In this episode, hosts Alexandra Bolton and Matthew Moss are joined by board director Tina Mavraki. Tina is an IoD Chartered Portfolio Director and sustainability advocate with a diverse NED portfolio, including Metlen Energy & Metals and First Bauxite LLC. Her 26-year executive career spans capital markets, investment management, and global supply chains at firms like Morgan Stanley and Citi. Tina has advised on climate policy, offering governance recommendations to the FCA and EBA on climate transition and executive remuneration.
This episode explores Tina’s transition from executive to non-executive roles and how she learned from governance failures early in her career. The conversation addresses the challenges and opportunities in implementing sustainability within high-emission sectors, emphasising the financial materiality of climate change and the necessity for collaboration and engagement amongst stakeholders to drive meaningful action in the boardroom.
Key messages
- Prioritise sustainability with a focus on financial materiality. Sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive; board directors must recognise the financial impact of climate management, particularly in sectors with high emissions, and leverage this understanding to drive green investments that yield long-term returns.
- Engage actively with diverse stakeholders. Meaningful climate action requires collaboration with regulators, investors, executives, and other board members. Directors should build alliances and facilitate conversations that bring diverse perspectives to the boardroom.
- Stay proactively informed on climate and industry trends. Directors must remain well-educated on evolving industry standards and climate policies, ensuring they can propose relevant strategies and support high-performing executive teams.
- Start non-executive roles early to enhance strategic insight. Early experience as a NED strengthens both governance and executive capabilities, providing crucial understanding of the pressures management faces and improving support across leadership roles.
As mentioned in the episode, Tina co-authored an in-depth insight on why corporate culture is a hot topic for banks, in collaboration with the Centre for Climate Engagement. You can find the piece here.
Directors’ Dialogues is hosted by the Climate Governance Initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Climate Engagement as its content partner. Each episode takes a deep dive into the stewardship journey of board directors and climate experts. Whether you are new to the climate governance space or an accomplished steward, this podcast will bring you closer to true voices sharing their experiences, challenges, and successes in navigating climate action and integrating it into the boardroom conversation.