Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Enterprise
Background
Craig's current research focus is on how to accellerate investment in natural capital in Scotland and elsewhere. The Scottish government has ambitious plans for restoration of forests, peatlands and other landscapes in order to achieve Net Zero and biodiversity objectives. How can government, land owners, investors and project developers come together to achieve this? How can they do so in a way that is rapid, cost effective and welcomed by local communities? What policies, standards, financing models and value chains are required?
Craig has worked in investment management for 25 years in both sustainability and investment roles. In his most recent position, he launched an innovative climate fund, ran strategic asset allocation and helped develop standards for Net Zero investing. Previously he lead the sustainable investment functions at three large investment firms, and has participated in many industry initiatives on sustainability. He shaped some of the original thinking behind the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and co-chaired its reporting standards committee. He served as chair of the Criteria Development Committee at FTSE4Good, and has been a director of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the UK Social Investment Forum, and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Reporting Initiative.
In parallel to his investment career Craig has worked as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh Business School, where he set up the Centre for Business and Climate Change (now BCCaS) and helped launch the MSc programmes in Carbon Management and Climate Change Finance and Investment, on which he teaches. Craig has held visiting fellowships at the Judge Business School, Cambridge University; the Department of Economics, University College London; and the Centre for Economic Psychology, University of Bath.
Research Interests
- Nature based solutions models and investors
- Land reform and natural capital
- Landowner sustainability disclosure - see briefing paper
- Corporate sustainability reporting