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The Climate Change Resource Center, offered by RiskMetrics Group (RMG), features information regarding reports, articles, and other thought leadership on the investment risks and opportunities of emerging global climate change policy for institutional investors.  It includes RMG's library of climate change reports, and Weekly Stock Monitor articles examining industry- and company-specific climate change risks and opportunities.  12.09

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Room: Arizona Ballroom

Speaker(s)
Smeeta Ramarathnam JD Counsel to Commissioner Aguilar, Securities and Exchange Commission Presenter
Damon Silvers JD Associate General Counsel, AFL-CIO Presenter
Michel Lent Chief Investment Officer, Veris Wealth Partners Moderator

Description

This plenary panel will focus on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform the financial system. Leading players in financial reform will discuss the major issues for SRI investors. Topics include corporate governance issues such as "say on pay" and access for shareholders to nominate directors, the proposed consumer financial protection agency, enhancement of securities regulation, and efforts to increase corporate disclosure across the environmental, social and governance spectrum. Find out how SRI investors are playing an increasingly important role in these historic changes in public policy.

Speaker Biographies

Smeeta Ramarathnam specializes in a wide portfolio of financial reform and securities law issues.  She currently is chief of staff to the Honorable Luis A. Aguilar, one of five Commissioners of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.  Prior to her appointment to Commissioner Aguilar's staff, Ms. Ramarathnam served in a number of other capacities at the Commission, including as counsel to former Commissioner Roel Campos, and as an attorney in the Legal Policy Group of the Office of the General Counsel and in the Division of Investment Management.  Prior to joining the Commission, she worked for several years in an investment management practice of a large international law firm.  Ms. Ramarathnam was a law clerk for the Honorable Deborah Chasanow of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

                    

Damon A. Silvers is an Associate General Counsel for the AFL-CIO where his responsibilities include capital markets, corporate governance and general business law issues.  Mr. Silvers is the Deputy Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel for TARP, and a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Investor Advisory Committee.  He was the Chair of the Competition Subcommittee of the United States Treasury Department Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession and a member of the United States Treasury Department Investor's Practice Committee of the President's Working Group on Financial Markets which he chairs.  Mr. Silvers is also a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Standing Advisory Group.   Prior to working for the AFL-CIO, Mr. Silvers was a law clerk at the Delaware Court of Chancery.

                    

Michael Lent is the Chief Investment Officer of Veris Wealth Partners.  He brings extensive experience in sustainable investment research to align investment planning with client values.  He specializes in financial consulting for individuals, family offices, foundations and non-profit organizations.  Prior to joining Veris, Mr. Lent was the Manager of the New York office of Progressive Asset Management for 13 years.  He is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA).  He serves as a Board member of the Social Investment Forum, and of Lotus Music and Dance, an organization that promotes traditional ethnic dance forms.  He is the Treasurer of The Edward W. Hazen Foundation, and is a member of the Social Venture Network and the Investment Management Consultant Association.