PORTFOLIO Online is a series of webinars between May and July that will showcase much of the content and many of the speakers scheduled for the in-person PORTFOLIO 2020 Conference, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MEMBERS-ONLY RECORDING

Panelists will discuss Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing best practices in areas such as social responsibility, climate change, human capital governance, and access and equality, among others.

MODERATOR

Bonnie Wongtrakool | Bonnie Wongtrakool is the Global Head of ESG Investments and Portfolio Manager in Western Asset’s Pasadena office, which she joined in 2003. Bonnie leads the Firm’s ESG research, engagement, strategies and portfolios, which express Western Asset’s ESG capabilities across a wide range of fixed-income mandates. Bonnie is a member of the Firm’s US Broad Strategy Committee, which formulates domestic investment themes and strategies, and represents the Investment Management Team on the Global Product Development Committee. Prior to her ESG leadership role, Bonnie was a Portfolio Manager on the MBS/ABS Team, where she managed the Firm’s dedicated mortgage funds and was responsible for mortgage allocations across the Firm’s multi-sector portfolios. She brings to her role broad experience across the financial services industry, having previously worked at Mercer Management Consulting in strategy consulting, at Orion Partners in private equity, and at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities in investment banking.

Bonnie graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard College, where she received the Detur Prize and was awarded the John Harvard Scholarship for academic distinction. She subsequently received a law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and is a member (inactive) of the Massachusetts State Bar. Bonnie is also a CFA® charterholder, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Crestview Preparatory School. Back To Top ^^

PANELISTS

Benedict Buckley, CFA | Benedict Buckley is a Portfolio Analyst at ClearBridge Investments. Benedict joined ClearBridge in 2013 and has 7 years of investment industry experience and 5 years of related industry experience. Prior to ClearBridge, he worked as an Associate at the World Resource Institute; and Senior Research Analyst at Trucost.

Benedict has an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and a BSc in Biology from the University of Manchester. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society New York. Back To Top ^^

Robert Fernandez, CFA | Robert Fernandez is Breckinridge’s director of environmental, social and governance (ESG) research. He is also a member of the firm’s Sustainability Committee. In his role, Rob leads Breckinridge’s ongoing ESG integration and engagement efforts, regularly contributes thought leadership and performs corporate credit analysis. Rob has been with the firm since 2010 and has over 20 years of research experience. Prior to Breckinridge, Rob was a senior research analyst at Opus Investment Management. Rob began his career in credit research at State Street Bank & Trust Co. as a participant in its commercial loan officer development program. He has also held commercial credit analyst positions at Cambridge Savings Bank and Eastern Bank. Rob is a member of the Board of Overseers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, a member of the advisory board for the CECP Strategic Investor Initiative and a Town Meeting Member for the Town of Needham, MA. He holds a B.S. from Boston College and an MBA from the Boston University School of Management. He is a CFA® charterholder and is an FSA Credential holder. Back To Top ^^

Bridget Realmuto LaPerla | Bridget Realmuto LaPerla is a vice president and head of ESG research at State Street Associates. In this role, Bridget creates and promotes industry leading research on environmental, social and, governance themes (ESG). She applies quantitative methods to understand ESG signals in the market, leverages insights from State Street's academic partnerships and data and, drives increased engagement with clients on these topics.

As a sustainable finance specialist with over a decade of research experience, Bridget advises the Columbia University Trustees as a voting member of the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing. She also serves as a policy expert on the ESG Integration Group at the Emerging Markets Investors Alliance.

Prior to State Street, Bridget managed a global team of researchers at S&P Global Trucost, evaluating the environmental performance of equity and fixed income securities across industries and asset classes. While conducting buy-side ESG research at Domini Impact Investments, she frequently spoke at industry events as an expert and a NYC Chapter Leader for Women Investing for a Sustainable Economy (WISE). Earlier in her career, she quantified the social impact of government funded prevention programs at the NYC Department of Homeless Services.

Bridget holds a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from The George Washington University. She completed a Certificate in Sustainability Analytics from Columbia University, where she was awarded a Peter DeSimone Scholarship by the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF). Back To Top ^^