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1 Angel Court, 5th Floor London EC2R 7HJ United Kingdom
Our new half-day event is being held ahead of a pivotal year for the development of the UK’s sustainability reporting regime, which uniquely impacts financial services firms as both preparers and users of sustainability-related information.
In 2026, a flurry of consultations is expected from UK Government and financial regulators on climate-related transition plan requirements and the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards.
Additionally, the Prudential Regulation Authority has set out new expectations for firms to improve their climate risk management capabilities. At the same time, firms must navigate parallel developments across the US, EU, and other markets.
Given this fast-evolving landscape, it is hardly surprising that 50 per cent of UK businesses see keeping up with changing requirements as their biggest compliance challenge.
This Key Conversation event will offer attendees the opportunities to hear directly from policymakers, regulators, and standard setters on the latest updates in the regulatory and policy landscape, as well as from industry on peer-tested approaches towards sustainability reporting and transition plans.
Keynotes and panel discussions will explore:
UK Finance’s Key Conversations series is a selection of half-day events spotlighting key trends, emerging themes, and timely policy and regulation developments through short, focused conversations.
We have designed these sessions to provide engaging discussions, the chance to hear directly from industry experts, gain insights on the latest trends and issues, and connect with peers face to face.
The agenda is subject to change.
Registration and light lunch
UK Finance welcome and opening remarks – Ian Bhullar, Director, Strategic & Sustainability Policy, UK Finance
Keynote speech: Nigel Topping CMG, Chair of the Climate Change Committee
Keynote speech: Saif Malik, CEO and Head of Client Coverage UK, Standard Chartered
Beyond compliance: Can sustainability reporting and disclosure create commercial value for firms?
In 2026, the UK is putting in place several building blocks of its sustainability disclosure framework. In the EU, lawmakers have approved the Omnibus Agreement to streamline sustainability reporting and due-diligence requirements, aiming to boost competitiveness and unlock additional investment capacity. In the US, the Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to end its defence of rules requiring disclosure of climate-related risks and greenhouse-gas emissions, amid concerns about costs to business. This panel session invites experts to consider how the UK’s sustainability reporting regime can create commercial value.
We will explore:
Moderator: Raza Naeem, Partner, Linklaters
Speakers:
Sponsored by Linklaters
An overview of SS5/25
In December, the Prudential Regulation Authority published a supervisory statement (SS5/25) which aims to help firms strengthen their climate risk assessment and management capabilities – building resilience and supporting business decision-making.
SS5/25 replaces the previous supervisory statement (SS3/19) and provides an updated set of expectations. In the short-term, firms are expected to carry out an internal review of their status in meeting the updated expectations.
In this session, attendees will gain a deeper insight into the new supervisory statement, understand where firms should begin, and explore examples of good practice.
Speaker:
Sponsored by Katalysys Ltd
Coffee break
Industry panel: Lessons from across the transition planning journey
The UK Government has committed to mandate UK-regulated financial institutions to develop and implement credible transition plans. Following a consultation in 2025, the government is expected to launch an implementation-focused consultation in 2026. In parallel, the FCA is expected to consult on transition-related disclosures for listed companies. In this session, industry practitioners of various sizes will share their experiences, knowledge, and good practice from their transition planning journeys.
Moderator: Emily Farrimond, Partner – ESG & Sustainability Practice Lead, Financial Services, Baringa
Sponsored by Baringa
Fireside chat: The Assurance Evolution: Navigating the New Era of Sustainability Reporting
As the UK sustainability reporting landscape matures, the focus for financial institutions is shifting from "what" to report to "how" to assure. With the recent endorsement of the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) and increasing pressure for Nature-related disclosures (TNFD), firms face a new level of scrutiny. Stakeholders now expect sustainability data, particularly around complex Transition Plans, to meet the same accuracy and auditability standards as financial reporting.For banks and building societies, the challenge is twofold: managing the operational burden of fragmented data and ensuring high-level commitments are backed by granular, decision-useful evidence. In this fireside chat, we will explore how leading firms are moving beyond "compliance" to build robust assurance frameworks that support strategic lending and long-term resilience.
Moderator: Vickesh Mistry, Principal Consultant – Commercial Risk & Sustainability, Equifax
Speakesr:
Sponsored by Equifax
Nature-related reporting: What’s driving it and how should firms respond?
In recent years, there has been rapid increase in the number of standards, frameworks, and tools for assessing and disclosing nature-related risks and opportunities. Key initiatives include the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the Natural Capital Protocol, and the Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) amongst others. On top of this, the ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board) is planning to develop nature-related disclosure requirements ahead of COP17. In this session, we will hear experts take stock of this fast-evolving landscape.
Moderator: Agathe Duchiron, Principal – Sustainability Policy, UK Finance
Closing Keynote - Thierry d’Argent, CEO, Societe Generale London Branch
Closing remarks - Ian Bhullar, Director, Strategic & Sustainability Policy, UK Finance
Drinks reception
Chair of the Climate Change Committee
Nigel Topping was appointed as Chair of the Climate Change Committee in July 2025. Nigel has served on the CCC since May 2023. Prior to that he served...
Nigel Topping was appointed as Chair of the Climate Change Committee in July 2025. Nigel has served on the CCC since May 2023. Prior to that he served as the UN’s Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26, and as the UNFCCC’s Global Ambassador on the ‘Race to Zero’ and the ‘Race to Resilience’. He also brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the private sector to the role.
CEO and Head of Client Coverage UK, Standard Chartered
Saif Malik is CEO, UK and Head of Coverage, UK. In this role, he leads the management and development of corporate and financial institution client re...
Saif Malik is CEO, UK and Head of Coverage, UK. In this role, he leads the management and development of corporate and financial institution client relationships in the UK.
Saif joined Standard Chartered in 2006 and has held various leadership roles across the client business including Regional Co-Head of Global Banking for Africa & Middle East, Co-Head of Wholesale Banking with Standard Chartered Nigeria and Head of Corporate & Institutional Clients with Standard Chartered Malaysia. Prior to his current role, Saif was Global Head of our multinational corporate business (Global Subsidiaries).
Before he joined Standard Chartered, Saif held roles with Barclays Bank Tanzania, Barclays Bank Zambia, as well as a brief stint with the Central Bank of Zambia.
Saif is a passionate advocate for a sustainable, diverse and an inclusive global future. He possesses a wealth of Banking and Finance experience in the areas of sales and business development, marketing and corporate credit. He was included in the inaugural Financial News South Asian Power Brokers list(Opens in a new window), celebrating senior South Asian trailblazers in finance who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the sector.
Saif holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Arts in International Business, both from the University of Kentucky, USA.
Saif is a Board Member of UK Finance, BritishAmerican Business and The International Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Leadership Council at International Business and Diplomatic Exchange.
CEO, Societe Generale London Branch
Thierry d’Argent was appointed as the CEO of SG London Branch and Chief Country Officer for SG in the UK & Ireland in May 2023. Thierry is a membe...
Thierry d’Argent was appointed as the CEO of SG London Branch and Chief Country Officer for SG in the UK & Ireland in May 2023. Thierry is a member Executive Committee of Société Générale’s Global Banking and Investor Solutions division; he is also a member of the Group’s Management Board.
Thierry was previously Société Générale’s Global Head of Coverage and Investment Banking; he was also Deputy Head of the Global Banking and Advisory business unit. In this role, he has advised some of the largest corporations and financial institutions across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the United States.
Thierry joined SG in Paris in early 2009 as Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions; in 2010, he was appointed Global Head of Mergers & Acquisitions; in 2012, he added responsibility for Equity Capital Markets, forming Corporate Finance. In 2015, he was appointed to the Group Management Board, and in early 2016 as Head of Coverage and Investment Banking. In 2019, he became Deputy Head of Global Banking and Advisory. Thierry started his career as a management consultant with Oliver Wyman in London in 1989; he then served as deputy Cabinet Director in the Brussels Federal Government between 1991 and 1992; he worked with Baring Brothers (subsequently ING Barings) in Paris between 1992 and 1998. In late 1998, Thierry joined J.P. Morgan, as an M&A practitioner, where he became a Managing Director in 2001, in charge of their Investment Banking practice in France.
Thierry is a supervisory board member of Le Palais Royal, L’Académie de Musique de Paris and serves on the advisory board of the French-German Economic Council. He served for 4 years on an Advisory Commission of France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (Commission Opérations et Emetteurs).
He graduated summa cum laude from the Solvay Business School, University of Brussels (1984-1989). He is married with four sons.
Head of Sustainability, Nationwide
Amy leads Nationwide’s sustainability agenda, across environment, social and governance activities. This includes strategy, ambitions, risk activity, ...
Amy leads Nationwide’s sustainability agenda, across environment, social and governance activities. This includes strategy, ambitions, risk activity, carbon accounting, and disclosures. Amy is responsible for all sustainability-related disclosures, including science-based targets, TCFD disclosures, transition planning, modern slavery, human rights, and ESG disclosures.
Chief Growth Officer, Katalysys
Anindya is an ex-regulator and policy expert from the PRA.He is a prudential regulation and risk management specialist with > 11 years' experience ...
Anindya is an ex-regulator and policy expert from the PRA.He is a prudential regulation and risk management specialist with > 11 years' experience in banking and capital markets, financial market infrastructure firms, and enterprise-wide risk management and controls. Anindya joined Mazars in 2021 and has been working with a range of clients, predominantly on prudential regulatory matters. Anindya has c. 15 years’ experience in financial services. He is a former PRA regulator and Bank of England auditor, where he worked with a number of international banking subsidiaries and payment firms.
He also led the Prudential Risk Advisory team at Forvis Mazars, where he oversaw several internal audits and was the external auditor for several banks whilst at PwC.
Head of ESG, Wise plc
Caroline Corbett-Thompson leads ESG at Wise. With a background in social entrepreneurship and systems change, she now navigates the complex regulatory...
Caroline Corbett-Thompson leads ESG at Wise. With a background in social entrepreneurship and systems change, she now navigates the complex regulatory and environmental risks facing the global fintech sector.
Managing Director and Head of Climate and ESG Capital Markets, NatWest
Manager of Primary Markets Policy team, FCA
Cassie McGoldick is the Manager of Primary Markets Policy at the FCA, which is responsible for the FCA's Listing Rules, Prospectus-related requirement...
Cassie McGoldick is the Manager of Primary Markets Policy at the FCA, which is responsible for the FCA's Listing Rules, Prospectus-related requirements, and ongoing transparency obligations for issuers on regulated markets. Before joining the FCA Cassie spent 8 years at HM Treasury where she led on a number of financial services files including the wholesale markets review and the UK’s first Green Finance Strategy. During her time at HMT, Cassie spent over two years on secondment to the FCDO where she was posted to Dubai as HMG’s ‘Regional Director of Financial Services for the Gulf’ and has worked on international financial services agreements with the EU, Switzerland, Hong Kong and China.
Policy Advisory Manager – Sustainability Disclosures, NatWest
Chris leads on sustainability disclosure policy at NatWest Group. He has over 20 years’ experience in financial services, with a career grounded in pr...
Chris leads on sustainability disclosure policy at NatWest Group. He has over 20 years’ experience in financial services, with a career grounded in prudential risk management, regulatory engagement and policy development. Since 2021, he has led NatWest Group’s advocacy on the development of UK and international sustainability disclosure policy, including being an active member of national and global industry working groups.
Head of Enterprise Sustainability and Regulatory Transformation, BNY
Climate & Financial Risk Leader, NatWest
Partner Lead for ESG and Sustainability within Financial Services, Baringa
Emily is the Partner Lead for ESG and Sustainability within Financial Services at Baringa. She and her team work with asset owners, managers, banks, a...
Emily is the Partner Lead for ESG and Sustainability within Financial Services at Baringa. She and her team work with asset owners, managers, banks, and private equity firms to help them navigate the full spectrum of sustainability topics — from climate scenario analysis to modern slavery requirements and everything in between. Our work spans sustainability and net-zero strategy, target-setting and transition planning, measurement and reporting, and the application of climate risk management. We also support clients with credible transition planning, regulatory readiness, and the development of new products and services.
Emily is an Executive Fellow at King’s College London in the Centre for Sustainable Finance and holds a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.
Group Director, Sustainability and Responsible Business, Lloyds Banking Group
Khadija Ali is the Group Director for Sustainability and Responsible Business at Lloyds Banking Group. Before joining Lloyds, Khadija spent 19 ye...
Khadija Ali is the Group Director for Sustainability and Responsible Business at Lloyds Banking Group.
Before joining Lloyds, Khadija spent 19 years at Ernst & Young in various roles. She was the UK’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader for Financial Services, where she built a market-leading practice in supporting a number of global financial institutions across both advisory and assurance services.
She has worked globally across a number of locations, including Canada, US and the UK. Her expertise includes climate change and nature, which she complements with her background in finance and risk.
Khadija is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Senior ESG Manager, National Wealth Fund
Marcellina Ehimhen is a senior financial services leader specialised in ESG strategy, execution and risk management. With more than 17 years of experi...
Marcellina Ehimhen is a senior financial services leader specialised in ESG strategy, execution and risk management. With more than 17 years of experience in financial services, spanning banking and consulting, she specializes in the development and implementation of ESG risk frameworks and risk‑based strategies. Her work strengthens organizational resilience, ensures compliance with regulatory standards, and fosters sustainable long-term value creation.
Marcellina is a Senior Manager, ESG at the National Wealth Fund, leading the Fund’s approach to identifying, managing and reporting environmental, social, resilience and governance risks and opportunities. Her work has reshaped how ESG is embedded in investment decisions, introducing a risk‑based approach that safeguards long‑term value and supports broader positive impacts on growth and the transition to net zero.
Before joining the National Wealth Fund, Marcellina led ESG due diligence in consulting, helping tier one private‑equity firms and corporate clients ensure financially material ESG risks were properly priced into asset valuations and decision making. With extensive experience in commercial banking outside the UK, Marcellina served as Head of Sustainable Banking, leading ESG strategy and integrating ESG across lending, operations, external reporting and client engagement. She established a full ESG function and management system that became a catalyst for industry recognition and positioned the bank to deliver its first ISSB-aligned report in 2024, placing it among the top three early adopters in the Nigerian banking sector.
Marcellina holds an MSc. in Financial Services, Risk and Operations from Glasgow Caledonian University and a BSc in Finance and Banking. She is also certified in Sustainable Investing (CFA) and Sustainability and Climate Risk (GARP) and is an ISO 14001 Senior Lead Implementer.
ISSB Director, IFRS
Global Head of Nature, Standard Chartered Bank
Oliver Withers is Head of Nature at Standard Chartered and leads the Nature Finance innovation hub, working with colleagues across the group to furthe...
Oliver Withers is Head of Nature at Standard Chartered and leads the Nature Finance innovation hub, working with colleagues across the group to further integrate biodiversity and nature considerations into the firm's business activities and decision-making. He was previously Global Head of Biodiversity at Credit Suisse, working on transactions such as the world’s first wildlife conservation bond, the rhino bond, and on sovereign debt for nature swaps. Before this, Oliver was the Head of Conservation Finance and Enterprise at the Zoological Society of London with responsibility for delivering biodiversity impact across both the blue and green economies. Oliver began his career in financial services, where he ultimately became the head of asset management for a pan-African investment bank before pursuing a career in sustainability and nature finance. Oliver has an MSc in Finance from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and a BCom in Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, which is where he was born. He has dual South African and British citizenship with experience working and living in both Africa and Asia, although he is currently based in the UK. He is a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London.
Partner, Linklaters
Raza is a Partner in Linklaters’ Financial Regulation Group, and widely regarded as a specialist in a number of financial services regimes including E...
Raza is a Partner in Linklaters’ Financial Regulation Group, and widely regarded as a specialist in a number of financial services regimes including ESG, MiFID, Brexit, PRIIPs, AIFMD and UCITS.
Raza has also led on and contributed to a number of trade associations, industry forums and Linklaters roundtables / briefings on these topics. Asset management and sustainable finance are a core part of his regulatory practice, and he has helped buy-side clients across a range of ESG matters ranging from the structuring of ESG products, drafting product and entity level ESG disclosures, as well as the creation of sustainable finance and ESG risk management frameworks.
He also works closely with the broader Linklaters practice areas, providing regulatory coverage in areas such as derivatives, structured products, funds and employment matters.
Senior Sustainability and Programme Manager, Santander UK
Head of Climate and Energy, HSBC UK
Tim is Head of Climate and Energy for HSBC UK. He leads the bank’s climate and energy strategy, with a focus on supporting customers’ transition journ...
Tim is Head of Climate and Energy for HSBC UK. He leads the bank’s climate and energy strategy, with a focus on supporting customers’ transition journey across retail, commercial and infrastructure finance.Prior to joining HSBC, he spent almost 20 years working for the UK government, including senior roles in home decarbonisation, energy market design, industrial and finance policy. From 2017-2020 he led development and delivery of the UK’s decarbonisation strategy, including leading the team which set the UK net zero target and delivering the UK’s first Green Finance Strategy. After leaving the civil service, Tim joined the Tony Blair Institute as Senior Fellow for Net Zero, before moving to the financial services sector as Head of Climate Change for Phoenix Group.
UK TNFD & Transition Plan Lead, Green Finance Institute
Valerie leads market engagement on the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) in the UK for the GFI. She works closely with senior l...
Valerie leads market engagement on the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) in the UK for the GFI. She works closely with senior leadership of UK companies to build a strong business case for taking action on nature, from disclosure to nature transition planning and execution, and coordinates the TNFD’s UK Consultation Group. Valerie joins from the CANA Collective, where she was a contractor with a focus on natural capital accounting. Previously, she was a Director at Pollination, where she supported clients with nature risk assessments and strategy development, due diligence as part of carbon market transactions, and coalition-based policy advocacy for scaling environmental markets. Prior to this, she was an Associate Program Officer at the Robertson Foundation, making strategic grants to address climate change, protect ocean health, and deliver landscape-scale restoration projects.
Principal Consultant – Commercial Risk & Sustainability, Equifax
Director, Strategic & Sustainability Policy, UK Finance
Ian leads the delivery of UK Finance’s sustainability strategy, working with UK and international regulators to shape the sustainable finance and net ...
Ian leads the delivery of UK Finance’s sustainability strategy, working with UK and international regulators to shape the sustainable finance and net zero policy landscape. He has held policy advisory roles in the UK Government and European Commission, including head of international sustainable finance at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and senior advisor to former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney for the COP26 climate conference. He was previously a commodities and environmental markets analyst, covering Asian and European markets.
Principal, Sustainability, UK Finance
Agathe supports our Director Ian Bhullar on delivering UK Finance’s sustainability strategy, working with UK and international regulators to shape the...
Agathe supports our Director Ian Bhullar on delivering UK Finance’s sustainability strategy, working with UK and international regulators to shape the sustainable finance and net zero policy landscape. She leads on transition planning and some of our real economy work.
Agathe was previously a manager in the Sanctions policy team at UK Finance, and holds an LL.M. in International Law from the University of Edinburgh.
Baringa is an independent management consultancy built on 25 years of real-world experience across energy, financial services and the wider economy. W...
Baringa is an independent management consultancy built on 25 years of real-world experience across energy, financial services and the wider economy. We are the UK's number one consultancy for Energy, Utilities and Environment — rated gold by our clients in the Financial Times rankings every year since 2019. Because we work at the heart of the energy transition, we bring something unique to financial services — genuine insight into what net zero looks like in practice. We work with asset owners, managers, banks and insurers to assess climate, nature and environmental risk, build comprehensive transition plans, set net zero strategies and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
Equifax is a global data, analytics, and technology leader that helps businesses and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confiden...
Equifax is a global data, analytics, and technology leader that helps businesses and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. As a trusted partner to the financial services industry, we believe that positive economic change starts with a single opportunity and that knowledge drives progress.
Our Identity & Fraud solutions are designed to protect businesses and consumers throughout the entire customer journey. Leveraging the Equifax Cloud™ and differentiated data fabric, we deliver real-time, AI-powered insights to fight increasingly sophisticated threats. Our Authorized Payment Protection (APP) solution firms comply with complex regulations like the PSR mandate while ensuring a seamless, high-trust experience for their customers.
For over 18 years, Katalysys has helped and advised UK non-systemic banks navigate the complexities, obligations, and opportunities in prudential risk...
For over 18 years, Katalysys has helped and advised UK non-systemic banks navigate the complexities, obligations, and opportunities in prudential risk management, risk modelling, and regulatory compliance. With over 30% share of the non-systemic banking institutions in the country, we don't try to be everything to everyone – we are the specialists for banks that are exactly your size. This gives us a significant advantage, and a unique view of best practices in the market to which you specifically belong. We don’t just have deep knowledge of prudential regulations; we know how non-systemic banks can meet them in a considered and proportionate way to efficiently utilise capital and liquidity resources.
Our success is defined by the strong, strategic partnerships we form with our clients. We listen carefully to their requirements and behave like an internal team, enhancing their skills and resources to achieve positive results and make a lasting impact. Time and again clients comment on our responsiveness and the accessibility of our senior team. Because of this they trust us and know they can depend on us. Our clients consistently rate us as 'dependable' and 'committed' because we act as a true partner, not just a transactional vendor.
We offer services in risk management, regulatory reporting, and technology solutions on stress testing, interest rate risk in the banking book and liquidity monitoring.
Linklaters is one of the world’s leading law firms. We are a high-performing, diverse team of exceptional, talented and highly motivated individuals w...
Linklaters is one of the world’s leading law firms. We are a high-performing, diverse team of exceptional, talented and highly motivated individuals who handle the biggest and most transformational mandates for the world’s leading corporates, banks and financial sponsors.
We are bold and ambitious. Our goal is always to deliver the best results for our clients and each other. We focus relentlessly on innovation, efficiency and agility to meet our clients’ commercial needs and deliver beyond their expectations. If you are a major corporate or financial services company undertaking complex deals globally, Linklaters is the firm for you.
Our people are creative, commercial and committed, working with you to crystallise your organisation’s opportunities and manage your risks. Their expertise and our reach, through 30 offices in 20 countries, will enable you to achieve your corporate goals. Your success is key to us. With almost 200 years of guiding business through historical, economic and commercial changes, we have a heritage of long-lasting relationships and groundbreaking work.
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