By Erin Shackelford

Pension trustees gathered at the Harvard Kennedy School in June for the Trustee Leadership Forum for Retirement Security's Annual Convening.  The TLF hosted 60 trustees and welcomed guests from Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and South Africa.  Running through the three days of convenings was a mission to elevate the "S in ESG", or, more specifically, how to protect people in investments.  Priya Mathur (CalPERS), David Wood (IRI), Jose Meijer (APB), and Hughes LeTourneau (CWC) all shed light on this topic and shared their work.  Collaboration was another theme that resonated, in particular around investment in "high road" infrastructure.  Thanks to our special guest speakers Jose Meijer, Michael McCarthy, representatives of the Diverse Asset Managers Initiative, and Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg.

And, next week, the TLF is looking forward to welcoming the National Council on Teacher Retirement to campus for their Annual Trustee Workshop.  We are excited to be co-hosting this event for the third time.  The NCTR Annual Trustee Workshop brings 70 teacher pension fund trustees together for three days of education and discussion. Read more about Pension Trustees Gather at Harvard

By Erin Shackelford

Last week the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy announced the creation of a new research center focused on capital absorption. 

Since 2012, David Wood (IRI) and Katie Grace Deane (IRI) have collaborated with Robin Hacke, Marian Urquilla, and others, to develop and explore the concept of capital absorption, or the ability of places to attract and deploy capital in support of low and moderate income communities.  The formation of the Center for Community Investment is significant validation of this work. Read more about New Research Center Builds on Capital Absorption Work