Finance, Health & Sustainability

Tobacco Free Portfolios

Rachel developed and led the UK and European strategy and its implementation for global NGO Tobacco Free Portfolios between 2015 – 2020.

Collaborating closely and working with C-Suite leaders and principals of the finance sector to formalise a position that encouraged and enabled moving all investment out of tobacco as a lynchpin of the ESG strategy.

The majority of Tobacco Free funds are now based in Europe and the UK.

Currently representing over $16 trillion in AUM, the Tobacco Free Finance Pledge, was launched in 2018 at the UN in New York. Supported by The Director-General of the WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, and signed by global leaders in finance representing Banks, Asset Managers, Pension and Superannuation funds, Insurance and Reinsurance companies, Sovereign Wealth Funds and philanthropic foundations.

The Pledge now has 200 + Signatories, including some of the world’s largest banks, insurers, and pension funds, headquartered in over 20 different countries. The Signatories represent capital in excess of US$ 16 trillion in AUM committed to tobacco-free finance.

Tobacco Free Portfolios, Green Money, 2023 

Dr Rachel Melsom at the launch of the Tobacco Free Finance Pledge at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, 2018

Business For Health

Rachel and Medical Matrix Consulting joined Business for Health in 2022 as an Associate Partner. A business-led coalition supporting long term sustainable innovation and investment in preventative health and care.

Bringing Health into ESG (‘ESHG’) to enhance health and economic resilience for a better future.

Working jointly with finance sector, commercial health sector and government on developing a ‘Business Framework for Health’ and an index, which will help measure business’ positive and negative contribution to health, and ultimately lead to improving population health.

The Index was launched in November 2022 in collaboration with the CBI and supported by the NHS and government.

COVID-19 has highlighted that population health is a critical issue for business. There are opportunities to make our nation healthier and more resilient and business has an important role in this. So, I warmly welcome this new initiative by the CBI and Business for Health.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England

ShareAction programme LIPH: Long-term Investors in People’s Health

Rachel was a steering group member and core contributor to the strategy and thinking for the development of the Long-term Investors in People’s Health project.

The initial publication ‘Health : An Untapped Asset – how investors can strengthen returns by improving health outcomes’ focusses on the need to develop a framework to assess health related risks for investors.

The report highlights the business case for increased focus on health from an investors perspective.