Senior ESG Investment Analyst Ayesha Azeem shares highlights from our 2025 Small Companies ESG Report, reflecting a year of active engagement and forward-looking focus.
- Cyber security – We engaged with companies in sensitive sectors like healthcare to assess cyber risk management and employee training.
- Emissions reporting – Despite falling outside of regulatory requirements we are seeing increasing investment in emissions reporting at small cap companies driven by commercial pressures.
- Executive remuneration – We continue to advocate for pay structures that align with long-term value creation and strong governance.
- Looking ahead to 2026: Our focus turns to AI, climate transition planning, and board capability.
Learn more about how we’re integrating ESG into our investment process in the full video.
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BEcAyesha joined Maple-Brown Abbott in October 2022 as an ESG Investment Analyst. In her current role, she is responsible for conducting environmental, social and governance (ESG) stock research and analysis for Australian small cap companies as well as supporting broader ESG efforts. Before joining Maple-Brown Abbott, Ayesha worked as an assistant investment analyst in the global equities team at Pendal Group, covering the consumer staples and chemicals sectors across North America, Europe and Japan.
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