This report identifies barriers to effective investor stewardship and engagement, highlighting challenges such as unclear definitions, resource constraints, and ineffective reporting. It outlines practical solutions from WHEB, recommending clearer alignment of engagement objectives with client mandates and prioritising measurable outcomes over activity metrics to deliver long-term client value.

This paper critically examines investor stewardship, shifting from traditional shareholder-focused governance towards "enlightened stewardship." It advocates balancing fiduciary duties with broader societal and environmental considerations. Analysing the evolution of the UK Stewardship Code, it highlights a systemic shift to integrate sustainability and stakeholder concerns alongside financial returns for long-term value creation.

ShareAction’s report introduces a standardised escalation framework for investors to engage with companies on environmental and social issues. It outlines an escalation toolkit and pathway to ensure structured, transparent, and time-bound engagement. The framework aims to enhance investor accountability, drive systemic change, and improve corporate sustainability practices through clear expectations, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms.

The report examines the engagement strategies of ESG funds in Asia, highlighting the unique challenges posed by regulatory constraints, concentrated ownership, and political influences. Using a structured engagement pyramid, the study categorises ESG fund strategies, ranging from investment screening to direct corporate control. Despite obstacles, notable regional features can support ESG initiatives, such as shareholder voting mechanisms and strategic collaborations. The report provides insights into how ESG funds navigate these challenges to influence corporate governance and sustainability outcomes in Asia.

As the global demand for climate action rises, financial institutions and professionals are navigating a new paradigm. Stakeholders need to be thinking strategically to navigate these complexities with precision and agility, adopting best-in-class strategic models to facilitate decision-making for a more sustainable future.

The report introduces an analytical model that expands traditional investment management by recognising multiple stewardship relationships beyond immediate clients and beneficiaries. It advocates for enlightened stewardship that considers the broader impacts on society, the environment, and the economy, urging the integration of such perspectives into stewardship codes.

This report examines whether engagement activities deliver impactful sustainability outcomes, comparing systemic and company-specific engagement. It encourages investors to align engagement goals with investment views, distinguishes escalation mechanisms for equity and debt investors, and emphasises financial materiality for achievable, value-enhancing outcomes. Investors are reminded of their fiduciary responsibility to clients and stakeholders.

This research focuses on constructive corporate engagement. This report analyses survey results from 100 senior company directors and interviews with ten executives to examine the drivers of successful engagements. Insights include the importance of collaborating with companies, focusing on material issues, and using standard metrics for success.

The Stewardship Code is a voluntary guideline crafted by New Zealand industry experts, aiding financial market participants in responsible investment stewardship. Comprising nine principles, it supplements regulatory mandates, allowing voluntary adoption and reporting on a 'comply or explain' basis.

This report provides a call to action for investors to engage in systematic stewardship to address systemic climate risk. It explores limitations of corporate engagement and presents alternative opportunities for engagement such as sector and value chain engagement, policy engagement, and asset manager engagement.

This guide provides a comprehensive tool for engaging food and beverage companies on labour standards. It incorporates learnings from collaborative investor-company engagement focused on supply chain reporting and third-party resources. Outlining seven expectations for investors to focus on supported by relevant resources and case studies.

Active Ownership 2.0 is a proposed aspirational standard for improved stewardship. It builds on existing practice and expertise but explicitly prioritises the seeking of outcomes over process and activity, and common goals and effort over narrow interests. This paper sets out the case for change and a high-level framework for what the standard could involve.

This report outlines how investors can identify whether certain companies are at a heightened risk as a result of extreme weather events. Additionally, it addresses how communications between corporate companies and investors can mitigate these risks and respond accordingly, thus promoting better adaptability to the financial risks of climate change.