Sustainable Intelligence

Climate risk isn’t a distant threat, it’s a material financial reality. In this episode, Matt Babic, Advisory Manager at Novata, breaks down what today’s investors need to understand about the evolving climate landscape, the data that matters, and how to assess risk and opportunity across portfolios.  Whether you're navigating new regulations or rethinking your investment strategy, this conve...

In this special edition of Sustainable Intelligence to recognize Novata’s 4th anniversary, host Ella Williamson is joined by Rachel Yoo, Founder & CEO of Hiro, and Nadia Haile, Lead Designer & Strategist at Hiro, to reflect on the journey of building Novata’s brand. From naming and visual identity to brand voice and evolution, we unpack what it really takes to create a sustainability brand...

Private credit is fast becoming a force in ESG reporting, but it’s not simply following in private equity’s footsteps. In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, host Ella Williamson speaks with Alex Jackson, Senior Customer Success Manager at Novata, about what’s driving the surge in sustainability momentum across credit markets. From shifting LP expectations to increasing collaboration across...

Dr. Julie Anderson, Director of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management at American University’s Kogod School of Business, joins this episode of Sustainable Intelligence to explore what the global rollback of sustainability regulations really means for investors. While recent policy shifts, from SEC revisions to the EU’s “stop the clock” directive, may appear to signal retreat, Julie ar...

Joining us today is David Willans, Director of Sustainability at Bladonmore, to unpack the shifting dynamics of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in today’s business and political climate. As media narratives and stakeholder pressures intensify, companies are responding in divergent ways. Some are retreating, others reframing, and a few holding the line. David explores the critical disconnec...

Joining us today is David Wingate, Manager on Novata’s Advisory team, to explore how ESG due diligence is evolving from a fragmented, qualitative process to a streamlined, data-driven approach that connects sustainability and financial outcomes. David explains why sustainability data needs to stay consistent from diligence through to exit, how focusing on material, decision-useful metrics unlocks...

In this episode, Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra, reflects on how sustainability principles have remained constant over decades, even as language and strategies have evolved. She distinguishes between managerial sustainability (risk and compliance) and entrepreneurial sustainability (innovation and growth), arguing businesses must embrace both to thrive.  Solitaire...

We've got Waliur Rahman, Metrics and Regulations Associate at Novata, to break down the new Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs, better known as the VSME. Wali explains how this EFRAG-developed standard is designed to make sustainability reporting more accessible, especially for smaller businesses, and why its flexible, modular approach could transform how SMEs eng...

The EU Omnibus Package is shaking up sustainability reporting, bringing changes that could significantly impact companies across Europe. Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Advisory at Novata, joins us to break down the key updates, including the potential 80% reduction in CSRD scope, new reporting deferrals, and what these changes mean for businesses navigating the evolving ESG landscape. She explains...

Joining us today is Colin Finn, Director of Customer Engagement at Novata. In this episode Colin shares practical strategies for streamlining sustainability reporting in private markets. As sustainability teams face mounting reporting demands and regulatory changes, Colin breaks down how firms can prioritize data requests, centralize workflows, and leverage technology to make sustainability report...

We've got Samuel King, co-founder and CTO of AI company Briink, discussing his transition from machine learning and natural language processing to developing AI tools for ESG and sustainability. He explains how companies face overwhelming volumes of unstructured ESG data and regulatory demands, and how Briink’s technology streamlines data extraction and compliance processes. The conversation...

We've got Jessie Martin, Global Head of Advisory at Novata, joining us today. We explore the growing pushback against ESG reporting, particularly due to regulatory overload and inefficiencies. Jessie highlights how businesses are struggling with excessive ESG data demands, leading to frustration and calls for simplification, especially in Europe with the CSRD and in the US with a shifting reg...

We've got Josh Green, Novata’s COO and Co-Founder joining us today. He shares why considering ESG factors is no longer a “nice to have” but a business imperative driven by regulatory, investor, and consumer pressures. He explores how businesses can navigate political and regulatory crosswinds by embedding sustainability into their core strategies and leveraging technology to streamline compli...

We’ve got Sarb Thandi, Novata’s Chief People Officer, joining us. Sarb delves into the strategic alignment of sustainability and people practices, emphasizing how Novata’s core values—integrity, longevity, togetherness, and agility—drive a culture of resilience. Sarb highlights the challenges and successes of creating a lasting sustainability ethos that empowers individuals to drive change both wi...

We've got Alex Friedman, CEO and Co-Founder of Novata, joining us for an engaging conversation about the evolving world of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and sustainability in private markets. With a career spanning influential roles such as CFO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and CEO of GAM Holdings, Alex shares his insights on driving sustainability and the future of priva...

We've got Si Mathavan and Darren Mascarenhas from Johnston Carmichael joining us to discuss the crucial role of assurance in ESG reporting. They break down the importance of assurance for building trust, ensuring compliance, and meeting stakeholder expectations in the evolving ESG landscape.

We’ve got Allison Green, ESG Research Associate at Novata, joining us to explore the topic of biodiversity and its importance for businesses. An expert on biodiversity, ocean impact, waste management and more, Allison dives into the goals and outcomes of the recent COP16 biodiversity summit. She highlights the importance of biodiversity, recent successes and challenges with biodiversity preservati...

We’ve got Lorraine Spradley-Wilson, Novata’s Senior Advisor, joining us to talk about creating a world-class sustainability report. Lorraine highlights the importance of strategic stakeholder engagement and conducting a thorough ESG materiality assessment to ensure relevant themes are prioritized. She also emphasizes avoiding common pitfalls, such as overloading reports with irrelevant metrics or...

We've got Kieron Maddison, Senior Product Manager at Novata, joining us to share insights on integrating the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) into broader ESG strategies. Key topics include the shift from ESG compliance to value creation, the role of data and automation in streamlining CSRD reporting, and the need for companies to conduct gap analyses to meet the new regula...

We've got Charlie Mahoney, Head of US Sales at Novata,joining us todive into the evolving role of ESG in U.S. private markets. Charlie shares insights on how general partners (GPs) are navigating ESG—from early compliance to genuine integration. We discuss whether ESG is becoming standard practice or simply a box-ticking exercise, the regulatory pressures reshaping the landscape, and the impo...

Gence Emek, Head of EMEA Sales at Novata, joins this episode of Sustainable Intelligence to dive into practical sustainability and making effective ESG decisions. Gence identifies key challenges ESG practitioners face and their impact on decision-making. He further emphasizes the importance of mindset over strategy, advocating for clear communication of simple, actionable ideas to stakeholders for...

We've got Emily Sennett, Head of Customer Success at Novata, joining us today. Emily leads a global team working with more than 160 investor clients and over 7,000 portfolio companies on ESG data reporting. Emily shares her insights on ESG reporting cycles, including the best times to start, strategies for effective data collection, and how to add value to portfolio companies throughout the y...

We've got Teresa Yu, ESG Metrics & Regulations Lead at Novata joining us for this episode. The episode focuses on California's new climate regulations and their implications for businesses. Teresa emphasizes the importance of starting preparations immediately to meet the upcoming regulatory deadlines and leverage potential business opportunities.

We've got Caitlin Pentifallo, Head of Metrics and Regulations at Novata, joining us to discuss the intricacies of social impact and its connection to impact investing. Caitlin shares her journey from studying the social impacts of the Olympic Games to leading Novata's extensive Metric Library, which now includes over 2,400 metrics. She delves into various methodologies and tools for meas...

We've got Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Services at Novata, joining us for this episode. We explore the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), a critical framework introduced by the European Commission in 2021. Laura connects SFDR to broader EU initiatives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and EU taxonomy, emphasizing its role in driving greener investmen...