Episode 14: Financing the green transition: can private capital bridge the gap?
The green transition isn't just about switching from fossil fuels to renewable or zero-carbon sources—it also requires smarter, more efficient use of energy. By harnessing technology, improving energy efficiency, and generating power closer to where it’s consumed, we can cut both costs and carbon emissions.
In this episode of Top of the Agenda, Dr Helen Jenkins is joined by Jonathan Maxwell, founder and CEO of Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL). Together, they explore how private finance can play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable infrastructure, the opportunities and barriers in deploying energy-efficient technologies, and using private finance to support these new technologies.
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Episode 13: One year on developments in artificial intelligence (AI)
In this episode, one year on from their conversation in the very first Top of the Agenda podcast, Dr Helen Jenkins welcomes back Professor Richard Susskind CBE.
Together they delve into the themes in Professor Susskind’s new book, ‘How to think about AI: A guide for the perplexed’, and share their thoughts on how we all need to think much more about AI to both harness the opportunities for humanity and avoid and mitigate the risks.
Following on from the discussion Dr Sebastian Wernicke, a Partner at Oxera and an expert in leveraging data science, machine learning and AI, joins Helen to share his insights on how businesses and governments are thinking about and responding to the challenges of implementing AI today.
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Episode 12: ESG: does the political shift mean businesses will lose out?
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have long been a key factor in Boardroom discussions and decisions. However recent political developments—particularly in the US—have sparked a stark change in direction. Is it all over for ESG, or is there a future?
In this episode of Top of the Agenda, Doctor Helen Jenkins is joined by Professor Marco Becht, Executive Director and Fellow of European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI), and Dr Luis Correia da Silva, Partner and Chair of the Board at Oxera. Together, they discuss the evolution of ESG since its inception in the early 2000s, what the current political shift could mean for businesses and investors, and how the ESG agenda may move forward.
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Leveraged buyouts: a smart strategy or a risky gamble?
The second episode in the Top of the Agenda series on private equity demystifies leveraged buyouts (LBOs); a widely used yet controversial private equity strategy. While LBOs can offer the potential for substantial returns by using debt to finance acquisitions, they also come with significant risks such as excessive debt burdens and aggressive cost-cutting measures.
Helen Jenkins and Tim Jenkinson, Oxera Partner and professor of finance at the University of Oxford’s Said Business School, explore the potential of LBOs to unlock value, rejuvenate companies, and drive growth while also addressing how they can negatively impact long-term business performance, sometimes leaving companies worse off.
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Episode 10: Collective actions: are consumers reaping the benefits?
When companies engage in price fixing, abuse their market dominance, or form illegal cartels, consumers and businesses can suffer but since 2015 in the UK and 2020 across the EU, collective actions are challenging these anti-competitive practices and are seeking compensation. Many of us may even be members of a class action without even knowing it and could be due some compensation.
In this episode of Top of the Agenda, Helen Jenkins is joined by James Hennah, a Partner in Linklater’s litigation arbitration and investigations practice, and Kimela Shah, a Principal at Oxera who specialises in consumer and collective actions. Together, they discuss the latest legal developments, the landmark cases and the evolving framework for collective redress.
Brought to you by Oxera.
Welcome to the Top of the Agenda Podcast, where industry experts and senior executives delve into the most pressing topics of our time. By using the combination of economics, data science and finance, we can shape and improve the business, legal and regulatory landscape and inspire new solutions from the everyday, to ever-evolving global issues.
Oxera is a consultancy that uses the expertise of economics, data science and finance to help its clients make well-informed and data-backed decisions. How is the green transition funded? Should sport be regulated, and if so, how? How are our urban transport needs changing and how should we pay for this? What is the impact of AI on jobs? These are just a few of the questions that we help to answer every day, in countries around the world, and ‘Top of the Agenda’ shares the insights from experts at the heart of these questions.
Our skills apply to any industry and help to provide new and impartial solutions. You can find out more about Oxera, and how our work with our clients makes a difference, by visiting our website. www.oxera.com.
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