User:Lee Coates OBE

Lee Coates OBE, Director of Ethical Investors (UK), Ethical Screening (UK), Ethical Giving (UK), Ethical Money (Aus)

1) Personal Background Academic (professional)

1987 - qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (Life) 1992 - qualified as a Member of the Society of Financial Advisers, the professional body for Financial Advisers in the UK. 1996 - accepted as an Associate of the Institute of Financial Planning 2008 – Accredited to ISO 22222. This is the highest international award for financial planners – exceeding Certified Financial Planner. Business 1989 set up Ethical Investors Group to exclusively advise on and arrange socially responsible investment, and to build a business with corporate socially responsibility at its heart.

1998 founded Ethical & Environmental Screening Services Ltd to offer a new and innovative approach to social and environmental company screening in the UK.

2009 – established Ethical Giving, a UK based grant making charity. Donations and Grants will only be made to other charities and not for profit groups who themselves pass an ethical screen.

2009 – Set up Ethical Money in Australia. Superfund launched 10 October 2010

Consultancy work

•	Advice to charities and businesses on all aspects of social responsibility, including establishing social statements, investment policies etc •	Advice to insurance and investment companies on establishing and operating socially screened investments •	Advice to Select Committee on socially responsible Government Loan Stock (Gilts and National Savings) •	Advice to the UK Treasury on establishing a tax credit system for social investment in nominated areas, by companies and individuals. •	Advice to French ‘think tank’ on establishing social criteria for non-state pensions. Regulations subsequently introduced in France with many comments and suggestions incorporated into the new rules

2) Background to Ethical Investors

•	Currently the UK’s largest financial advice firm in the ethical investment sector •	Over 4500 clients, ranging from individuals, charities and companies •	Current funds under ‘advice’ - over £100M •	50% of net profits distributed to charity - currently around £600,000

3) Background to Ethical & Environmental Screening Services Ltd

•	Since 1998, the company has come to be recognised as the most innovative screening company for individuals and charities requiring personalised screening work •	Non-confrontational and non-judgemental assessment of companies

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5) Ethical Money

•	Company established in Australia in 2009 •	Aim is to bring issues-based ethical investment to Australia. A move away from the “one size fits all ethical fund” approach. The ‘Funds for Faith’ and ‘Issues based Investment’ policies will be unique and definitely not mass market. •	Launch of first Superfund in 2010

The "3 Pillars of Ethical Investment"

This is an idea established by Lee in the early 1990s and involves ensuring that ethical investment funds are based on the broadest, most holistic values. Most ethical funds start with covering the normal 'moral issues'; arms, alcohol, tobacco, human rights abuse, and then extend their coverage to a range of environmental issues. All too often, however, there are few or even no policies relating to animal welfare.

The ‘third pillar’ in a genuinely holistic and compassionate ethical fund is that containing the policies avoiding animal exploitation. With so many animal welfare issues being linked to the other two pillars, it makes no sense to leave out animal welfare policies.