Room151’s LGPS Place-based impact investing Roundtable

Since 2022 Nick has led the £6 billion Avon Pension Fund, which serves c.140,000 members in the public sector across Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas.

Prior to joining the Avon Pension Fund, Nick advised private sector wealth platforms on their pensions & investment proposition. He was CIO of Aegon UK from 2013-21, focused on DC workplace pensions. And from 2001-13 Nick was Marketing Director for wealth & pensions platform Quilter.

Nick read PPE at Oxford University and gained an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York.

Mark Gayler is Head of Investments at Devon County Council. Mark heads up the investment team responsible for overseeing the £5 billion Devon Pension Fund, as well as undertaking treasury management for the council. Mark is a CIMA qualified accountant and has the CFA Certificate in Investment Management. Mark is also one of the Vice-Chairs of the Brunel Client Group.

Mark has over 30 years of experience within local government, working firstly for Essex County Council in an accountancy role until 2008 and subsequently for Devon County Council. Mark moved to the Investment Team in 2010, initially as Deputy Investment Manager, before taking up his current role in 2013.

Justin is a Senior Funding & Investment Manager working within the Environment Directorate of the West of England Combined Authority 

Justin also acts as the Finance Lead for the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) Local Net Zero Accelerator Programme supporting Greater Manchester, West Midlands and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authorities. 

Justin has an extensive 35-year career background in education management, curriculum development, consultancy, investment banking (capital markets and infrastructure finance), social enterprise, and sector specialisms in renewable energy and environmental goods & services. 

Joe is an investment director at Better Society Capital, covering investments in impact venture and renewables, and managing impact for the Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust. Prior to joining the team, he worked for donor funded impact investment initiatives in Africa and Asia, including the Private Infrastructure Development Group and the DFID Impact Programme.

Joe also co-founded the PeoplesPower, a community interest company to help lower energy bills and tackle fuel poverty in the UK.

Sanjay is the impact and local investing specialist at Hymans Robertson. Over recent years, he has been involved in several key areas of thought leadership, including thinking on impact investing and as an author of the paper “The Emperor’s new climate scenarios”. Prior to his time at Hymans, Sanjay worked a number of impact-focused initiatives, including SoGive, which supported major donors and foundations to improve the impact of their philanthropy. Sanjay started his career as an insurance actuary, and has also worked as a credit analyst at S&P and a strategy consultant.

Laurence is an Assistant Director in the Local Authority function at NWF where he works with local government to finance infrastructure projects that support net zero and economic growth. Areas of focus include transportation, heat networks, building decarbonisation and regeneration. Before joining NWF, Laurence worked in EY’s Corporate Finance – Infrastructure team in Edinburgh and London.