We explore new ways for the private sector to lead
in overcoming some of society’s biggest challenges

 
 

We research and explore the essential
values, principles and strategies
of responsible business

 
 

We collaborate with senior leaders
and the business community
to drive systemic change

Who We Are

High Meadows Institute is a Boston-based think tank and policy institute focused on the role of business leadership in creating a sustainable society.

Who we are

We are a Boston-based policy institute focused on strengthening the role of business leadership in creating a sustainable society.

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Our work

We conduct research, lead programs and develop frameworks to increase private sector contribution in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.

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Programs

Three key challenges in today’s global economic system underpin our work. Find out more about these challenges and how we are working to address them.

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Our Most Recent Projects and Resources

Financial Sector Roundtable on Climate Adaptation and Resilience

The roundtable is a trusted space for leaders across the financial sector to engage in dialogue about the challenges of the climate transition and to advance practical strategies to increase investment and institutional support.

Sustainability in Capital Markets: Financing the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy

The 2025 Sustainability in Capital Markets report focuses on the climate crisis, exploring how key sectors in the financial system are engaging with the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy.

Collaborative Governance in Banking

The Collaborative Governance in Banking (CGIB) project brought together financial institution leaders to engage on the role and expectations of global banks and how boards and management teams can respond more effectively.

Beyond ESG: The Role of Business in Collaborative Governance

Beyond ESG brings together corporate leaders and partners to explore the role for the private sector in 21st century governance.

Our Most Recent Publications

Responding to Societal Challenges: A Framework for Bank Boards and Their Directors
Business Leadership in Public-Private Partnerships for Public Benefit
Financing a Low-Carbon Economy: An Investor's Guide to Leveraging Transition and Net-Zero Financing Strategies
Sustainability in Capital Markets: ESG Integration and Impact

Our Most Recent News and Briefings

Blog

CR/RI at a Crossroads: What’s Next For the CR and RI Fields

In part two of his blog on the Symposium on Corporate Responsibility and Responsible Investment, Chris Pinney summarizes key themes from the discussion and looks at the path ahead for CR and RI.

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Blog

Key Takeaways from Our State of the Field Symposium

In part one of his blog on the Symposium on Corporate Responsibility and Responsible Investment, Chris Pinney explores the progress and continued challenges facing the CR and RI fields.

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Blog

From Influence to Architecture

In the final blog in our series “CR/RI at a Crossroads,” Chris Pinney explores the next phase for CR and RI and why the focus must shift from influencing outcomes within the system to shaping how the system itself works.

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Blog

Stress-Testing Corporate Responsibility and Responsible Investment in a Fragmenting and Disruptive Global Economy

In the third blog in our series, Chris Pinney explores the structural forces reshaping the the CR and RI landscape and stress-testing key pillars of the fields.

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Publications from Our Fellows

The Handbook of System-level Investing: How Experts Worth Trillions of Dollars are Rethinking Investing

Edited by Jon Lukomnik and William Burckart

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Moving Beyond Modern Portfolio Theory: Investing That Matters

By Jon Lukomnik and James P. Hawley

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21st Century Investing: Redirecting Financial Strategies to Drive Systems Change

By William Burckart and Steve Lydenberg

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Featured Podcast

President & CEO Chris Pinney joins the Outside In podcast with Jon Lukomnik to discuss the changing role of business in society.

While most of us accept our daily interactions with companies like Google and JPMorgan Chase, Chris thinks about the fact that these firms and many others have more impact on our day to day lives than government. He then analyzes the implications both for those businesses and for society.

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