Paul Clements-Hunt is a former United Nations official, founder of The Blended Capital Group and a leading voice in sustainable finance. Credited with helping coin the term ESG in 2004, he played a central role in developing the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. His work has influenced how financial institutions assess environmental, social and governance risks. With more than three decades of experience across journalism, business and international policy, Paul is hired to explain where sustainability and investment meet, and what changing markets mean for organisations making decisions today.
Paul began his career in journalism before establishing an environmental strategy and technology consultancy in Southeast Asia. In 2000, he joined the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, where he led work connecting the UN with the financial sector. His team helped develop the Principles for Responsible Investment, launched in 2006, and he served on its founding board for six years. After leaving the UN in 2012, Paul founded The Blended Capital Group to pursue sustainable investment strategies and advise organisations facing complex environmental and economic risks.
Paul continues to work with investors and business leaders on the future of responsible finance. He chairs the board of trustees of the Future-Fit Foundation and serves on the board of Global Infrastructure Basel. From 2022 to 2024, he advised senior partners at Mishcon de Reya on the development of the firm’s sustainability business. His recent work also includes speaking at the 2025 Responsible Investment Association Australasia conference in Sydney, where he delivered the opening keynote, and discussing regenerative capitalism on The Greener Way podcast. These activities keep him involved in debates about the next phase of sustainable investment.
As a speaker, Paul brings first-hand knowledge of how a financial concept became a global investment framework. He helps audiences examine climate and nature risks, responsible investment, emerging markets and the practical challenges of turning sustainability commitments into action. His experience across the UN, private enterprise and charitable leadership makes him a strong choice for finance conferences, board events and corporate discussions. Paul offers a perspective for organisations seeking to understand how capital can support resilient businesses and communities.
