Hosted by: Dr. Kate Wylie (Doctors for the Environment Australia)

Episode Summary

In this episode of the General Practice Webinar Catchup Podcast, we dive into the intersection of finance and planetary health. Originally hosted by Doctors for the Environment Australia (https://www.dea.org.au/), this session explores how medical professionals—and the general public, can use their money as a tool for good.

Dr. Kate Wylie is joined by experts in financial planning, climate analytics, and shareholder activism to discuss how to harness the power of money to drive climate solutions. The panel debunks the myth that ethical investing means lower returns, explains how to spot "greenwashing" in financial products, and reveals how even small shareholders can force massive corporations to act on climate change.

Meet the Guests

• Andrew Gaston: Financial Advisor and Managing Director of Accord Financial Solutions. A former Reserve Bank employee, Andrew specializes in ethical investment and is a member of the Ethical Advisory Cooperative.

• Rohan Hamden: Director of Banking at Jupiter Intelligence, a global provider of science-based climate resilience analytics. He works to help banks understand climate risk and redirect finance toward resilience.

• James Alexander: Senior ESG Manager at Six, a brokerage platform. James leads shareholder activism work, helping organize investors to file resolutions that push companies toward better climate practices.

Key Topics & Takeaways

1. The Myth of Sacrificing Returns Andrew Gaston shares data from the Responsible Investment Association showing that ethical investments often perform comparably to, or even better than, unconstrained portfolios over time. He emphasizes that you do not have to give up financial gains to invest ethically.

2. How to Screen Your Investments

• Negative Screening: Excluding harmful sectors like fossil fuels, weapons, or tobacco.

• Positive Screening: Actively seeking companies involved in renewables, waste reduction, and new technologies.

• The "ESG" Trap: Andrew warns investors to look "under the hood." Some funds claim "ESG integration" but still invest in fossil fuels by simply applying a price loading rather than excluding them entirely.

3. The Economic Inevitability of Renewables Rohan Hamden argues that we are nearing "peak carbon growth" and that the economics of coal no longer stack up. He notes that renewable energy and battery storage are becoming the cheapest options, and financial markets are naturally shifting toward sustainable finance not just for ethics, but for survival and profit.

4. The Power of Shareholder Activism James Alexander explains how Six helps retail investors combine their power. In Australia, it takes 100 shareholders to file a resolution at a company's AGM.

• Case Study: The panel discusses a campaign targeting QBE Insurance to disclose their exposure to climate risks and fossil fuel underwriting.

5. Divestment vs. Engagement The panel discusses the two main strategies:

• Divestment: Moving your money away from banks and funds that fund fossil fuels (e.g., switching banks).

• Engagement: Holding a small number of shares in "bad" companies to vote at AGMs and force them to change their behavior.

Resources Mentioned

• Market Forces: A tool to check if your bank or super fund is investing in fossil fuels.

• Six: An ethical investment platform...

Contraception and Pregnancy Planning in Diabetes Assoc Professor Emily Hibbert

Assoc Professor Emily Hibbert's podcast explores the intersection of diabetes management and pregnancy planning for women with diabetes mellitus. It emphasizes the rising risks during pregnancy and the importance of effective preconception care. Hibbert highlights the poorer outcomes for pregnant women with diabetes and the critical need for glucose control. The lecture advocates for comprehensive care, including safe contraceptive use and education, identifying long-acting reversible contraceptives as ideal. Case studies demonstrate the benefits of targeted education, concluding with a call for improved collaboration in women's health care.

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If you are a General Practitioner who gets invited to dozens of webinars a month. The General Practice Webinar Catch Up Podcast is designed for you.

Instead of giving up an evening with your family for a live webinar, you can listen to it here whenever it's convenient, in half the time and while you are commuting, exercising or even walking the dog.

It's the same education, without interrupting your life.

If you love learning by listening, and hate the interruptive nature of 'Live CPD' you can also learn from your favourite conferences this way.

Press play. You’re at the conference.

Access thousands of premium conference podcasts and 'full video' podcasts including synchronised PowerPoint slides at https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts

Earn your full year's worth of CPD including Educational Activities, Reviewing Performance and Measuring Outcomes CPD Hours.

Discover more at https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts

In every episode of ArmchairMedical Conference Podcasts, we bring Australia’s leading medical conference education straight to your headphones.

No travel.

No full days away from clinic.

No disruption to your life.

Each episode features real conference lectures, captured live and carefully curated into short, practical, evidence-based podcasts designed for busy general practitioners.

Whether you’re commuting, exercising, or moving through the gaps of your day, this is conference-quality learning that fits real GP life.

If you value staying at the leading edge of medicine, but don’t have the time to attend every conference, this is the smart way to do it.

🎧 Press play. You’re at the conference.

ArmchairMedical Conference Podcasts transform Australia’s best medical conferences into on-demand audio education for GPs. Learn from leading clinicians and experts, anytime and anywhere, in a format designed to work with - not against - your day.

⭐ Rate this episode

➕ Follow the podcast

💬 Share it with a colleague who’d value conference learning without the time away

Disclaimer: Content is for health professionals and general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or a substitute for independent clinical judgement. Always consult current guidelines, product information and local protocols. Views expressed are those of the presenters and not necessarily ArmchairMedical. ArmchairMedical accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or harm resulting from reliance on the information provided.

Visit https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts...

Fertility and type 2 diabetes Inoka Perera

Registered dietitian Inoka discusses the critical link between type 2 diabetes and fertility, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that includes both partners. Through a case study, she illustrates how undiagnosed male diabetes can affect sperm quality and highlights the physiological impacts of diabetes on reproductive health. The episode covers the importance of preconception health, monitoring clinical markers, and addressing nutritional deficiencies, while also advocating for glycemic control and individualized supplementation to optimize fertility outcomes. Inoka concludes with a call for proactive diabetes management and a multidisciplinary care approach.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are a General Practitioner who gets invited to dozens of webinars a month. The General Practice Webinar Catch Up Podcast is designed for you.

Instead of giving up an evening with your family for a live webinar, you can listen to it here whenever it's convenient, in half the time and while you are commuting, exercising or even walking the dog.

It's the same education, without interrupting your life.

If you love learning by listening, and hate the interruptive nature of 'Live CPD' you can also learn from your favourite conferences this way.

Press play. You’re at the conference.

Access thousands of premium conference podcasts and 'full video' podcasts including synchronised PowerPoint slides at https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts

Earn your full year's worth of CPD including Educational Activities, Reviewing Performance and Measuring Outcomes CPD Hours.

Discover more at https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts

In every episode of ArmchairMedical Conference Podcasts, we bring Australia’s leading medical conference education straight to your headphones.

No travel.

No full days away from clinic.

No disruption to your life.

Each episode features real conference lectures, captured live and carefully curated into short, practical, evidence-based podcasts designed for busy general practitioners.

Whether you’re commuting, exercising, or moving through the gaps of your day, this is conference-quality learning that fits real GP life.

If you value staying at the leading edge of medicine, but don’t have the time to attend every conference, this is the smart way to do it.

🎧 Press play. You’re at the conference.

ArmchairMedical Conference Podcasts transform Australia’s best medical conferences into on-demand audio education for GPs. Learn from leading clinicians and experts, anytime and anywhere, in a format designed to work with - not against - your day.

⭐ Rate this episode

➕ Follow the podcast

💬 Share it with a colleague who’d value conference learning without the time away

Disclaimer: Content is for health professionals and general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or a substitute for independent clinical judgement. Always consult current guidelines, product information and local protocols. Views expressed are those of the presenters and not necessarily ArmchairMedical. ArmchairMedical accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or harm resulting from reliance on the information provided.

Visit https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts for...