Ethical Investment Representations Review Subcommittee

The University is committed to generating returns from its endowment to benefit both current beneficiaries and future generations, while ensuring that it is managed sustainably and responsibly.  

The Oxford University Investment Policy Statement actively incorporates ethical considerations in keeping with the University’s mission. As part of this, over the past two decades, the University has chosen to place restrictions on sectors in which it will not hold investments on ethical grounds following informed debate.   

The Ethical Investment Representations Review Sub-Committee (EIRSS) was established in 2021 as a sub-Committee of the Investment Committee to specifically evaluate ethical issues related to the University’s Investment Policy Statement. EIRRS plays a critical role in the interface between members of the University, Investment Committee, and ultimately Council – trustee of the University’s investments. It is designed to advise on sector issues and themes, rather than individual companies and, in this capacity, EIRRS can enable debate by seeking expertise and views from across the University and beyond, prior to recommending any change to the University’s Investment Policy Statement to the Investment Committee. 

Background to EIRRS 

The Ethical Investment Representations Review Subcommittee (EIRRS) is a subcommittee of Investment Committee. It was established with effect from 26 April 2021 when responsibility for monitoring socially responsible policies and practices was transferred from the former Socially Responsible Investment Review Committee (SRIRC) to the Investment Committee (see Gazette notice on 10 December 2020). The Subcommittee considers representations concerning ethical or socially responsible investment relating to the University's Investment Policy Statement and will make recommendations to the Investment Committee.