Dan Daugaard
Biography
Dr Dan Daugaard is a leading academic and practitioner in sustainable finance, with over two decades of experience spanning institutional investment, ESG research, and finance education. Currently Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Tasmania, Dan directs cross-disciplinary research initiatives and teaches globally on topics including responsible investing, green finance, and financial innovation for sustainability. Prior to academia, Dan was instrumental in launching one of Australia's first large-scale sustainable superannuation funds. His career has since bridged applied finance and sustainability, with a growing research focus on non-financial valuation methods for biodiversity, Indigenous inclusion, and social resilience.
Research Interest
Abstract
Valuing the Invaluable: Rethinking Biodiversity and Cultural Significance in Sustainable Finance
As sustainability-driven investments expand, the challenge of capturing the full value of biodiversity, cultural heritage, and social resilience remains pressing. Traditional financial frameworks often overlook these intangible benefits, despite their critical role in environmental and community well-being. This keynote will explore how ecological and cultural values are translated into metrics that shape sustainability policies and investment decisions. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from Science and Technology Studies, Valuation Studies, and Cultural Political Economy, I will examine the politics and practices behind “making nature count.” Using the West Coast Research Centre—a pioneering initiative in marine conservation, Indigenous engagement, and community development—as a case study, I highlight how diverse, non-financial outcomes are made legible to policymakers and investors. Rather than treating valuation as a neutral exercise, I argue that it is a performative, contested, and highly political process. By unpacking how metrics are constructed, negotiated, and legitimized, this talk invites a deeper reflection on how we define value in the era of sustainable finance. The session will offer practical insights for more inclusive, reflexive, and ethically grounded approaches to integrating biodiversity and cultural integrity into financial systems.
