ESG is a term used to define the standard of ethical business. For investors, an ESG highly rated company is environmentally friendly, diverse and has a strong understanding of its social impact, a recipe for responsible investing.

What is ESG investing?

Traditional investing considers the profitability of a company to decide whether it is worth financial support. ESG investing takes this a step further by factoring in a business's social and environmental policies that set the standard for its ethical practices.

Investors use a rating system that quantifies a company’s quality of diversity, stance on social issues and contribution to climate change. Though there are pros and cons to this approach, with many highlighting the potential for “greenwashing”, the growth of ESG is undeniable - it is predicted that by 2025, investments in sustainable products will surpass EUR 7.6 trillion.

Source: RL360 & Mondaq

What does ESG stand for?

ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. Broken down, each means:

• Environmental: The impact that a business has on the planet, whether through energy and water usage, or the lifespan of its products.
• Social: Dictates how “socially responsible” a company is, including its community engagement and stance on human rights issues.
• Governance: To highlight how diverse a business is, especially within senior leadership.

ESG investing is a blueprint for businesses to follow that wish to improve their global impact and appeal to ethically driven investors.

Our Top ESG Speakers

Champions Speakers Director, Jack Hayes, has created his expert selection of the top 12 ESG speakers to hire, based on vetted client feedback from 128 ESG conferences held between 2022 and 2024.

• Kate Brandt - Google's Sustainability Officer
• Dr Sally Uren - Chief Executive of Forum For The Future
• Makaziwe Mandela - Nelson Mandela's Daughter
• Sir Iain Duncan Smith - Former Conservative Party Leader
• Jon Wright - Co-Founder of Innocent Drinks
• Lars Thomsen - Founder & CEO of Future Matters
• Alexandra Palt - Executive Vice-President of the Fondation L'Oréal
• Lucas Joppa - Microsoft's Chief Environmental Officer
• Göran Carstedt - Former President of IKEA Europe & North America
• Roger Ballentine - President of Green Strategies
• Alice Charles - World Economic Forum's Head of Cities & Urban Development
• Nigel Topping - Boris Johnson's High-Level Climate Change Champion

1.) Kate Brandt

Google’s Sustainability Officer, Kate Brandt, is leading the environmental revolution. She is responsible for Google's global operations, overseeing supply chains and product manufacturing to ensure the company's eco-friendly status. As a speaker, Kate can discuss circular economies and climate change, teaching businesses how to meet the ESG criteria for sustainability.

2.) Dr Sally Uren

Dr Sally Uren is the Chief Executive of Forum for the Future, an organisation that analyses sustainability trends to forge a greener world. She has worked with some of the biggest names in business, like Olam and Walgreens, to inspire global change. At events, Dr Sally imparts to attendees the changes they can make in their businesses to drive sustainability practices.

3.) Makaziwe Mandela

As the daughter of Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader, Makaziwe Mandela was raised to change the world. She has worked with such institutions as the University of the Witwatersrand, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the Industrial Development Group, for which she pioneered sustainable business strategies. Makaziwe is a key figure in the fight for equality, so she uses her knowledge to improve business inclusion and diversity at events.

4.) Sir Iain Duncan Smith

Former Conservative Party leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, has had a keen interest in welfare, social justice and tackling poverty for most of his career. He has held several high-profile positions in the British Government, including as Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security and MP for Chingford, a testament to Iain’s vast understanding of politics. When booked for events, Iain teaches businesses how to become forces for good within their communities.

5.) Jon Wright

Jon Wright is the co-founder of Innocent Drinks, one of the leading brands in sustainable production and environmentally friendly packaging. From co-founder to Managing Director in the UK, Jon continually prioritised the company’s social responsibility as it grew, by giving 10% of its profits to charity. As a speaker, Jon’s keynote engagements highlight the importance of charitable donations in business to meet the ESG criteria.

6.) Lars Thomsen

Specialising in energy and the future of work, Lars Thomsen is carving a roadmap for businesses to follow within ESG’s parameters for ethical operations. The founder and CEO of Future Matters, a think tank, has spent the last two decades developing future strategies and arming companies with the knowledge needed to meet their customers' moral expectations. Lars helps corporate audiences to rethink their sustainability policies and workplace culture.

7.) Alexandra Palt

Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice-President of the Fondation L’Oréal, is a powerful speaker on corporate responsibility. Having worked with the global beauty brand since 2012, she has produced sustainability strategies and management programmes that have transformed L’Oréal’s reputation and positioned the company as an example of ESG excellence. Alexandra’s speeches establish corporate responsibility as a vehicle for growth.

8.) Lucas Joppa

Lucas Joppa has led Microsoft’s sustainability initiatives since 2009, when he joined the company as a Computational Ecologist. Later progressing to Chief Environmental Scientist and Chief Environmental Officer, he launched Microsoft’s AI for Earth Programme in 2017, an innovative solution for climate change that harnessed the power of AI. Lucas’ speeches combine technology, social responsibility and environmental strategies to produce transformational results.

9.) Göran Carstedt

Göran Carstedt, former Senior Director of the Clinton Climate Initiative, is a passionate thought leader on philosophy and sustainability. As a speaker, he regularly explores the secrets of successful leadership and how to create a sustainable future, starting with businesses and industry bodies. Göran was the President of IKEA in Europe and North America, a role that taught him valuable skills in ethical business management, which he imparts at events.

10.) Roger Ballentine

President of Green Strategies, Roger Ballentine, is one of the foremost specialists in sustainable business practices. Including investing, clean energy and environmental policies, he is a highly sought-after speaker on ESG requirements and the impact that businesses have on the planet. Roger’s events leave attendees empowered and educated on the key traits of an ethical company.

11.) Alice Charles

With decades of experience in the public and private sector, Alice Charles’ understanding of sustainability in business makes her an increasingly popular ESG speaker. She has served on many prestigious boards and has worked with the World Economic Forum to pioneer ethical urbanisation and property developments. Alice provides corporate audiences with the best of both worlds, insight into sustainable practices and profitable growth.

12.) Nigel Topping

Nigel Topping was appointed the UK’s High-Level Climate Change Champion by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020, a role reflective of his global reputation. For both investors and businesses, he collaborates with industry leaders to predict the trajectory of climate change, opening people’s eyes to their own impact on the environment.

Hire an ESG Speaker Today!

Contact Champions Speakers to book an ESG speaker for your event today. Simply call a booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

This exclusive article on the top ESG speakers to hire was authored by Jack Hayes, using vetted client feedback from 128 ESG conferences held between 2022 and 2024.

Champions Speakers' Standards: Champions Speakers Principles of Trust