Harald Walkate

Harald is a senior strategist on ESG and sustainable finance. His experience includes working with portfolio managers and analysts to integrate ESG considerations into investments, active ownership, policy and organizational issues, and identifying positive impact investment opportunities within different asset classes with a focus on blended finance.

As a well-known figure in the space, Harald is a frequent contributor on LinkedIn and the author of a number of influential papers on ESG, impact investing, and climate change. He speaks regularly at conferences and seminars on the topics of responsible investment, impact investment, and social enterprise.

In addition to his independent advisory work, Harald is a founding partner in Route17, an SDG-related investing and blended finance advisory. He is also a Senior Fellow with the University of Zurich Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP) and a member of the ESG Advisory Committee of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Previously, Harald was the Head of Responsible Investment (ESG) at Natixis Investment Managers and worked at Aegon for fifteen years in different capacities, lastly as Global Head of Responsible Investment at Aegon Asset Management. A former corporate attorney, Harald also has significant experience in international business development and M&A and holds a law degree from Leiden University and an MBA from the University of Chicago – Booth.

 He is married to Eliane and lives in Amsterdam with their three children. In what little free time remains, he is active as a jazz pianist and has performed with some of the Netherlands’ leading professional musicians.