As Australia moves towards a post-COVID economic recovery, a debate has begun about the kind of economy we want to build and how we go about doing it. Much has been made about the potential for a new green economy to replace our increasingly obsolete dependence on fossil fuels. However, no one seems to be talking about the regulatory barriers that could prevent some of these strong ideas from being implemented.
EDO is holding a series of webinars hosted by EDO Special Counsel Dr Emma Carmody, which bring together experts to delve into the challenges as we seek to rebuild a better Australia in the pandemic aftermath.
Webinar 2 – Corporations Law and Superannuation Law
Do laws governing companies and superannuation funds inhibit green economic growth, including investment in renewables and other sustainable forms of development? Do they require reform?
This webinar was held on Monday 31 August 2020.
Convener: Dr Emma Carmody, EDO Special Counsel
Speakers
Tim Gordon: Tim is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Corporate Advisory group. Tim advises listed and unlisted companies and fund managers in relation to mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and recapitalisations and regulatory investigations. Tim is currently advising Infigen Energy (Australia’s biggest listed renewable energy generator) on its competing takeover bids from UAC and Iberdrola (the world’s largest wind power generator). Tim is a regular commentator in the media on corporate governance reform.
Kirstin Hunter: Kirstin is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Future Super where she is leading the movement to use the power of money to invest, advocate and campaign for a future worth retiring into. Kirstin began her career as a Solicitor at Freehills before moving to Bain & Company where she specialised in financial services strategy, working for clients in banking, insurance and wealth management in Australia and Canada. She has done pro-bono work for non-profits including the Aboriginal Trust Fund Remuneration Scheme, OzHarvest and Whitelion, chaired the board of the Youth Food Movement Australia, and founded Aussie Babywearers for Refugees.
Phil Vernon:
Phil Vernon has over 30 years experience in financial services covering investments, superannuation, structured finance and sustainable finance. He was for 10 years Managing Director and Chief Executive of Australian Ethical Investment, Australia’s leading ethical superannuation and ethical investment company. Prior to that he was a Group Executive with Perpetual Limited one of Australia’s leading investment companies.
Phil is currently a Director of the Environmental Defender’s Office, climate change think tank Beyond Zero Emissions and Planet Ark Environmental Foundation. He is also a consultant to the Board of Futurity Investment Group an education based friendly society and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative. He is a past Director of industry associations the Responsible Investment Association of Australia and of the Australian Securitisation Forum (Chair).
Phil has a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of Commerce, a Master of Business Administration and a Diploma of Superannuation. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and of the Australian Superannuation Funds Association.
