos Capital Risk Committee. Dr. Litterman chaired a subcommittee of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Market Risk Advisory Committee. Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber also sat on the committee. During his tenure, the subcommittee issued its first-ever climate risk report, which calls on financial regulatory agencies to implement a number of recommendations to address the systemic financial risks of climate change.
Mr. Bertrand Millot
Mr. Millot has been the head of the CDPQ’s Investment Stewardship team since 2018. He is one of the architects of the firm’s climate change strategy and a seasoned investor in infrastructure and emerging markets companies, fields where ESG considerations have historically been at the forefront. Being one of the first international investors to make climate a priority, CDPQ has been a member of the Ceres Investor Network since 2016 and a signatory of Climate Action 100+ since 2017. In 2019, CDPQ helped found the United Nations-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owners Alliance, a group of the world’s largest pension funds and insurers, who have committed to carbon-neutral investment portfolios by 2050 or sooner.
Ms. Anne Simpson
Ms. Simpson leads CalPERS’ Sustainable Investment Strategy, which focuses on long term value creation through the effective management of three forms of capital: financial, human and natural. She also serves as a global Steering Committee member for Climate Action 100+, as CalPERS (and Ceres) are founding partners to the initiative, which is now the world’s largest investor engagement initiative on climate change. Ms. Simpson was recognized in 2019 by TIME Magazine as one of 15 women globally leading the fight on climate change and cited by the National Association of Corporate Directors as one of the 100 most influential leaders in the boardroom.Â
“I am excited about joining the Ceres Board of Directors as there is indeed a critical linkage between the economy and our health,” said Dr. Benjamin. “Partnerships across societal sectors is where the real work gets done. I look forward to contributing a health voice to the important efforts of the Ceres Board of Directors as they work to ensure a just and sustainable economy”.
"I am thrilled to join Ceres in its attempt to leverage asset owners putting sustainability at the heart of stakeholder engagement with corporations,” said Dr. Litterman. “When material climate risks impact their business, or greenhouse gas emissions are part of their operations, corporate leaders need to not only ensure that their businesses are on a pathway to net-zero emissions, but to demonstrate that to their stakeholders through disclosure of transparent, auditable, key performance metrics."Â
“I am honored to be elected to the Ceres Board of Directors,” said Mr. Millot. “The organization plays a crucial role in fostering sustainability at the time of unprecedented social and environmental challenges. The perspective and the goals pursued by Ceres are well aligned with the work I did in designing and implementing CDPQ’s climate change strategy and its path to a net-zero future. I am looking forward to contributing to its growth and its work in different key areas, such as infrastructure and emerging market investing, where ESG matters have been at the forefront for decades.”Â
“It is a tremendous honor to join the board of Ceres, which CalPERS has long supported as a leader in the field of sustainable investment,” said Ms. Simpson. “The risks and opportunities of climate change are urgent, and Ceres is tackling these challenges with innovation and commitment for a just transition to the net-zero economy.”
The new Ceres President’s Council members are Susan Nickey, Executive Vice President and Chief Client Officer at Hannon Armstrong, Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson, CEO and Founder of VC Include, and Keesa C. Schreane, Global Partner Director at London Stock Exchange Group. Members serve as ambassadors for Ceres and enhance our impact through direct support, expertise, and outreach to new supporters.
Ms. Susan Nickey
Ms. Nickey is executive vice president and chief client officer of Hannon Armstrong, a leading investor in climate solutions, where she leads a team charged with advancing issues that support Hannon Armstrong’s clean energy thought leadership and climate policy agenda. Ms. Nickey has been named to the North American Power List of the 100 most influential individuals in the wind industry for three consecutive years.
Ms. Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson
Ms. Robinson is a recognized innovator of new avenues for venture capital and impact investment. Her expertise in leading technology, investment and social impact initiatives since 2010 culminated in creating VC Include in 2018 to build platforms and programs for diverse emerging managers globally.
Ms. Keesa C. Schreane
Ms. Schreane is author of Corporations Compassion Culture (Wiley) and is Global Partner Director at London Stock Exchange Group, concentrating on risk, climate and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data and analytics partnerships. Her focus is in building stronger, more compassionate and more sustainable financial markets and corporations while driving growth.
“Ceres is participating in actionable, measurable solutions around climate transition, inclusive and compassionate corporate culture, impact investing, and sustainable leadership. I’m passionate about the action behind this work, and I’m thrilled to support Ceres in this capacity,” said Ms. Schreane.Â
“We are excited to welcome our newest Board and President’s Council members to the Ceres community. Over the last year, we have worked diligently to add new and diverse perspectives to our organization,” said Barney Schauble, Chair of the Ceres Board of Directors. “With the largest investors and corporate giants making unprecedented commitments to reaching net-zero by 2050 or sooner, and a new federal administration focused on climate risk and environmental justice, bringing on these impressive leaders allows us to pursue our campaigns and initiatives with even greater ambition, speed and scale.”
Learn more about the Ceres Board of Directors and the Ceres President’s Council.
About Ceres
Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.