The Policy Liaison Group on ESG convenes diverse stakeholders to forge informed, cross-party consensus on how to drive the transition to a more sustainable economy. Our work aligns with the government’s priorities to position the UK as a leader in green finance, transition planning and clean energy.
What does the Policy Liaison Group on ESG do?
Through regular roundtables and direct engagement, the Policy Liaison Group on ESG helps familiarise parliamentarians with ESG frameworks, metrics and key principles while building consensus across a wide variety of policy areas, from modern slavery to net zero.
Engagement with diverse stakeholders raises awareness of common challenges facing industry and investment in the collective drive to make the UK economy more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. The Group actively engages across all three pillars of ESG, addressing key challenges and objectives, such as combating greenwashing and advancing the just transition.
We champion sustainable finance, one of the UK government’s five critical growth missions for the financial sector, while paying close attention to how businesses in the real economy can develop more robust sustainability strategies and effective ESG reporting processes. The Group therefore plays an important role in supporting the UK’s net zero objectives, lowering barriers to opportunity, enhancing corporate accountability, unlocking investment and, crucially, improving conditions for investment and growth.
Want to get involved?
Contact one of team members below to find out more about sponsorship, events or our programme of work by emailing us at:
Meet the team
Pierre Shepherd
As Head of Policy and Engagement, Pierre works with parliamentarians, government officials, technical experts, corporate sustainability leaders and responsible finance professionals to support effective policy development. He engages closely with cross-party MPs and peers to foster informed debate on ESG-related legislation, standards and regulation. Pierre began his career as an EU policy professional in Brussels, serving in the European Commission before representing the non-ferrous metals industry on sustainability, trade and transport policy. He later moved into communications and research. He took over the administration of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ESG in 2022, shortly after joining College Green Group, and is the author of four APPG reports, including on the UK Green Taxonomy and on gender equality. He launched the Policy Liaison Group on ESG as a successor to the APPG in 2024 to be a more active Westminster-based forum.
Gabriella Franklin
Gabriella is the Group’s Policy Manager, coordinating cross-party and cross-sector roundtables that connect policymakers, industry leaders and investors on key sustainability issues. She works to keep ESG on the parliamentary agenda, focusing on its role in sustainable growth, responsible investment and public trust. She holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in International Political Economy, where her thesis explored the political economy of decarbonisation in the Moroccan desert. Before joining the Group, Gabriella worked as an assistant project manager at an architectural firm specialising in sustainable development.
John Read
John Read is the Business Development Manager at College Green Group, responsible for leading corporate partnerships within the Policy Liaison Group (PLG) on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG). He works with ESG directors, sustainability leads, financial institutions and corporates across sectors to ensure that business perspectives directly inform the fast-evolving regulatory and policy landscape. John is particularly focused on connecting ESG policy to business resilience and value creation, ensuring that partners of the Group gain not only visibility in Westminster but also tangible influence on the frameworks that will define the UK’s sustainability transition.
Our PLGs
The Policy Liaison Group on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is one of several forums managed by College Green Group, a public affairs agency based in the heart of Westminster. These groups focus on key areas within the built environment and sustainability. Get in touch to learn more about our broader work and policy initiatives.
