The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), one of the largest public pension funds in the U.S., announced the appointment of Nick Abel as Sustainable Investment and Stewardship Strategies investment director (SISS), responsible for leading and managing the CalSTRS SISS team.
Abel has worked at CalSTRS since 2020, serving as Portfolio Manager for SISS. Prior to joining CalSTRS, he served as Manager, Sustainable Investment Services for Wespath Institutional Investments, and has also held roles in investment firms RVK and Saturna Capital.
Abel will report to Kirsty Jenkinson, who most recently held the Director of SISS role, before being appointed as Senior Investment Director of Private Markets and SISS in August 2025.
Jenkinson said:
“Nick’s global investment experience, excellent reputation among his peers and trusted partnerships within the industry make him ideal for this position. He has a proven track record of creating and driving complex and impactful strategies to help us secure the financial future of California’s public educators.”
In his new role leading the SISS team, Abel will have responsibility for directing the SISS portfolio across global private asset investments that deliver financial performance and provide climate solutions, leading sustainability-related collaboration with CalSTRS private-market asset classes, overseeing proxy voting activities and engagement with corporations and public policy makers on CalSTRS Stewardship Priorities, and guiding the Teachers’ Retirement Board’s net zero portfolio emissions strategy.
Abel said:
“I am honored to lead our SISS program and advance our position as an innovative global investor. We have a talented team and will continue to grow our private climate solutions portfolio and use our influence as a significant long-term investor to promote sustainable business practices and public policies that drive value for California’s teachers.”
