Chief Executive Officer of the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC), Emma Herd, will step down after six years in the role marked by a rapid acceleration in climate action from Australian and New Zealand institutional investors.
Ms Herd joined IGCC in 2015 following fifteen years in sustainable finance in the banking sector.
Ms Herd will leave the organisation in June to pursue a new opportunity. The IGCC Management Committee has begun a recruitment process for a new CEO.
IGCC Chair, Stephen Dunne, said: “Under Emma’s leadership the investor voice has become clear and impactful in the Australian and New Zealand climate change discussion.
“Emma has overseen a massive growth in the size and activities of IGCC, while also supporting the establishment of the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change, which now represents investors with over $US15 trillion in combined assets under management.
“Over the last six years IGCC’s membership base has expanded significantly, and the organisation has been instrumental in developing several major programs including Climate Action 100+, The Investor Agenda, Climate League 2030 and the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative.
“The entire Australian and New Zealand investment community has been lucky to benefit from Emma’s skill and leadership as they navigate a path to net zero emissions by 2050 or before.
“The IGCC Management Committee has a recruitment process for a new CEO underway to continue the momentum built under Emma and the rest of the team.”
Ms Herd said: “I have loved every minute of my time with IGCC and am thrilled I can leave the organisation with such a strong team in place to continue supporting Australian and New Zealand investors on climate change. Even as there is more work to be done.
“Investors are moving in large numbers to address the climate risk they are exposed to and seize the enormous opportunities in the transition to net zero emissions.
“I am incredibly proud of the work IGCC has done to support so many organisations to accelerate that progress and to ensure that the investor voice has been a positive and loud champion for climate action. I look forward to continuing to build on this momentum to take on climate change risks and opportunities in Australia and New Zealand”.