Julien Mareschal, Head of Financial Risk

Tell us what attracted you to join NWF?

I was first drawn by the ambition of this institution to invest into our common future, in ways that not only create return to the taxpayer but equally encourage growth, UK job creation and promote new technologies and infrastructure for a more resilient and sounder environment.

What does your role involve?

Setting up and managing the credit rating, economic capital and model oversight approaches for the fund with the aim to support our talented origination teams in their effort to deploy sustainable infrastructure and technologies.

The challenge is the delivery of level and proportionate approaches to quantifying our main risks, credit, portfolio, market and model.

We also aim towards credible and consistent NWF risk assessments, essential to optimise capital allocation of public money.

What is the NWF like to work for?

Common purpose and aims create a truly collaborative environment, which is a breath of fresh air.

Not only the ethos our investment principles bring to us, with the privilege of a unique position in the UK investment landscape, but our constant effort to operate differently. Focusing on valuable human behaviours, learning, collaboration and transparency effectively lead us there.

And the proof is in the pudding: the joy of working together towards ambitious aims is already a great reward in itself.

What were you doing before you joined the Fund, and how has your experience helped with the role you are now doing?

Before joining, I held different risk positions at BNP Paribas and Mediobanca investment banks and wealth management, focused on new activities, structured instruments and funds. Those valuable experiences helped me shape a clear vision of why risk management is at the centre of all financial activities and how it helps build a sustainable investment framework.

What are your highlights/ proudest achievements since joining the NWF?

I am particularly proud of having assembled a team of great talents, who use their extensive forensic and collaborative skills to support the origination teams maintaining a risk profile in line with our appetite.

I am also particularly proud of having rolled out an approach to economic capital that combines the flexibility a new institution needs with a balanced risk-based approach that applies to all of NWF’s investment types.

What are you looking forward to next at the NWF?

Each week brings its challenge, so I look forward to each week!

Taking a step back though, I believe that maintaining the direction of our ship throughout the deployment of our investment capacity, will allow us to take great pride in the concrete material achievements for the UK we are financing.

I am also quite impatient to further widen our investment scope in line with the upcoming industrial strategies that will open new frontiers and expand our horizon to strategic matters.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for a role here?

NWF is a world of difference. Difference in how we invest, why we invest, how we collaborate, how we enjoy our work through sharing common goals. If you have a flexible, open mindset and want to participate to making change happen, then NWF is for you.