In the past year, Calvert Research and Management's impact engagement efforts have involved work focusing on diversity, climate change and protecting employees in at-risk industries in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emily Chew, executive vice president and chief responsible investment officer at Calvert and winner of this year's Personality of the year in the 2021 Impact Awards, said: "Several years ago we adopted the Calvert principles for responsible investment which define a baseline standard for the companies we invest in and which we consider to be sustainably managed companies.

"These are companies that have longevity over the medium- to long-term and remain competitive over that time, but also which have superior management over the environmental and social risks to their business model. We see that as a follow-on there is generally superior management of their potential negative impacts on society as well.

"That framework has provided a very clear direction for us in terms of how we define our funds."

Chew highlighted an overall trend towards diversity and inclusion in the impact investing sector, and how Calvert also focussed on promoting this through its investments. She added: "As a result of our campaign, at least 75% of all companies in the top 100 publicly traded companies had publicly disclosed their diversity data metrics or they've committed to doing so."

Calvert has also advocated for shareholder rights in dialogues with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Labor (DOL).

Calvert has $36 billion in assets under management, as of 30 June, across 11 funds.