At the Fund Event on 29 September in ’t Spant, Bussum, DSI hosted a roundtable discussion led by Floris Mreijen, CEO of DSI. The dialogue document Between the Lines – Integrity in Sustainable Finance served as the basis for discussions with financial sector professionals, including asset managers, private bankers, and managers who engage with investors on a daily basis.
The exchange showed that the observations from the report are clearly reflected in practice. While sustainable finance was the main topic of conversation between 2020 and 2022, professionals now notice that client discussions have shifted. Interest in responsible and sustainable investing has decreased for some clients, with more focus on achieving returns. There is also increasing discussion about investing in the defence sector and whether such investments fit within a sustainable portfolio.
A key conclusion from Between the Lines is that regulation can sometimes create more uncertainty than it resolves—an observation that was confirmed during the roundtable.
The conversation also covered upcoming regulations. Although these aim to strengthen integrity and transparency, professionals noted that more rules can lead to increased complexity and checkbox behaviour—the very risks highlighted in the dialogue document.
The three challenges identified in Between the Lines – managing expectations, communicating effectively, and actively safeguarding integrity – remain highly relevant. DSI will continue to drive this conversation, keeping professional competence and integrity at the centre of discussions on sustainable finance.
For more information about the dialogue document, see here.