Speakers
Index investing now accounts for more than half of global assets, and sustainability-focused indices are rapidly gaining traction. In Australia, where superannuation funds and institutional investors are deepening their responsible investment commitments, there is a growing need for index strategies to deliver credible and measurable sustainability performance.
Building on the launch of RIAA’s Index Certification, this session will examine how standards and certification strengthen trust and transparency in ESG and sustainability indices. It will highlight why external validation matters, how certification supports truth-in-labelling, and what innovations are emerging in index design globally.
Chair at Transition Pathway Initiative – TPI
David Russell is the Chair of the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI), which assesses companies’ preparedness for the transition to a low carbon future, supporting the efforts of investors in addressing climate change.Prior to this, David was the Head of Responsible Investment (RI) at the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the largest UK pension fund, where he worked from 2001 to 2023. He had responsibility for all aspects of RI strategy development and implementation across all asset classes. This included development of policy and strategy, stewardship, and integration across both public and private asset classes and from an asset owner and an asset manager perspective. He also led on the scheme’s formal ESG related reporting, including the UN PRI, the UK Stewardship Code and TCFD reporting.David is a former Board member of the UN PRI, was involved in the governance of the IIGCC from its inception, and until June 2023 was on the Board of the International Centre for Pensions Management. More broadly, David is a board member of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), a member of the FTSE Russell Sustainable Investment Advisory Committee, and whilst at USS was also a member of the PLSA Sustainability Committee and the UK Investment Associations’ Sustainability and Responsible Investment Committee.Prior to joining USS, David worked as an Environmental Manager for a UK retail company and was for five years a university lecturer in Environmental Management. He has a master’s degree in Environmental Impact Assessment.
Global Head of Sustainable at FTSE Russell
Stephanie Maier is Global Head of Sustainable and a member of the Leadership Team at FTSE Russell. She is responsible sustainable index product line globally, collaborating closely with clients to evolve our solutions in the index space.Stephanie joined FTSE Russell in September 2024 from independent Swiss listed asset manager GAM Investments, where she was their Global Chief Sustainability Officer, responsible for leading GAM’s sustainability strategy. This included ESG integration, stewardship, product and client solutions and corporate sustainability. She brings over 21 years’ experience in sustainable investment, with previous roles as Director for Responsible Investment at HSBC Global Asset Management, Head of Responsible Investment Strategy and Research at Aviva Investors and formerly Head of Research for EIRIS, an ESG research and consultancy firm.
Head of Certification at RIAA
Shalini plays a pivotal role at RIAA, spearheading the oversight of the organisation’s esteemed Certification Program, Sustainability Classifications, and as an AFSL Responsible Manager. Shalini’s role is vital as the financial industry faces increased scrutiny and a need for accurate product labelling. Her dedication ensures RIAA’s Certification Program remains robust and trustworthy in an ever-evolving market landscape.
With over a decade of combined experience in ESG investment research and certification, her expertise strengthens RIAA’s position. She has contributed significantly to the responsible investment and broader corporate sustainability industry through organisations like B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Minderoo Foundation, the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment. Shalini is a member of the Standards Australia Technical Group for the ISO Committee on Sustainable Finance, a Co-Convenor of the Inner Development Goals Australia Hubs Collaboration, a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course, and has been a mentor at Altiorem since 2020. With her wealth of expertise, she brings valuable insights from her extensive background, benefiting RIAA and its mission as a whole.