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. 

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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