We are very excited to announce that Antoni Ballabriga, BBVA’s Global Head of Responsible Business will join Jacki Johnson as the new Co-Chair of UNEP FI’s Global Steering Committee. Antoni has been on the committee since January 2018, and a very active supporter of the Principles for Responsible Banking, the new sustainable banking framework developed by UNEP FI and a coalition of 30 banks since their inception. He will also have a key role in UNEP FI’s work developing high-level voluntary guidelines for banks to use the new EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance.

UNEP FI’s Head, Eric Usher said, “We are delighted that Antoni is to co-chair UNEP FI’s Global Steering Committee, the body which sets our overall strategy and work programme. Antoni and the team at BBVA have been very active members of UNEP FI, the UN’s largest partnership with the finance sector. Toni’s involvement with and enthusiasm for UNEP FI’s Principles for Responsible Banking has been a big part of the success of the new banking framework, and we are looking to working with him even more closely.”

“This appointment is truly an honor and a tremendous responsibility at a time like the present, when the stakes are so high for everyone in this journey to turning the financial sector, and especially its institutions, into authentically sustainable organizations. There is no other way, and new generations in particular are telling us loud and clear. Today more than ever we need the strength of the UNEP FI global partnership to promote sustainable finance at the scale our world needs,” said Antoni Ballabriga.

He joins Jacki Johnson, Advisor Climate and Sustainability, Insurance Australia Group Limited and Co-Chair Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI) who has been involved with UNEP FI for many years while working at IAG. Their experience and enthusiasm for UNEP FI’s work help guide our strategy and work programme over the next years.