A new industry-led working group set up by the FCA to focus on boosting advisers' sustainable finance capability has included a Chartered and Certified Financial Planner among its founding members.

Robin Keyte, director of Taunton-based Keyte Chartered Financial Planners, has been appointed to the Advisers’ Sustainability Group.

He was formerly involved in the FCA Business Ethics Forum and in drafting the International Standard for Financial Planning (ISO 22222) and an associated British Standard BS8577.

The FCA also appointed Mr Keyte to the Smaller Business Practitioner Panel which he sat on for six years ending in 2019.

The new group also includes Don MacIntyre, chief executive of the Personal Finance Society, PFS Fellow Rebecca Kowalski, of sustainable finance consultancy Overstory Finance, Andrew McMillan, CEO of Nova Wealth Management and Adam Owen, director and head of content, NextGen Planners.

In January the FCA named former Investment Association CEO Daniel Godfrey as the first chair of its sustainable finance adviser group.

Mr Godfrey said: “We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and encouragement we’ve received from all stakeholder groups in the advice ecosystem. In addition to the excellent team that we’ve announced today, we’ve had great conversations with many in the advice community who are keen to help with our work as we get underway. 

“The ASG is entirely focused on its mission of developing guidance that helps advisers deliver advice on sustainability matters and leads to better outcomes for consumers.”

Julia Dreblow, vice chair, said: “This group is a phenomenally strong group of individuals. It is intentionally representative of a wide range of adviser, planner and wealth manager interests and views - as well as of the core services advisers rely on.” She said the group was looking forward to involving many others who have offered assistance.

The Advisers’ Sustainability Group includes:

Daniel Godfrey, chair

Julia Dreblow, vice-chair, director, SRI Services

Maja Erceg, secretariat, PIMFA

Danby Bloch, head of editorial strategy, Platforum

Amy Clarke, co-founder and chief impact officer, Tribe Impact Capital

Lee Coates, director, ESG Accord

Seb Elwell, director, Switchfoot Wealth

Paris Jordan, head of responsible investing, Charles Stanley

Sophie Kennedy, joint CEO, EQ Investors

Dr Robin Keyte, director, Keyte Chartered Financial Planners

Rebecca Kowalski FPFS, director, Overstory Finance

Don MacIntyre, CEO, Personal Finance Society

Andrew McMillan, co-Founder and CEO, Nova Wealth Management

Adam Owen, director and head of content, NextGen Planners

Dan Russell, managing director, Fintel

Gemma Woodward, head of responsible investment, Quilter Cheviot

The Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association (PIMFA), the wealth management trade body, provides the secretariat for the group, including admin support.

The working group will support advisers in helping them give advice to clients on sustainable products and to review claims about sustainability.

One aim of the group is to provide help to cut through 'greenwashing' - false or exaggerated claims about the sustainable nature of some investments.