Introducing Clémence Bourcet, Co-Chair of the Engagement with Companies Working Group

We are delighted to welcome Clémence Bourcet, SRI Analyst at Sycomore AM, as the new co-chair of the Engagement with Companies Working Group at the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation. With a distinguished career in economics and ecological transition, Clémence brings exceptional expertise, strategic vision, and a profound commitment to advancing biodiversity goals through the financial sector.

In this exclusive profile, we explore Clémence’s vision for the future of biodiversity finance, her leadership approach, and the key priorities she identifies for the Engagement with Companies Working Group. Join us as we gain insight into the aspirations and expertise of a leader committed to fostering impactful action for biodiversity.

1. Why do you believe [working group] is a critical step for the finance sector to address biodiversity challenges and what are the most significant opportunities to influence meaningful action?

Shareholder engagement is about encouraging companies to improve their sustainability practices over time by defining areas for improvement as part of constructive dialogue and long-term cooperation. Engagement is the second commitment of the Pledge signed by the members. This Working Group has a key role in helping members carry out meaningful and impactful engagement initiatives on biodiversity-related topics.

2. How has your professional experience to date prepared you to co-chair this group effectively?

Throughout my academic and professional experiences, I have had the opportunity to work on environment-related issues in very diverse contexts. I believe that my experience in the French and European negotiators team during meetings in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity, while I worked at the French Treasury, will be helpful for this co-chair role. Within Sycomore AM, in addition to working on biodiversity-related issues, I am conducting diverse missions for a select number of companies: ESG analyses, votes at AGMs, engagement initiatives…

3. What key outcomes or milestones will the [working group] work towards achieving under your co-chairmanship and how will you work with stakeholders to advance the group’s objectives to contribute towards broader systemic changes?

Thanks to the leadership of the previous co-chairs, the commitment of the working group, and the help of the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation Secretariat, the Engagement with Companies Working Group was able to provide key engagement resources and launch a strategic collective engagement initiative for the textile and apparel sector, namely FABRIC. I am eager to build on these outstanding achievements and collectively identify additional key developments!

4. What are your aspirations for the future of biodiversity finance, and how can the Foundation help accelerate progress?

I am looking forward to seeing all companies assess biodiversity-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities throughout their business model and value chain with a view to developing a biodiversity strategy that aims to mainstream biodiversity in their activities. Financial institutions have a key role to play in encouraging and helping companies to do so. To support them, the Foundation acts as a catalyst and provides a unique space for exchange between peers and working together on biodiversity-related issues, including engagement initiatives and best practices in the context of the Engagement with Companies Working Group.

About the Engagement with Companies Working Group

This working group is connected to the second Pledge commitment: engagement with companies. In this working group, members are sharing experiences and new developments and exploring biodiversity-related ESG engagement with companies

Read more on this working group here.