Menu
Back

CVN event - ESG

Corporations, by focusing on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards and impact innovation, can drive sustainability and social responsibility in their business strategies. By investing in, adopting, or developing innovations that generate positive social or environmental impact, corporations can enhance their ESG performance and contribute to solving significant societal and environmental challenges. This strategy also offers competitive advantages, potentially opening up new markets and boosting reputation among stakeholders who value corporate responsibility.

Van Abbemuseum

banner

Agenda

12:00-12:45

Network Lunch (if you have dietary requirements, please let us know)

12:45-12:50

Opening & Welcome

12:50-13:15

Keynote Steven ten Thije – Head of Collections Van Abbemuseum
Change and Stability – points of contact between the care for art and ESG
Art museums operate on a complex, paradoxical environment of change and continuation. What makes art art is its ability to surprise us and show us things in new ways, even if somethings these new perspectives are uncomfortable. At the same time these new perspectives are stored in our collective memory by becoming part of museum collections. Today’s global challenges, which ESG methodology allows to measure and act upon, are marked by a similar contradiction. Our goal is to care for our environment, all living and non-living things within it. That means preservation of nature and wildlife and care for human beings and especially those in difficult situations. Only to do so will require change, developing different perspectives and different methods. We seek the change to preserve what is, was and can be. This lecture reflect on this paradoxical desire for both change and stability through the example of the institution already caught up in this complex for over 86 years: the Van Abbemuseum.

13:15-14:00

Keynote Linda Kooning -  ESG Officer at Innovation Industries
Embedding sustainability in corporate venturing
The importance of intentionality, focus, and differentiation 
If you are seeking to embed ESG and/or impact into your venture development activities, you may come across a range of questions, some of which may not be (properly) addressed through existing frameworks, guidance, and standards. For example: 'What exactly is the difference between 'Sustainability', 'ESG' and 'impact', and how do these concepts (conceptually and practically) relate to one another? ' 'How to communicate on your venture-related ESG /impact-based activities, both internally and externally?'; and 'How to use ESG and impact to actually create societal and financial value (and avoid 'greenwashing')? Linda will share her thoughts on these key questions. For instance, she will discuss the merits of using corporate venturing to enact your organisation's purpose and leverage its core strengths. Also, she will argue the need to differentiate your approach between companies in different stages of development.

14:00-14:45

Keynote Martijn Scholtes (Head Corporate Venturing) & Björn Aarts (ESG Director) at  Rabo Investments
Aligning ESG policy with corporate strategy
How to apply ESG in corporate venturing
When integrating ESG within your way of working & investment portfolio, it should relate and represent the corporate's mission, strategy and sustainability goals. In this presentation, the views and practical experience from both the investment team and ESG team of Rabo Investments will be shared. How to set up an ESG Strategy and translate this into sound KPI's? What factors to incorporate and how to align with commitments and other pledges of the mother company? What is the responsibility and role to play for the corporate in driving and creating a delta on ESG? Martijn and Björn will take you along RI's ESG journey and share practical insights, pitfalls and tips on how to set up an ESG policy in corporate venturing.

14:45-15:00

Network break

15:00-15:40

Round table discussion

15:40-16:00

Sharing main insights from round table discussions

16:00-16:30

Guided tour Van Abbemuseum

16:30-17:00

Network drinks

Bio of keynote speakers

At Innovation Industries, Linda Kooning developed and implemented an ESG management system suited to the needs of and requirements for start-ups and scale-ups. Linda also offers advice on ESG and impact to Thuja Capital, an early-stage VC fund manager that invests in healthcare ventures focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, cure and care. She guided both firms in their journey towards a venture appropriate framework for impact assessment, monitoring and reporting.

At Rabo Investments, Björn Aarts is responsible for ESG as part of the investment strategy and developed the ESG policy and way of working within RI. Furthermore, Björn is active in the space of ESG and sustainable finance for over 7 years at Rabobank and is a.o. member of the Responsible Investment Committee of NVP, the Impact Committee of SHIFT Invest and the LP Sustainability Council of Paine Schwartz.

Martijn Scholtes is Head of the Corporate Venturing team, the strategic investment arm of Rabobank. Its mission is to accelerate the innovation agenda of Rabobank by investing in new business models and emerging technologies with a focus on fintech & its cross-overs into agri and climate tech. Over the past 6 years the team built a well-diversified investment portfolio of cutting edge ventures and leading VC funds. Previously Martijn held different roles in M&A, relationship banking, turnaround equity and group finance within Rabobank.