A Day in the Life of…an ESG Manager
Name: Katie Ahmed
Company: Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP
Job Title: ESG Manager
Linked In profile: linkedin.com/in/katieahmed
What does your company do?
Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP (Basalt) is a dedicated mid-market infrastructure equity investment firm focusing on investments in power & renewables, utilities, transport and communications & digital infrastructure in North America and Western Europe.
How long have you worked at your company / how did you get your role?
I joined Basalt in May 2021 following my second maternity leave. Prior to that I spent 12 years in Human Resources roles within financial services. I was looking for a senior position that I could do on a part-time basis (I currently work three days a week) where I could make a difference and saw an ad from an agency on LinkedIn. I was surprised they didn’t require someone with an ESG background but it was always something I had been interested in having done a geography degree and had involvement with the strong Responsible Investment/ESG teams in my previous organisations. There is also a lot of overlap and transferable skills, primarily with the S and the G, with HR Management. I had three rounds of interviews with six people, all virtual, and to my delight was offered the role.
What training/qualifications do you need to be an ESG Manager?
I may have been lucky that I didn’t require any formal ESG qualifications or experience prior to joining Basalt. However, I hold a BSc in Geography and chose mainly environmental modules at University such as environmental issues and environmental risk management, so was able to demonstrate my interest in the ‘E’. I also have a Masters in HR Management and a strong background within financial services. I did a lot of prep work ahead of my interviews and was able to demonstrate that I had previously dealt with things such as investor DDQs for example and had regular interactions with various stakeholders within investment.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My role focuses on driving Basalt’s ESG strategy, policies, procedures and reporting across the investment companies and our own operations. In a typical day I would probably need to respond to an investor questionnaire, as often they have an annual ESG reporting requirement, answering detailed questions about our ESG processes, diversity within Basalt, etc. I also liaise with management teams across the portfolio, either on work they’re doing within their organisations, or their KPI reporting that they are required to submit to us on a quarterly basis. I might need to do some analysis on the data that comes in to me from the portfolio companies and their ESG reporting or prepare information for investor reports. It is important I stay on top of legislation and regulations such as TCFD and SFDR so there may be some work to do on that. I also interact with the deal teams within Basalt, at both our London (where I am based) and NY offices, whether it be regarding a new potential investment that they are carrying out due diligence for or an existing investment within one of our funds. I am responsible for ESG within our own operations too so that might involve arranging volunteering opportunities for employees and Partners, working on the data needed to calculate our GHG emissions, or encouraging colleagues to take our reusable cups when they go out to get coffee! I work with a lot of consultants who are specialists in ESG, as you cannot know all the material risks and opportunities across such diverse sectors that our funds invest in, and I try and attend network events such as those run by PRI, iCI, etc. I have to do a lot of reading to keep up to speed with current issues and trends and try to watch webinars for case studies and real life examples of how other organisations might integrate the SDGs or for practical solutions on reducing GHG emissions across investments for example.
What do you enjoy the most in your job?
It is so interesting and relevant! I love the variety in my role and also the interactions I have with so many different stakeholders. I also feel that I am having a positive impact and contributing to the wider sustainability movement.
What core skills do you need to do your job?
Communication is key. Whether that be in written responses to investors, presenting at an annual meeting or interacting with colleagues, consultants and management teams across the portfolio. I think it also helps if you like data analysis, interpreting reports and getting your head around regulations.
What advice do you have for young women interested in getting into the industry?
ESG, responsible and impact investment, and sustainability, are great sectors to be involved with if you are interested in making a difference and I feel that transitioning into an ESG Manager role has future-proofed my career. If you have a genuine passion for responsible investment then I would encourage you to go for it!