First Sentier appointments boost RI capabilities

Yasmine Raso

Senior Journalist, Financial Newswire

17 March 2022

Global asset manager, First Sentier Investors (FSI), has announced three new appointments to boost its capacity for responsible investment (RI) and corporate sustainability.

Joanne Lee has been appointed to the role of Responsible Investment Specialist, Rebecca Antonini has been appointed to the newly created position of Head of Corporate Sustainability and Cressida Grant joins the firm as Head of Corporate Philanthropy.

Lee joins the RI team managed by London-based Will Oulton, the firm’s Global Head of Responsible Investment. Based in Hong Kong, she will handle the development and implementation of FSI’s RI strategy in Asia, support the region’s investment teams and work with key stakeholders.

Her most recent role was a Technical Specialist in the Sustainable Finance team at global non-government organisation, WWF International. She headed research projects and developed technical guidance on topics such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration, net zero climate alignment and nature-related risks.

Reporting to Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, Suzanne Evans, Antonini will work on the firm’s global strategy alongside the RI team to manage its ESG impacts and ensure FSI adheres to international best practice standards of sustainability.

Antonini has worked with FSI for 15 years in several regions including Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom in roles across Human Resources, governance and project management.

Based in London, Grant will head the development of FSI’s global philanthropic strategy and report to Antonini. Her previous roles include Head of Philanthropy at The Prince’s Trust, where she established the company’s operations in the U.S. and managed relationships with high-net-worth donors. She also previously managed the Stonehage Fleming Charitable Foundation.

“Joanne’s appointment supports the investment teams’ commitment to incorporating ESG principles across their processes and strategies,” Mark Steinberg, Chief Executive Officer at FSI, said.

“This is central to their investment approach and underpins our corporate identity.

“We also believe acting responsibly as a business is in the best interest of our clients and enables us to support our key stakeholder groups including our employees, wider society and our shareholder.

“Increasingly, corporates are also being assessed and held to account for their business practices and social impacts and how these are aligned with stated responsible investment principles.”