Tamara Close, CFA: The Evolution of ESG Practices for Institutional Investors

Tamara Close, CFA: The Evolution of ESG Practices for Institutional Investors

From The Sustainability Story by CFA Institute

June 9, 2025 · 30 min

About this episode

Tamara Close discusses the evolution of ESG practices among institutional investors and the integration of these issues into investment strategies.

Nicole Gehrig speaks with Tamara Close, CFA, Senior Director of ESG Advisory for the Petra Funds Group, about the ongoing evolution of sustainable finance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices within the institutional investment landscape. Tamara reflects on her career path, including her time at PSP Investments, and shares key insights into the shifting perceptions and integration of ESG issues into mainstream investment strategies. The discussion covers how institutional investors have evolved and increased in sophistication when it comes to their ESG practices. It looks as well at the regional disparities in adoption, the distinct roles of public versus private markets, and the growing expectations placed on asset managers by institutional investors. Nicole and Tamara also examine the increasing demand for transparency, high-quality data, and measurable outcomes, from institutional investors emphasizing the maturation of considering ESG issues from a values-driven approach to a financially material integrated investment framework. Key Takeaways: • Institutional investors have progressed from values-based investing to fully integrating ESG issues into risk…

People in this episode

Host: Nicole Gehrig

Guest: Tamara Close

Topics covered

  • ESG practices
  • institutional investors
  • sustainable finance
  • investment strategies
  • transparency
  • risk management

Keywords

  • ESG
  • sustainable finance
  • institutional investment
  • risk management
  • transparency
  • data
  • impact investing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Petra Funds Group, PSP Investments, CFA Institute

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