image image

    Invest for impact in emerging market debt

    Invest for impact in emerging market debt

    What is impact investing?
    A broad term used to refer to investment approaches that emphasise aiming for a positive environmental and/or social impact. It is for investors wanting to mobilise their capital to pursue not only financial returns, but also to further positive outcomes such as social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and communal prosperity.
    Why emerging market debt?
    Emerging market debt offers possibly the most powerful combination of potential for both financial returns and positive impact.
    image image
    img

    Whether considering the potential scale of impact investing, or the broad scope for positive change, emerging markets (EM) arguably offer an unparalleled opportunity for investors seeking to make an impact.

    img
    img

    Whether considering the potential scale of impact investing, or the broad scope for positive change, emerging markets (EM) arguably offer an unparalleled opportunity for investors seeking to make an impact.

    img
    Rodica Glavan, Head of Emerging Market Corporate Fixed Income
    Our approach
    Our Responsible Horizons EM Debt Impact strategy is deliberately broad-based, targeting the themes of people, planet and prosperity. We look beyond just green bonds, seeking to offer access to the entire impact opportunity set in public fixed income.

    ≥ 50%

    target investment in impact bonds

    ≥ 70%

    target investment in emerging market corporate debt

    Article 9

    SFDR classification

    Assured

    'Towards sustainability' label5

    Seeking measurable impact
    Targeting positive, measurable social and environmental impact aligned with the UN SDGs

    Impact alignment of strategy portfolio with UN SDGs6

    We aim to report on the impact the strategy has achieved.

    Meet some of the team

    Our strategy draws on expertise from Insight's emerging market, credit research, and responsible investment teams, including the individuals below.

    image
    Rodica Glavan

    Head of Emerging Market Corporate Fixed Income

    Rodica Glavan

    Head of Emerging Market Corporate Fixed Income

    Rodica is Head of Emerging Market Corporate Fixed Income. She is lead portfolio manager for Insight’s flagship emerging market corporate and emerging market corporate high yield strategies. Rodica joined Insight as an emerging market debt portfolio manager in December 2006. Prior to Insight, Rodica worked at Schroders, London, managing emerging markets for their global portfolios. She began her career in 1999 as an emerging market sovereign analyst at Schroders, New York. Rodica holds a BBA degree in Economics and Finance from University of Alaska Anchorage, USA. She also holds the Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK and speaks four languages.

    image
    Fabien Collado, CFA

    Responsible Investment - Senior Portfolio Manager

    Fabien Collado, CFA

    Responsible Investment - Senior Portfolio Manager

    Fabien joined Insight’s Fixed Income Group in August 2021, as an ESG Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining Insight, he spent almost 12 years at AXA Investment Managers, initially as a portfolio engineer. He was then an active fixed income fund manager focussing on euro credit strategies. Latterly, he was a global buy and maintain fund manager, with an ESG focus. Fabien graduated with a Masters degree in Finance from IÉSEG School of Management. He is also a CFA charterholder.

    image
    Eleanor Austin

    Responsible Investment - Specialist

    Eleanor Austin

    Responsible Investment - Specialist

    Eleanor is part of Insight’s Responsible Investment Team, where she is responsible for leading sustainability analysis for investment opportunities across fixed income, supports the design of investment frameworks for sustainable solutions and supports engagement activity with issuing companies and issuing banks. She joined Insight in December 2024 from Aviva Investors, where she spent five years, latterly as a Senior ESG Credit Analyst, delivering on ESG sector research across utilities, financials and real estate, to identify material risks and promote environmental and social characteristics. She also led the SFDR Article 8 ESG integration processes for investment grade and buy and maintain strategies. Eleanor graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2019 with a BA in Politics and International Relations. She also holds the Level 4 Certificate in Investment Management from the CFA Society of the UK and has passed the Applied Responsible Investment course from the PRI Academy.

    image
    Jorg Soens, CFA

    Responsible Investment – Solutions Lead

    Jorg Soens, CFA

    Responsible Investment – Solutions Lead

    Jorg joined the Responsible Investment Team within the Fixed Income Group in March 2023, responsible for supporting the growth and development of responsible investment products and solutions at Insight. Jorg joined from Mercer, where he spent over five years as a Lead Investment Solutions Specialist and Currency Manager. Before this, he was a Portfolio Manager with KBC Fund Management. Jorg holds a Masters in Finance & Risk from University College Ghent, a Masters in MIS from University Hasselt and a Masters in General Management from Vlerick Business School. He is a CFA charterholder and holds the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.

    image
    James Fisher

    Responsible Investment - Analyst

    James Fisher

    Responsible Investment - Analyst

    James transferred to Insight’s Responsible Investment Team as a Responsible Investment - Analyst in January 2025. Prior to this, he was a Client Service Specialist within the Client Solutions Group, working directly alongside our client directors in the day-to-day servicing of a range of our institutional clients. He initially joined Insight in September 2022 on the graduate programme. James graduated from University of Sheffield, in 2022 and also holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) from the CFA Society of the UK.

    image
    Rhona Cormack

    Responsible Investment - Senior Specialist

    Rhona Cormack

    Responsible Investment - Senior Specialist

    Rhona joined the Responsible Investment Team within the Fixed Income Group in November 2021 and is responsible for leading Insight’s ESG engagement activities. She focuses on researching and delivering Insight’s engagement themes, with her areas of expertise including climate change and diversity and inclusion. Prior to joining Insight, Rhona had over six years’ experience in sustainability and climate change consulting, focusing on strategy and reporting advisory services. Rhona holds an MSc in Sustainability and a BA in Geography from the University of Leeds.

    Back to top