Kathy Ryan holds the position of Chief Sustainability Officer at M&G plc and leads on the development and implementation of the Group’s sustainability strategy, heading up the Group’s Central Sustainability Office and reporting to the Group’s Chief Financial Officer. Kathy has a long track record in advancing sustainable practices across the financial industry including through her work as a member of the Great West Life Group Global Sustainable Council, leading on responsible investment for Irish Life Investment Managers, and previously at Aviva Investors as Senior ESG Strategist.

She has a passion for helping to drive systemic change by engaging with policymakers and industry groups to advance methodologies and education on sustainable finance topics. Kathy is a member of the Energy Security Advisory Group of the IBDR, member of TheCITYUK Green and Sustainable Finance Group, participated in a number of All Parliamentary Groups at Westminster on Sustainability, Chaired The CDP Ireland Network , launched the 30% Club Investor Initiative (Ireland) and collaborated with development finance banks such as the World Bank and NGOs including Carbon Tracker and Climate Policy Initiative. In addition, she has been a strong supporter for M&G’s involvement in the Climate Action 100+ initiative.

Leveraging her individual expertise and M&G’s long-standing relationship and engagement with IIGCC, Kathy offers the perspective of a financial institution including an asset manager and asset owner business to help advance Pension’s for Purpose Advisory Group agenda and is able to represent and draw on subject matter expertise from all divisions across the Group. M&G Life allocates up to £5bn into privately-owned enterprises working for a more sustainable world and meeting the global demand for capital from innovative responsible enterprises which are underserved by providers of institutional finance. Their unique business model and impact investing capabilities make M&G well placed to achieve Pensions for Profits purpose of bridging the gap between pensions and asset managers to increase flows to impact investing.