Claudia De Meulemeester Keynote Speaker
- Seasoned financial journalist covering the intersection of finance, policy and regulation
- Expert on the energy transition, green rulemaking, risk management, and activist investors
- Fluent in English, Dutch and Italian, and also speaks French and German
Claudia De Meulemeester's Biography
Claudia De Meulemeester is a multilingual, financial journalist and a former senior correspondent at the Financial Times Group.
She reports on the nexus between sustainability and financial markets, and has written extensively about sustainable finance, shareholder activism, climate policy and ESG-related litigation.
The European Green Deal, and its impact on companies and the wider economy, is one area Claudia has reported on in depth.
Claudia started her career in radio broadcasting before moving into newswire reporting and magazine publishing, where she specialised in financial and business investigations.
Before joining the Financial Times Group, Claudia reported on activist hedge funds and produced scoops on capital raises and large-scale mergers and acquisitions. She is well-versed in all things corporate governance and has extensive knowledge of board director duties and investor relations.
While mostly based in London, Claudia has also spent time overseas, reporting from Hong Kong, New York, Brussels and Milan.
Claudia continues to report for a variety of publications on responsible investment, risk management, environmental law, ESG policies and large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
Alongside her journalistic work, Claudia is an accomplished public speaker, regularly chairing events and facilitating discussions for business audiences and policy makers across Europe, on a variety of topics.
She also provides bespoke media training to individuals and companies, who seek to expand their media outreach and profiling.
Claudia is fluent in English, Dutch and Italian, and also speaks French and German.
She holds a bachelor and master’s degree in Linguistics and Literature from Ghent University and a master’s degree in Business and Financial Journalism from City University London. During her university studies, Claudia also attended the Danish School of Media and Journalism, Aarhus University and the University of Vienna.
Claudia De Meulemeester's Speaking Topics
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The sustainability rulebook and its repercussions for business
Changing regulations and trade-offs linked to the green transition require companies to strengthen their compliance functions and get their messaging straight to avoid bad publicity and reputational backlash.
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The world of green finance
How to finance and insure the transition to a low-carbon economy at a time when energy security tops government agendas and climate mitigation and adaptation remain crucial and underfunded.
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Corporate governance and risk management:
Company boards need to cultivate resilience and be pro-active at identifying supply chain vulnerabilities, cyber threats and climate risks if they want to better navigate an uncertain geopolitical landscape.
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The threat of litigation
From greenwashing accusations to forever chemical contamination and climate lawsuits, boards and their directors increasingly face scrutiny from the courts.
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Financial activism
The inside outs of activist investors, dealmaking, the role of investment banks, and the rising tension with private equity and private debt.
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The blue economy
Shipping’s crucial position in international trade, the quest to clean our oceans from plastic pollution, and the disputes around deep-sea mining.
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The future of news
How do journalists continue to operate in an increasingly polarising world? After the proliferation of social media, artificial intelligence adds another layer of complexity and confusion in information gathering/sharing, raising the stakes for media outlets and their business models.
Why Book Claudia De Meulemeester as a speaker?
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Claudia turns regulatory complexity into practical business considerations, clarifying how regulation actually impacts business decisions. She can provide insights into how new rules and policies affect company boards, capital allocation, M&A, and reputation.
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Her journalistic background allows her to question the status quo, challenge all sides and highlight consensus and contradictions. As an independent journalist, she speaks to a multitude of market participants, often anticipating controversies before they go mainstream.
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Claudia’s breadth of expertise makes her well-placed to untangle the interconnected risks facing companies today, such as supply chains, energy security, investor pressure, and public scrutiny.
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Her engagement with senior executives, diplomats and policy makers puts her in an ideal position to interpret the current state of affairs and decipher the narratives that are being constructed.
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Claudia’s mixed European background (Belgian, Italian, and British) gives her a unique perspective on cross-border trade and the business implications of Brexit.