Sustainable Strategy
WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
about us
We stand at a critical juncture in human history. The Earth’s climate, dependent life and eco-systems are already experiencing irreversible damage. Planetary boundaries are severely breached and climate change now threatens not only humanity, but every form of life on Earth. What we do with the next decade will determine the future for our planet, our civilisation and our children. What we choose to do now has perhaps never been more important. This decade gives us unparalleled opportunity to deliver a better future. There may never be a more important time to be alive.
Our purpose is mitigation of the climate change threat.
We offer access to an international network of multi-disciplinary professionals and a breadth of subject matter expertise. Our network offers specialist business, operational and investment capabilities on-demand. We provide roadmaps AND execution. That is, we provide advice and also interim-executive services such as CxO, GM, or programme management to deliver meaningful outcomes. Importantly we only serve domestic and international clients who are focussed on climate change mitigation and managing climate risk and impacts. Specifically, we have historically done this via:
Scaling of renewable energy investment and projects to displace fossil fuels
Protection and restoration of natures carbon sinks
Enabling climate positive stewardship and active management of investments and portfolios,
Enterprise transition to sustainable business operations and attaining net zero
Supporting climate related financial disclosures
PRINCIPAL - IAN WROE
Ian Wroe’s Sustainability and Climate Change experience now spans 15 years and his consistent objective has been to scale up science-based climate change mitigation efforts, in alignment with our global landmark agreements. He has been involved in promoting and advancing proportionate climate change responses within business and capital markets since 2008. Ian also possesses an extensive international track record in business strategy, operations and general management inclusive of deep-tech commercialisation. His 30 year career includes a decade in strategy consulting and exposure to ~20 sectors. He has often operated as a change agent, regularly working with world-class people within progressive multinational tech companies or dynamic PE backed large enterprise. Enroute, Ian attained roles bearing global geographic responsibilities for strategy at both IBM and Ericsson, where he led entrepreneurial, high performing and virtual teams across the world. He has operated in 14 countries spanning N.America, Europe, SE Asia and Australasia. New Zealand based for the past 16 years but originally from the UK, Ian first trained as an aerospace engineer and military pilot in the RAF before turning to business in 1992. He holds a UK tier-0ne MBA and was awarded FRSA in 1996. Ian also considers the activation and enablement of others to be crucial in the fight to preserve a stable climate. Ian attended the climate financial risk programme at the University of Oxford and is an active investor as well as interim-executive.
Services
ADVISORY SUPPORT
SSL have provided advisory support to over 50 clients from 17 sectors over the past decade. SSL offer multi-disciplinary professional services and a breadth of subject matter expertise. We serve domestic and international clients who are focussed on climate change mitigation specifically via scaling of renewable energy, building low carbon investments and via transition to sustainable business operations. We offer advice on enterprise strategy, operations improvement, governance and M&A as well as bespoke investigations such as strategic reviews and due-diligence.
INTERIM EXECUTIVE SERVICE
Without delivery all planning is a pointless affair. Execution is at least as important as the plan. Wherever possible, SSL offer execution support. The advantages of interim executive support (CxO) are a dedicated, highly focussed resource, who is entirely familiar with your plans and constraints, and can move towards objectives at pace. Our interim executive service is highly regarded by our clients. It requires a client mandate for execution or for investment or both, and we prefer to contract for outcome. We target strategy acceleration but can also provide turn-around.
CLIMATE CHANGE INVESTMENT
SSL has experience in building low carbon investment portfolios. We designed an equities investment fund growth fund for secondary (listed) markets driven by a climate change mitigation mandate. We have served large wealth managers, and modest scale pension funds seeking to minimise the carbon emissions and climate risk of investment portfolios across asset classes. We also draw upon our experience designing sustainable business models and developing the design for the first impact venture capital fund for New Zealand ($150m evergreen fund MVCF).
ALLIANCES AND M&A
SSL have significant strategic alliance and M&A deal experience. Our principle has completed deal origination, valuation, commercial due diligence and M&A strategy for several clients including serial acquirers. He has brokered strategic alliances across borders and between global corporations. He has advised on deal strategy, screening and execution support on both buy-side and sell-side of transactions. His M&A work expends to a number of sectors, and a range of scales from just $3 Million (SaaS) to deals over $3 Billion (Primary resources).
“I was delighted with the support provided by Ian Wroe during our recent strategic review. Ian’s input provided valuable insights that have enabled us to strengthen our international proposition and attractiveness to new investors. His wide industry connections and deep understanding of global macro-economic trends combine to provide practical yet far reaching advice on strategy.”
RECENT ASSIGNMENTS
CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT
SSL have supported the energy transition, in recent times, via delivery of investment grade business cases for four large solar PV deals. Range $12-$100 Million. We offer up to date domestic market insights. Our principle has provided investment advice on domestic renewable generation and storage market to new entrants and to the NZ sovereign wealth fund.
STRATEGY ADVISORY - CLIMATE
Climate change advice has required developing both the international and local knowledge bases necessary to support strategic decisions in response to the growing threat of climate change. Clients have included full-service professional engineering firms, private wealth, sovereign wealth and city councils. Transition pathways, Nature based solutions, enterprise CCRA and net-zero strategy.
CLIMATE RELATED INVESTMENT
Specialists in conducting due diligence on alternative investment funds and venture opportunities. Responsible for design of an equities research platform for low carbon investment driven by a climate change mitigation mandate. We have served wealth managers, HNWI and modest scale pension funds seeking to minimise the carbon emissions from investment portfolios.
SCENARIO PLANNING & TCFD
SSL has long experience of designing and building scenario driven models. In order to manage transition to net zero, significant scale enterprise, banks, insurers and funds are increasingly mandated to disclose their climate risk via TCFD aligned criteria using scenario driven projections. SSL can support reporting entities in derivation of their formal climate disclosures and can access world-class tools.
“Ian provided invaluable support during our recent acquisition process. His strategy got us quickly aligned with buyers. He brilliantly reframed our company story, pinpointing the right metrics to cast us in the best light for the target audience. The final deliverable was very well received by all parties ultimately accelerating the deal while enhancing the valuation.”
CLIENTs
We have been operating for over a decade and have served 50+ clients spanning 17 industries and 5 countries. Each client shares an ambition to deliver climate change mitigation, to realise an impact investment or to grow a triple bottom line. Remarkably our clients have come from across the spectrum of capital and enterprise and include private sector, public sector and NGO. What is common to each is the use of a functional capital mechanism to scale climate-positive, sustainable outcomes.
Our intentional client focus upon change-makers and industry catalysts is intended to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon economy. SSL seeks clients who are focussed on climate change mitigation specifically via transition to genuinely sustainable business operations, by scaling renewable energy or by cultivating nature based carbon sinks. We work with people who, by conviction, intentionally target 'net zero' or better.
“As part of a focussed sustainability strategy Ian contributed his expertise and insights to play a pivotal role in shaping our organisation’s approach. Through Ian’s guidance, commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship we have been able to further develop our investment strategy in several key areas such as alternatives and ESG. We look forward to continuing our partnership”
CLIMATE CARBON SOLAR WIND
“Ian Wroe researched an investment opportunity to enter new sustainable business in clean energy, defining strategy and financial potential and preparing investor deck for our board. We are highly impressed with the actionable case and the depth and quality of the work. Ian is highly experienced, professional and knowledgeable – and is always a pleasure to deal with”
CONTACT US
Whatever challenge you face, we are interested in providing support. Please make contact if you would like to engage or have a conversation. We will return your interest with a phone call within 48 hours. Please use the form below for your convenience.