Investec’s Boipelo Rabothata, Maxine Gray develop ESG guidebook

The ESG and responsible investing Guidebook has been developed by Boipelo Rabothata, ESG specialist and co-fund manager of the Investec Global Sustainable Equity Fund, and Maxine Gray, Business Strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment International. It examines five steps that can be undertaken when looking to understand what responsible investment is and what questions should be posed to enable long-term success and sustainability.

“ESG is a rapidly evolving area and embarking on the journey can be daunting,” says Maxine.

“Investors play a critical role in responsible investing. However, there are currently different ideas of what “responsible investing” means. Terminology is used interchangeably in the market in which stakeholders have a disparate level of core knowledge on this space. That, together with politicisation and other macro-economic challenges faced across the globe, have in part contributed to the anti-ESG movements seen today. The basis of progress lies in finding a common definition and shared understanding of the fundamentals in order to move forward meaningfully,” she adds.

Barry Shamley, fund manager at Investec Investment Management, notes, “As the lead author of the guidebook, Boipelo utilised a model that not only incorporated ESG considerations (with a focus on prudent risk management) but also encouraged an additional focus on achieving a ‘dual impact’, which is the direct impact charitable and philanthropic institutions intend to make, as well as the indirect impact that can be achieved through the way their capital is invested.”

“We know that the role of business has shifted to a more considered stakeholder model and therefore this guidebook aims to provide practical steps for responsible investing, as a primary consideration for decision makers – trustees, investors and fund managers alike. However, beyond ESG and responsible investing, it also provides an overview of the impact of ESG risks on the long-term value of capital, while offering strategies for mitigating these risks,” he adds.