Bank expands sustainability team

The appointment of Katie Vickers and Gavin Marshall within the bank’s Sustainable Business Development team were announced last month by Rabobank chief executive Todd Charteris.

He says the scope and degree of sustainabilityrelated needs for both Rabobank and its clients had grown significantly over recent years as a result of emerging regulatory reform and increasing consumer and community expectations.

“Consequently, we recognised the need for further sustainability expertise to support the implementation of our sustainability strategy, particularly with the development and implementation of the appropriate tools, training and resources to have meaningful and data-driven discussions with our clients to support them with the sustainability aspects of their businesses,” he says.

“Katie and Gavin both have the specific experience and skill sets that align with Rabobank’s sustainability strategy, and we’re delighted to now have them on board as part of the team.”

Vickers joined the bank in June this year, having spent the previous eight years with Farmlands Cooperative Society where she was, until recently, the head of sustainability and land use.

She played a key role in helping to drive and integrate sustainability throughout Farmlands business, notes Charteris.

“She has excellent communication and leadership skills, and these attributes have seen her recognised as one of the agricultural sector’s up and coming leaders.”

In 2020 she was awarded the NZ Co-operative Emerging Leader of the Year award, and in 2022 she was named as a finalist for the 2022 Zanda McDonald Award.

Gavin Marshall

“Katie’s new role with Rabobank will see her focused on supporting our staff with learning and development so they can have meaningful sustainability discussions with the bank’s clients,” says Charteris.

“She’ll also assist with the development and delivery of our client knowledge programmes.”

Marshall joined Rabobank in August this year and brings with him 15 years’ experience in the agriculture sector, the last six years spent as an environmental programme lead at Fonterra.

“In that role, Gavin designed, developed and managed the implementation of programmes focused on supporting farmers to reduce their environmental footprint – primarily around freshwater and climate,” Charteris says.

“In his new position with Rabobank, Gavin will be responsible for the development of the online tool used by the bank to assess the non-financial performance of our clients’ businesses – including their environmental, agronomic, social and workplace performance – with the aim of advancing the insights this tool provides for our clients.”

Both Vickers and Marshall will report into the bank’s head of sustainable business development Blake Holgate, who has been in the role since early last year, and with the bank since 2012.

With the new additions to the team now up and running, Holgate says the bank was well placed to establish a unique market position built around providing its clients with the knowledge, networks and finance.

“As a bank built upon co-operative values, we’re committed to helping our clients develop and implement sustainability solutions that best meet their unique needs.

“We strongly believe the best way to do this is through meaningful engagement that provides them with information so they can make good decisions for their businesses, and by then providing a financial solution that best aligns to the decisions they’ve made,” he says.