The California State Teachers’ Retirement System has appointed Nick Abel as the new director of Sustainable Investment and Stewardship Strategies, a role that oversees one of the most influential ESG investment programs in the global pension landscape. The appointment places Abel at the centre of CalSTRS’ long-term efforts to balance financial performance with climate-aligned capital deployment, corporate stewardship, and net zero planning.
Abel’s elevation follows several years of work within CalSTRS’ sustainability platform. Since joining the organisation in 2020, he has contributed to the development of stewardship priorities, private market climate strategies, and long-horizon investment frameworks. His prior experience at Wespath Institutional Investments, RVK, and Saturna Capital adds a blend of fiduciary discipline and sustainability expertise that aligns with CalSTRS’ evolving approach to system-wide risk. He succeeds Kirsty Jenkinson, who previously led the SISS division and now holds the broader position of Senior Investment Director for Private Markets and SISS. Jenkinson praised Abel for his credibility within global investment networks and for his role in shaping several of CalSTRS’ most complex sustainability initiatives.
The SISS division plays a distinctive role inside CalSTRS. It directs capital into private climate solution assets, develops stewardship strategies for public companies, and coordinates engagement on policy issues that have long-term implications for the fund’s beneficiaries. As director, Abel will guide this portfolio across global markets, directing investments that combine competitive returns with contributions to the low-carbon transition. The remit includes oversight of proxy voting, thought leadership on system-wide climate risks, and collaboration with private market teams to integrate sustainability considerations into new strategies. He will also be responsible for supporting the Teachers’ Retirement Board as it implements CalSTRS’ net zero portfolio emissions pathway, an initiative that requires measurable progress across asset classes.
In accepting the role, Abel signalled that the next phase of SISS will focus on scaling climate solution investments and strengthening CalSTRS’ voice in shaping sustainable business practices. He highlighted the importance of using CalSTRS’ long-term investment horizon to influence corporate behaviour, advance credible climate strategies, and advocate for public policies that enable risk-aware growth. His remarks echoed the broader purpose of CalSTRS’ sustainability agenda: to protect the retirement security of California’s educators by ensuring the resilience of global markets.
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The appointment arrives at a time when pension funds across the world face growing scrutiny over climate alignment, transition risk, and stewardship effectiveness. CalSTRS, long regarded as a leader among public funds, continues to expand its commitments to climate solutions, transparency, and responsible engagement. Abel’s leadership is expected to reinforce these efforts and refine the fund’s investment approach during a period of rapid regulatory and market change. With this transition, CalSTRS signals continued momentum behind its sustainable investment strategy, positioning the SISS division as a central contributor to the fund’s long-term value creation and its role as a global steward of capital.
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