Dr Donna Lopata

Manager, Corporate Engagement

Donna is a passionate sustainable finance researcher and practitioner. Donna completed a PhD on the superannuation sector’s transition to net zero. Her qualitative research revealed the need for a systems response to the impacts of climate change and affirmed her belief in the importance of sustainable finance. 

Prior to her academic research Donna worked at Morningstar in the Manager Research team. In that role she took a special interest in ESG and Sustainable Funds research and provided thought leadership in these. 

Donna has a diverse career background and practised as a commercial interior designer. Sustainability was a common thread, with the application of passive design principles, embodied energy and lifecycle analysis in her projects. 

In addition to her Doctorate at UTS, Donna has a Masters of Finance from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Interior Design from RMIT University. 

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Submission: Net Zero Fund should fast-track REIP development

Submission | Bethany Richards | 15 October 2025

The Net Zero Fund is a new carveout of the National Reconstruction Fund, with $5 billion in public finance to deploy. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources consulted on priority areas for blended finance, and on which financial products are useful to companies and investors in this space. Given the broader challenges that established industries are experiencing in transitioning, and those of budding green industries, IGCC believes that the Fund should address the toughest challenges that can unlock the biggest decarbonisation gains.

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AustraliaClimate Solutions & TechCorporate EngagementDecarbonising the EconomyPolicy & AdvocacyPolicy & Advocacy Working Group

Submission: Net Zero Fund should fast-track REIP development

19 October 2025

IGCC members understand the importance of decarbonisation solutions being accessible to industry, both to meet national emissions reductions targets and for Australian exporters to better compete as global markets decarbonise.
AustraliaClimate Solutions & TechCorporate EngagementCorporate Engagement Working GroupDecarbonising the EconomyPolicy & AdvocacyPolicy & Advocacy Working Group

IGCC Research Needs Analysis Report

Report | Donna Lopata, Accela | 16 September 2025

Investors need granular, financially grounded, sector-specific research to strengthen corporate engagement and transition plan scrutiny. This report maps current gaps and seeks to catalyse new research that will equip investors for more effective, impactful engagement.

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Corporate EngagementCorporate Engagement Working Group