Joanna Munro is CEO for HSBC Alternatives, based in London. Her most recent role was as Global Chief Investment Officer (from September 2019 to June 2021) and prior to that Global Head of Stewardship and Fiduciary Governance (from 2014) and Chair of the UK asset management business (from 2016).

Joanna's previous roles included Regional CEO for HSBC Global Asset Management in Asia and CEO for HSBC Multimanager. She joined HSBC in 2005 as Global Chief Investment Officer for HSBC Investments, including Multimanager, Liquidity, Asset Allocation and Solutions.

Joanna started working in the industry in 1986, working for Prudential Portfolio Managers as an Equity analyst, BARRA Inc. as an adviser to pension funds on their manager risk, Salomon Brothers Asset Management in the multi-currency fixed income team and ABN AMRO Asset Management where she set up the fund of hedge fund capability as Head of Alternatives. In 2000 she joined AXA Investment Managers and ran business development activities globally for fixed income and the structured asset management business before, in 2003, being appointed Director, Head of UK Institutional where she led the UK sales and global consultant relations teams.

Joanna has a BA (Hons) in Mathematics and Engineering from Queens’ College in Cambridge, an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MBA from Stanford University as well as an MA in Creative Writing from Goldsmiths London. She is also an ASIP (Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals) and a founding member of the Diversity Project.

Matt is an experienced talent management, diversity and organisational development leader with extensive experience within the financial services industry. A proven track record in inspiring others, developing effective strategies, programme execution, managing diverse teams and building partnerships.

Matt was the first in his family to go to university, is part of the LGBT+ community and also from a lower-social economic background.

Matt is responsible for the development of LGBT Great’s programmes, the strategic direction of the organisation and advising organisations on DE&I issues. Matt is also a Board Member of the Diversity Project.

Xavier Baraton is Global Chief Investment Officer. He joined HSBC in September 2002 to head the Paris-based Credit Research team and became Global Head of Credit Research in January 2004.

From 2006, Xavier managed euro credit strategies before being appointed as Head of European Fixed Income in 2008 and as Global CIO, Fixed Income in 2010. In this role, Xavier moved to our New York office in 2011 and became regional CIO North America. Having returned to Europe, he has taken on additional responsibilities as CIO for Alternatives and Real Assets in 2016 and for Private Debt in 2019, before being appointed as Global CIO of HSBC Asset Management in July 2021.

Prior to joining HSBC, Xavier spent six years at Credit Agricole CIB, including five years as Head of Credit Research. Xavier began his career in 1994 in the CCF Group.

Xavier graduated from the "Ecole Centrale Paris" as an engineer with a degree in Economics and Finance in 1993 and holds a postgraduate degree in Money, Finance and Banking from Paris Panthéon Sorbonne University in 1994.

Nicoletta Paraskeva is a Senior Associate at the Financial Conduct Authority’s ESG Division. She was recently awarded the FCA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Role Model award for her work as co-chair of the LGBT+ Network. Nicoletta previously held policymaking, strategy and operations roles in the UK Civil Service and the charity sector, with a focus on skills, diversity, education and employment.

Jenn-Hui Tan is Global Head of Stewardship and Sustainable Investing for Fidelity International. Jenn is responsible for providing external and internal leadership for Fidelity’s sustainable investing activities, including the strategy and policies on engagement, voting and ESG integration.

Jenn joined Fidelity International in 2007 from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was a corporate finance lawyer advising on capital market and M and A transactions. He holds an LLB Law degree from the University of Durham.

Sean joined Barings’ Sustainability team in October 2021 to coordinate and enhance the existing stewardship activities undertaken across investment teams to support Barings’ sustainability vision and strategy. This involves the development and facilitation of training and awareness raising, as well as participation in industry initiatives. Sean has worked in the field of ESG and sustainability since graduating in 2013 with BSc Environmental Sciences from the University of Southampton. Starting at the engineering and environmental consultancy, WSP, Sean gained experience in environmental and social due diligence projects for major international financial institutions before moving to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). At the PRI, Sean worked in the Stewardship team ahead of his role as a signatory relations manager for UK and Ireland.

Sean is part of Barings’ Out and Allies Steering Committee, which leads the organisation of employee communications and education related to LGBTQ+ topics, internal and external events, charity and volunteering opportunities and employee support. In previous roles, Sean has also contributed to setting up LGBTQ+ or DEI committees.

Externally, Julie is a regular donor to OutRight International, a supporter of the Albert Kennedy Trust to combat LGBT+ youth homelessness, and she holds a seat on the leadership team of InterInvest which helps further LGBT+ interests across the investment management industry.

Julie is driven not just by her determination to provide the best investment solutions, but also a commitment to be seen, heard and included. It is through this passion that Julie drives inclusion in her role at Capital Group and beyond.

She has as a result been nominated and recognised for her efforts, including being a finalist for Diversity Champion at the Women in Investment awards, and is on the Yahoo! Finance Top 100 LBTQ+ Executives list.

Paras joined Artemis as chief investment officer in March 2022 and is the group’s executive sponsor for DEI. Prior to joining Artemis he was CIO at Fidelity for all asset classes and functions across the Asia-Pacific region. He has also been CIO for European equities at F&C Investments, which is now part of the Columbia Threadneedle Investments.