Episode 6 | Rory Sullivan: Cutting through the ESG backlash
In this episode of The Transition Tapes, Hugh Wheelan talks with Rory Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of Chronos Sustainability and a leading global expert on climate change, human rights, and sustainable finance.
With over thirty years of experience across public policy, investment management, and advisory roles, Rory brings a clear-eyed perspective on where ESG stands today — and what serious investors should focus on next.
At a time of growing backlash and confusion around sustainable finance, Rory cuts through the noise to separate substance from rhetoric and sets out what credibility, collaboration, and long-term purpose really mean.
Hear Rory talk about:
What the ESG backlash really is — and what it isn’t
Which investor collaborations still matter now the “tide has gone out”
How asset owners can clarify long-term, intergenerational purpose
Why sustainable finance needs a return to Economics 101 on materiality, incentives, and regulation
Beyond markets and policy, Rory also shares his love of books, how he works through writer’s block, and the music that fuels his thinking — captured in his Transition Tapes playlist.
Listen to the episode on:
Don’t miss Rory’s favourite reads and her Transition Tapes playlist.
