Programme

This opening panel will chart the course for an increased role for private money in the restoration of land, water and nature in the UK. The discussion will follow the launch of the final framework of the Task Force for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures in New York the previous week. The panel will examine the role of nature finance in the fulfilment of commitments made by business and government at recent international summits on climate and nature. Join this panel to find out how all parts of the UK can lead on nature finance globally by action at home, delivering for net zero and a nature-positive economy. 

Panel session, involving:

• Chair: Helen Avery, Director of Nature Programmes and GFI Hive, Green Finance Institute
• James King, Senior Manager, Sustainability and Climate Change Consulting, PwC
• Dr Rebecca Heaton, Director of Environmental Sustainability, Lloyds Banking Group
• Martin Berg, Chief Executive Officer, Climate Asset Management
• Paul Chatterton, Leader and Founder, Landscape Finance Lab

The Lord Mayor and a representative of HM Government will provide their vision for nature finance in the UK, setting out its role in a climate-resilient and nature positive economy.

Speeches from:

• The Rt Hon. The Lord Mayor Nicholas Stephen Leland Lyons, City of London

In this special session, Alicia Gibson, Senior Associate Director at Finance Earth, will outline support for the practical delivery of nature finance in the UK.

Presentation from:

• Alicia Gibson, Senior Associate Director at Finance Earth

(One of two parallel sessions on offer to delegates)
New revenue from nature markets has the potential to reinvigorate rural economies through new jobs and increased business resilience. Investment in the projects and enterprises that will deliver the restoration of land, water and nature will also provide economic stimulus. Join this session to discover where the opportunities are, and how significant they may become. 

Panel discussion involving:

• Chair: Sarah Hendry, Director General, Country, Land & Business Association (CLA)
• James Farrell, Head of Rural, Knight Frank
• Teresa Dent CBE, Chief Executive, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT)
• William Hawes, Head of Nature-Based Solutions, National Parks Partnerships
• James Hall, Estates Manager, Cholmondeley Estates

(One of two parallel sessions on offer to delegates)
Throughout the islands of the UK, marine and coastal habitat offers significant opportunity for financial innovation that can deliver for net zero, for nature and for local economies. Although still in the early stages of market maturity, the diversity and scale of the opportunities for benefit outcomes that could be realised in the marine environment are exciting. Cross-sector collaboration will be key to unlocking these opportunities and initiatives such as the Blue Recovery Leaders Group, initiated by WWT in association with nine other sustainability-oriented organisations, are showing how this will work in practice. Join this session to hear how restoration of saltmarsh and seagrass habitat around the UK presents a first-class opportunity for high integrity buyers, investors and project providers.

Presentation and discussion involving speakers from:

• Panel chair: Whitni Thomas, Head of Corporate Finance, Triodos Bank UK
• Peter Lee, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
• Caroline Price, Senior Development Manager, The Crown Estate
• Geoff Hilton, Head of Conservation Evidence, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
• Henrietta Stock, Senior Sustainability Manager, Aviva

An opportunity to meet our sponsors and exhibitors.

An address by David Craig, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures following publication of its finalised risk management and disclosure framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks. Membership of the Taskforce has consisted of 40 individuals representing financial institutions, corporates and market service providers with over US$20trn in assets.

Businesses of all sizes are seeking to contribute to a nature positive economy in the UK. The role of land, water and nature in net zero and climate resilience is also rising on their agenda. Join this session to gain insight into their requirements in procuring the ecosystem services that they need from the UK’s natural environment. What are they looking to purchase from environmental projects in the UK? How can they be sure they will get the quantity and quality that they need? How are they managing the social dimensions of nature finance? How does this procurement fit alongside corporate responsibility funding. Join this panel for answers. 

Panel session including:

• Chair: Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group

• Graham Edgell, Director of Procurement & Sustainability, Morgan Sindall Group
• Georgie Nelson, Head of ESG – Real Estate, abrdn
• Andy Brown, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Anglian Water
• Matthew Ryan. Regeneration Lead, Nestlé UK & Ireland

Connect with buyers, sellers, and enablers of environmental markets at their dedicated stalls in our expo, including but not limited to:

• Triodos Bank UK
• Knight Frank
• National Parks Partnerships
• CLA
• Caledonian Climate
• Gaia
• Nature Returns
• Nature North
• Bristol Avon Catchment Market
• BSI (British Standards Institution), Nature Investment Standards Programme
• Kana
• eftec (Economics for the Environment Consultancy)
• Forest Carbon Ltd

Book your place to exhibit at the conference.

Tune into our Nature Finance Spotlights, featuring some of the leading projects in nature finance from across the UK.

Financing conservation at scale in the UK

Earlier in 2023, Oxygen Conservation and Triodos Bank UK announced a pioneering conservation-focused debt package, believed to be the largest of its kind in the UK. The project will deliver landscape-level restoration and involve working with local communities. Listen to this session with Triodos Bank UK and the Green Finance Institute to hear their perspectives on how the project came about.

Designing nature-based solutions that work for buyers and investors

Hear National Parks Partnerships and Palladium in conversation about how they are responding to investor needs through Revere, the pioneering partnership to catalyse private finance to restore the UK’s 15 National Parks at scale and pace.

Câr y Môr – a pioneer in nature-positive community-owned business

Discover how the regeneration of marine habitat can go hand in hand with the interests of a coastal community. Find out how an award-winning regenerative seaweed and shellfish farm has learning applicable to all around the UK.

Nature Markets Principles

As nature markets emerge and mature, it is essential that all involved work to build high quality, high integrity sustainable nature markets in the UK that deliver for nature, communities and for business. Listen to this session to learn about the launch of the Nature Markets Principles.

For those who would like a deeper dive into the workings of nature finance, you have the choice of two masterclasses. Both will need to be pre-booked (delegates will be invited ahead of the event)

Taxation and nature finance

With Alex Simmons, Director – Tax, Saffery Champness LLP and Louise Speke, Chief Tax Advisor, CLA

Natural capital accounting for nature finance

With Ece Özdemiroǧlu, Founder and CEO, eftec (Economics for the Environment Consultancy)

By incorporating biodiversity uplift, nature-based carbon projects offer a valuable opportunity to mitigate climate change and gain resilience against it. Join this session to gain a clear understanding of the key issues of supply and demand in the UK’s nature-based carbon market.

Briefing, involving representation from key facilitators of nature-based carbon markets, including:

• John Goffin, Commercial Development Officer, Kana
• George Hepburne Scott, Director, Forest Carbon Ltd
• Guy Farley, Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder, ManyPets
• George Sethia, Head of Consulting, BSI (British Standards Institution)

The ability to measure the impacts and dependencies that businesses have on nature holds promise for the development of voluntary biodiversity markets and the restoration of nature that they could bring about. Join this session to discover the steps needed to realise these markets in the UK and beyond.

Briefing with

• Sophus zu Ermgassen, Ecological Economist, University of Oxford
• Edward Asseily, Chief Executive Officer, Zulu Ecosystems
• Cain Blythe, Chief Executive, Ecosulis and Credit Nature

A fireside conversation with

• Kerry ten Kate, Independent Advisor
• Helen Edmundson, Deputy Director for Green Finance at Defra
• Ross Johnston, Head of Natural Capital Policy and Valuation, Scottish Government.

An opportunity to meet our sponsors, partners and exhibitors.

When evaluating nature-based investment opportunities, there are many aspects to consider. Such as the scalability and replicability of projects, the nature of the returns and the risks involved, and the impact of the investment on the environment and society. Join this session to discover investor perspectives on the opportunities for financing nature-based solutions in the UK.

Panel session, involving:

• Chair: Tushita Ranchan, Financier and Investor
• Susannah Stock, Director, UK Infrastructure Bank
• Graham Ramsbottom, Head of Nature-Based Solutions, Greensphere Capital
• Whitni Thomas, Head of Corporate Finance, Triodos Bank UK

All delegates, exhibitors and speakers are invited to join us at 17.15 for drinks and canapés in the Livery Hall. This is a special opportunity for informal networking and to reflect on the day.

We are delighted to have the presence of our two guests speaker are Dame Amelia Fawcett, Co-Chair of the UK French Advisory Group for Biodiversity Credits and Dr Rebecca Heaton, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Lloyds Banking Group.

Our Reception Sponsor is Lloyds Banking Group.