AP7 Theme work

AP7 complements its active ownership work with three-year themes. By focusing on a select number of themes in parallel, we can deepen our work in particularly important and complex areas with a bearing on our sustainability priorities, and where increased knowledge enable us to amplify our impact.

Our intention with our thematic work
The thematic program aims to  – through reports and in-depth studies – share knowledge and contribute to the constructive conversation on sustainability issues between decision-makers, businesses, and investors. It also seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice in the field of sustainable investment.

Board responsibility
The corporate board is one of the most central institutions in the business sector. Decisions taken in the boardroom shape a company’s strategic direction, risk management and long-term value creation, and thereby also investors’ returns. In a time characterised by climate change, biodiversity loss, geopolitical tensions and rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks, the board’s responsibilities have become both broader and more complex.

The thematic work was concluded with a panel discussion representing academic, investor, and board perspectives. We were joined by Kaisa Hietala, Non-Executive Director of Exxon Mobil and Smurfit Westrock and Co-founder and Chair of Greencode Ventures; Oshni Arachchi, Global Head of Active Ownership and Head of Responsible Investment in Sweden at Danske Bank Asset Management; and Dr. Vu Trinh, Associate Professor of Finance at Newcastle University Business School. The discussion was moderated by Emma Sjöström, Head of Sustainability Communications at AP7.

Universal ownership
Systemic risks like climate change, biodiversity loss, and antimicrobial resistance impact the entire financial system. Universal owners—large global investors—cannot simply divest their way out of these challenges. As we concluded the theme of Universal Ownership, we invited participants to a discussion on the topic with: Caroline Escott – Head of Investment Stewardship, Railpen. Rogier Snijdewind – Director of Active Ownership, PGGM. Sonja Laud – CIO, L&G and Dr. Emilio Marti – Associate Professor at Rotterdam School of Management. The discussion was moderated by Johan Florén, Communications Director and Senior Sustainability Advisor at AP7.