Property investment manager Orchard Street has hired Kathryn Barber as head of responsibility and ESG.
Barber (pictured) will support the firm to deliver measurable social and environmental impact within the firm’s Impact fund and impact partnerships, as well as integrating and managing ESG across existing client portfolios.
Barber joins from GPE, where they held the role of sustainability lead – portfolio and social impact. Here, she was responsible for co-delivering the company’s net-zero roadmap at a portfolio level and led the social impact strategy which integrates social impact initiatives across the business and oversaw reporting obligations, including Task Force on Climate-Related Finance Disclosures (TCFD), Sustainability Data Report, GRESB and CDP. Barber also brings 10 years’ experience in real estate, holding various environmental and responsible investment positions at Intu Properties, Prudential and Hammerson.
Barney Rowe, partner at Orchard Street and portfolio manager for the impact fund, said: “Responsible and impactful investing is at the heart of what we do at Orchard Street, whether that is through decarbonising existing buildings, investing in local communities or thinking about how we design or upgrade amenity-rich buildings to increase wellness and productivity.
“Kathryn’s entire career has been focused on driving the ESG agenda forward within the UK real estate industry, and her wealth of experience will be important to the growth of our Impact fund and the acceleration of our broader sustainability strategy.”
Barber added: “It is imperative that industry leaders understand their role in pushing boundaries to deliver long-term responsible returns through a careful alignment of ESG risks and opportunities.
“Orchard Street is a market leader in this respect, with a strong track record of delivering both environmental and social impact, and I look forward to working in a team that is directly delivering a positive impact for investors and our shared global future.”
