David Vickers is Chief Investment Officer at Brunel Pensions Partnership Limited, which manages assets on behalf of 10 partner funds within the local government pension scheme, representing about £30 billion He has extensive experience and investing in the multi asset arena, where he has spent time managing assets for a range of institutional investors.

Our conversation starts with David’s upbringing in Essex, where the City beckoned, even if it wasn’t a familiar career field for him growing up as his parents were teachers. We recall how even notwithstanding the drama and volatility of incidents like the Barings crash the pace and energy of the place had an allure.

We move then to the body of his career which saw him initially work in fund management and later transition to managing teams. David relates how he developed a passion for journaling, particularly as it relates to investment decisions, and for investment processes that were robust and sustainable. He describes himself as a pragmatic investor and he translates this concept into his current role at Brunel.

Our discussion turns to recent initiatives in the field of Paris-aligned and sustainable investing at Brunel, in particular the development of a Paris-aligned index along with FTSE Russell. He looks at the likely future evolution not only of sustainable investing products but also practices and ultimately what this will mean for the leveling up agenda and local investment in the UK.

This podcast is a collaboration between Fiftyfaces Productions and Room151. Room151 is an online news, opinion and resource service for local authority Section 151 and other senior officers covering treasury, strategic finance, funding, resources and risk. Room151 was launched on 8th November, 2011, by Longview Productions Ltd, the organiser of the Local Authority Treasurers’ Investment Forum and is a small, privately owned, publishing and events company. There is more information about Room151 here: https://www.room151.co.uk/about/