New firm launches with bold plan to accelerate net zero

MEDIA RELEASE

14 November 2019

A new global climate change advisory and investment firm – Pollination – launched today.

Pollination is co-founded by recognised leaders in law, policy and investment, Martijn Wilder AM and Tony O’Sullivan.

A profit-for-purpose firm, the organisation seeks to accelerate the transition to a net zero, climate resilient future.

Wilder and O’Sullivan say that Pollination was designed to solve a major challenge they were seeing globally.

“The scale and urgency of climate change is clear, yet despite trillions of dollars committed to climate change, the money isn’t flowing fast enough, nor to the right places,” O’Sullivan said.

Wilder says solving that problem requires a holistic view, and bold new ideas. Pollination brings together global leaders from across industries, connecting their diverse expertise across all dimensions of the climate challenge – from the Paris Agreement to mobilising capital.

“The shift to net zero will be permanent. With courage and vision, we will revolutionise our economies,” Wilder said.

Prior to co-founding Pollination, Martijn Wilder AM was formerly head Baker McKenzie’s global climate change practice for over 20 years. He is Chair of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and former founding Director and Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Tony O’Sullivan is a London-based investment banker, who was head of Investment Banking, Sydney at pre-eminent Wall Street firm Lazard. He also founded O’Sullivan Partners which was acquired by Lazard, and was London-based Managing Director of Bank of America.

Pollination’s Chairman is Rob Jesudason, former Chief Executive Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and recent President of Block One – the world’s biggest block chain company.

The firm brings together globally recognised experts from across law, policy, finance, investment, technology and sustainability. The senior team includes:

• Patrick Suckling – Australian Ambassador for the Environment and economic advisor to
  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during the global financial crisis
• Sam Mostyn – recognised corporate sustainability leader and Chair of Citi Australia
• Christof Kutscher – Global Chairman of AXA Investment Managers
• James Cameron – founder of Climate Change Capital, the World’s first green merchant bank,
  former member of the UK Prime Minister’s Business Advisor Group, and one of the architects of
  the Kyoto Protocol

For further information, please contact:
Media – Kate Rayson
media@pollinationfoundation.org
+61 2 8313 710