Every year CFA Society Sweden, through the “CFA Sweden ESG Award,” recognizes an individual, organization or group that has raised awareness of the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) considerations in the investment process. The CFA Sweden ESG Award was presented to ChemSec – the International Chemical Secretariat at the Society’s Annual Forecast Dinner on May 25 in Stockholm.
“ESG and the responsibilities of the Chemicals sector is a complicated topic for many investors. ChemSec – the International Chemical Secretariat has for many years scrutinized the sector in a professional manner and shone a much-needed light on chemicals and risks associated with them. It was not until the investment community was invited to join the campaign against poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also called “forever chemicals”, that ChemSec and its work became known in wider circles. ChemSec is awarded the CFA Sweden ESG Award for bringing the important topic of hazardous chemicals to the table of the wider investment community!” says John Howchin, Co-Chair of CFA Society Sweden’s ESG Committee.
ChemSec – the International Chemical Secretariat – is an independent non-profit organisation that advocates for the substitution of toxic chemicals for safer alternatives. Founded in 2002 and based in Gothenburg, Sweden, ChemSec engages the work of chemists, political scientists, business experts and communicators, as well as the investment community.
Previous recipients of the CFA Sweden ESG Award are:
- 2022 – ChemSec – the International Chemical Secretariat
- 2021 – Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute and Ulf Erlandsson
- 2018 – Norrsken Foundation
- 2017 – Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB)
- 2016 – Örebro Kommun and Region Västmanland
- 2015 – Steven Smit, Morningstar.
- 2014 – Mats Andersson AP4, Liza Jonson Storebrand AM and G. Hahn S. Kyrkan.
- 2013 – Hennes & Mauritz AB.
- 2012 – Peter Norman, Finansdepartementet.
- 2011 – Gunilla Hjalmarsson, Meta AM. and Anna Nilsson, Swedbank Robur.
- 2010 – Sasja Beslik, Nordea Investment Management.
Contact for inquiries:
President: Fredrik Nilsson, CFA
Vice President: David Krook, CFA
CFA Society Sweden info@cfasweden.se
About CFA Society Sweden:
CFA Society Sweden is a not-for-profit organisation of investment professionals based in Sweden, founded in 2003. It aims to promote a high level of professionalism among its members and the broader investment community. The organisation has 165 members who are CFA Charterholders. www.cfasociety.org/sweden
About CFA Charterholders:
A CFA Charterholder is a person who successfully completed the CFA program, which is considered amongst the most challenging financial exams in the world. There are currently over 150,000 CFA Charterholders worldwide. The CFA program is administered by the CFA Institute. www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa
About CFA Society Sweden ́s ESG Committee:
The CFA Society Sweden’s ESG Committee is composed of John Howchin and Henrik Malmsten. Howchin is the former Secretary-General of Council on Ethics for the First, Second, Third and Fourth Swedish national pension funds. Currently, he oversees sector strategy for the work on the Transition Decade project with the focus on the hard to abate sectors, at IIGCC and for the Climate Action100+ project, among many other engagements. Malmsten is the founder of Durable Vision Invest. An experienced portfolio manager and entrepreneur, he has a history of working in the environment industry.
