Active Ownership

University Network for Investor Engagement (UNIE)

The University of Victoria and the University of Victoria Foundation are committed to participating in collective engagement through UNIE The initiative’s aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. UNIE will engage with public companies to focus on key sectors where advocacy can make the biggest difference, including finance, transportation, energy and utilities and manufacturing. Activities will include meeting with company shareholders to discuss improvement strategies for their environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies.

UNIE will focus on engaging on the following issues:

  • Reduce emissions in line with Paris commitments;
  • Shift lending and capital expenditures to reduce financed emissions;
  • Implement responsible climate lobbying policies and practices;
  • Incorporate climate risk in business strategy and board oversight; and,
  • Work towards a just transition that doesn’t leave workers or communities behind.

UNIE is a collective engagement program created by the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE). SHARE is a leading not-for-profit organization in responsible investment services.

Proxy Voting

Proxy voting is another essential tool in our commitment to responsible investing. The Board has delegated voting rights to be exercised by the investment managers. Equity investment managers are expected to vote all proxies in the best interests of the Foundation. The proxy voting activity of our investment managers demonstrates that they continue to remain active participants within their equity portfolios. Our managers are required to report regularly on their proxy voting activity.

The most common types of proxy votes are:

  • Board Opposition,
  • Say on Pay Opposition, and;
  • Shareholder Proposal Support.

Regular Investment Manager Reporting

The Board requires that its investment managers provide reports on ESG practice integration. These reports include information on any ESG issues that have been identified and discussed with management of companies in the portfolio as well as proxy voting updates. Key examples of disclosures from each investment manager are included below.