Paragon Impact
Paragon Impact
Transforming ESG risk into SDG Impact
ABOUT

Paragon +Impact is a global expert tech company specialising in digital impact analysis with a mission to reduce the complexity of ESG and sustainability reporting. We empower organisations to make more informed decisions in order to manage their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks, achieve their impact goals and ultimately contribute to Agenda 2030, whilst communicating their performance in a sophisticated manner.

In order to achieve this, our team of sustainability experts combined with our tech partners have created a unique and powerful cloud-based impact assessment tool, namely the Paragon +Grading tool.

The Tool is built upon fundamental global frameworks and delivers a robust impact grading methodology that is powerfully aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant ESG principles. Our vision is to catalyse a world that is guided by expert impact data and supported by frontier cloud-based intelligence to enable verifiable impact on people and planet, alongside financial returns.

Finalist for Jersey Finance Innovation in Sustainability Award

Nominated for Digital Jersey Tech Awards, in ESG category

Finalist in ESG High Achiever Award, South African Chamber of Commerce UK Awards

ABOUT THE TOOL
Paragon +Impact presents our Paragon +Grading Tool, which offers a powerful methodology that expertly guides you through holistic SDG and ESG impact analysis. It is a uniquely designed data-driven approach, supported by a bespoke Amazon Web Services (AWS) online software, that delivers a novel digital solution to intelligently measure, manage and report on organisational impact performance. The Tool and methodology have been iteratively designed in accordance with key globally accredited frameworks and principles (such as the UNEP FI, GRI and PRI), which assesses and grades the contribution (or detriment) to the 17 SDGs. By producing sophisticated outputs and impact dashboards, Paragon +Grading not only reduces unnecessary ESG complexity but enables more informed and empowered decision-making.

GLOBAL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORKS

Paragon Impact and our +Grading Tool align to international global standards and frameworks.  The tool is updated regularly to reflect developments and updates implemented by the following institutional bodies where relevant:

GRADING METHODOLOGY

IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The Paragon +Grading Tool is a novel approach to bridge the gap between the intentions and the impact of an organisation, thus helping to build their theory of change and navigate simply towards their ESG and sustainable impact goals. Our robust methodology carries out a detailed analysis of the impact (positive and negative) across an organisation’s sphere of influence by quantifying the Scale, Magnitude and Duration of the impact as well as the Probability and Risk associated with it. This process requires high quality & verifiable data in order to respond to 53 expertly curated impact statements, informing the performance against all 17 SDGs and the ESG sub-themes.

Scale

A measure of the extent of the impact – geographical and/or social.

Magnitude

The extent to which the impact is being experienced at the assigned Scale; taking direct vs indirect impacts into consideration.

Duration

A measure of the lifespan of the impact to be experienced at the assigned scale.

Probability

The likelihood of the impact occurring at the assigned Scale, Duration and Magnitude; taking volatility, risk and governance factors into consideration.

SDG WEIGHTING

Each grading assessment first completes a strategic four-tier materiality weighting process across all SDGs, which identifies the relative importance of the SDGs from those that are Core to the organisation to those that are Negligible. The associated weighted algorithms allow personalised yet comparable performance results to be produced, as they deliver ‘Core SDG only’ results and gradings, as well as those integrated Comprehensively across all SDGs and ESG sub-themes. All of these findings are supported by an integrated dashboard and reporting outputs, summarising the Core and Comprehensive Gradings as well as critically highlighting potential risks factors and long-term monitoring needs.

SOLUTIONS

The Paragon +Grading Tool has many applications that enable a variety of organisations to measure, manage and communicate their impact performance over time as well as radically improve stakeholder engagement and investor satisfaction within the universal contexts of the SDGs and ESG more effectively.

Corporate Reporting

CORPORATE REPORTING

Paragon +Grading provides a Tool that aligns the processes of data capture, verification, analysis and reporting, thus enabling Corporates to more efficiently define and communicate their ESG performance and improve the quality of information being provided to rating agencies and stakeholders.

The Tool is designed to transition ESG reporting from a siloed approach that is predominantly based on retrospective performance results, to a model that not only complies with key reporting protocols, but also assesses impact across all ESG pillars and SDGs.

Furthermore, the Tool summarises key sustainability indicators and metrics to be integrated into business operations and monitored over time, which, alongside financial and operational performance, facilitate a proactive engagement with impact investors who are increasingly focused on this area.

FUND MANAGEMENT

Paragon +Grading provides ESG portfolio screenings for institutional equity and debt fund managers, which facilitates in-depth SDG impact investment focus. Paragon +Grading reports are designed to enhance the due diligence of underlying assets within funds and identify the key issues and business risks to address with corporate management and investor relations through the investment process.

This model equally applies to alternative asset managers of private wealth.

Private Equity

PRIVATE EQUITY

Paragon +Grading can be deployed by private equity and specialist impact investors to assess the impact and relative performance of portfolio investments based on the SDG criteria and ESG investment mandates.  The Paragon +Grading process identifies operational issues and risks that need to be addressed, improved and/or mitigated, which enables quality reporting and engagement with limited partners and investors.

Impact Bonds

IMPACT BONDS

The Paragon +Grading methodology is able to assess and monitor the performance of assets associated with specialised bonds, which fund positive environmental and/or social impact projects. The Tool provides detailed results of these instruments and their compliance to repayment criteria and other defined impact outcomes over the investment period.

Impact Bonds

PROJECT FINANCE

Paragon +Grading can be utilised by Financial Service Providers (FSPs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to assess, integrate and monitor ESG and SDG performance throughout the investment decision-making and credit review processes.

IMPACT PHILANTHROPY

The Paragon +Grading Tool helps Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and other similar entities to improve the measurement and management of their impact as well as reporting back to their donors and stakeholders.

TEAM

Meet the core team of Paragon +Impact, who all benefit from each others diverse expertise, ranging from sustainability reporting, conservation and systems ecology to corporate finance and information technology.

Paul Clements-Hunt

Advisory Board

Paul coined ESG in 2004 as head of the UNEP FI, after which he delivered the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2006.

Paul continues to play advisory roles across various UN bodies and serves as a Board member of the Global Infrastructure Basel.

Brett Wallington

Managing Director

Brett is an award-winning sustainability expert and ESG reporting professional with over 15 years of experience in working with large corporates in designing, implementing, and reporting on sustainability and ESG strategies.

Derek Crous

Technology Director

Derek is a seasoned technologist with over 30 years in the financial markets and the co- founder of Peresys which, prior to acquisition by Australian-based IRESS, was the leading provider of financial market trading technology to the South African market.

Philip Faure

Commercial Director

Philip is an experienced investment professional, with his career spanning 27 years in derivatives trading, stockbroking, investment management, wealth management, philanthropy and private banking.

Caroline Wallington

Research & Development

Currently completing her PhD in Sustainable Development and Social-ecological systems Caroline is a registered Professional Natural Scientist in Ecological Science.

She is passionate about social-ecological systems and managing human resilience in a changing environment.

Poobalan Arumugam

Head Engineer

More than 25 years of experience in designing, building and implementing distributed software solutions with a focus on fintech.

He has experience in software development, systems operations, network and cloud infrastructure, firewalling, security and automation.

Kieren Bremner Dunne

Head Impact Analyst

Kieren has deep experience in impact assessments across diverse and challenging conditions in Africa.

She is passionate about shifting the market to focus on impact opportunities and the impact these will have on society, the environment and financial capital.

Christina Bartholomew

ESG & Impact Advisory

Christina is an American attorney and University Lecturer trained at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.

She also leads programmes with the UN Global Compact, Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association and University College London.

Aimée Girdwood

ESG & Impact Advisory

Aimée is an internationally experienced corporate lawyer with a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.

She has specialised in legal, policy and governance issues, and the effective communication, education and implementation of these.

Marli Terblanche

Product Design & Marketing

Marli is a product designer (UX & UI). She is passionate about designing digital products and brands that are functionally beautiful and easy to use.

Her previous roles, as a product design lead for large financial services companies and now focuses her skills on building brands such as Paragon to achieve scalable impact.

PARTNERS

Paragon Impact partners with approved consultancies and advisory firms to license the application of Paragon +Grading and facilitate an independent assurance of the input data, grading and impact assessment. Once approved, assigned team members must complete the onboarding programme and further training, as required, to ensure that our partners have the necessary skills and expertise to apply the methodology and comply with updated protocols.

ACCREDITED PARTNERS

Global Carbon Exchange

GCX provides a reporting and analytics platform for managing ESG risk using GCX DASH- which provides companies with reporting functionality to map carbon footprint activities and other ESG indicators across multiple stakeholders, portfolios of assets.

Genesis Analytics

Dedicated to the future of the 300 million young people who live in Africa: their economic prospects, and their health, education, psychological resilience and social cohesion.

IQBusiness

Helping businesses unlock their full potential to grow and thrive in their response to change. In doing so, they bring their purpose to grow people, grow business, and grow Africa to life.

Impact Capital Africa

Catalysing profitable impact and ESG investments that deliver measurable returns on social and natural capital.

True ESG

Wherever you are on your sustainable journey, we want to go on it with you.

Vunani Securities

At Vunani Securities, our vision is to partner with our clients to translate the stock markets and trading in an inclusive and accessible way.

TECH PARTNERS

Amazon Web Services

Securely capturing, managing, processing, and visualizing data with Amazon Web Services.

BECOME A LICENSED PARTNER

CONTACT US

Paragon Impact Limited

Address

1st Floor, Forum 4,
Grenville Street, St Helier,
JE2 4ZJ#
Jersey,
UK

Telephone

+44(0)1534 713161

Email

info@paragonimpact.com

Paul Clements-Hunt

Paul Clements-Hunt

Advisory Board

Paul coined ESG in 2004 as head of the UNEP FI, after which he delivered the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2006.

Paul continues to play advisory roles across various UN bodies and serves as a Board member of the Global Infrastructure Basel.

Brett Wallington

Brett Wallington

Managing Director

Brett is an award-winning sustainability expert and ESG reporting professional with over 15 years of experience. Brett has implemented ESG and sustainability strategies across small to large corporates, embedding sustainability into company culture with effective reporting.
Derek Crous

Derek Crous

Technology Director

A technologist with over 30 years of experience in financial markets technology spanning roles from software developer to CTO.

Thrives in the process of building software to solve problems.

Philip Faure

Philip Faure

Commercial Director

Philip has a wealth of experience of 25 years in financial services and is intrinsically motivated by purposeful work, driven to be a force for positive change with a mission to create value for society whilst ensuring the sustainability of our environment.

Caroline Wallington

Caroline Wallington

Research & Development

Currently completing her PhD in Sustainable Development and Social-ecological systems Caroline is a registered Professional Natural Scientist in Ecological Science.

She is passionate about social-ecological systems and managing human resilience in a changing environment.

Poobalan Arumugam

Poobalan Arumugam

Head Engineer

More than 25 years of experience in designing, building and implementing distributed software solutions with a focus on fintech.

He has experience in software development, systems operations, network and cloud infrastructure, firewalling, security and automation.

Kieren Bremner Dunne

Kieren Bremner Dunne

Head Impact Analyst

Kieren has deep experience in impact assessments across diverse and challenging conditions in Africa. She is passionate about shifting the market to focus on impact opportunities and the impact these will have on society, the environment and financial capital.

Christina Bartholomew

Christina Bartholomew

ESG & Impact Advisory

Christina is an American attorney and University Lecturer trained at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.

She also leads programmes with the UN Global Compact, Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association and University College London.

Aimée Girdwood

Aimée Girdwood

ESG & Impact Advisory

Aimée is an internationally experienced corporate lawyer with a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.

She has specialised in legal, policy and governance issues, and the effective communication, education and implementation of these.

Marli Terblanche

Marli Terblanche

Product Design & Marketing

Marli is a product designer (UX & UI). She is passionate about designing digital products and brands that are functionally beautiful and easy to use.

Her previous roles, as a product design lead for large financial services companies and now focuses her skills on building brands such as Paragon to achieve scalable impact.