About us

We are a UK based worker co-operative fighting greenwash by producing research that equips and empowers all stakeholders to take action on the unsustainable impacts of companies globally.

We believe that the fund management industry, either deliberately or inadvertently, has failed to hold investee companies accountable for their transgressions in the areas of human rights, labour rights, the environment, and anti-corruption/governance.

We started our research project as a means to challenge fund managers to engage meaningfully with companies on these issues. Antithesis Research was set up with the goal of equipping all stakeholders with the same tools that we have used to hold fund managers and companies to account.

We have years of experience in conducting research, producing detailed reports, and engaging with the fund management industry on issues of sustainability, impact, and ethics.

Our Values

  • Independence

    We are fiercely independent.

  • Truth

    We act with integrity and rigour in the pursuit of truth.

  • Co-operation

    We believe in the value of co-operation and collaboration.

  • Empowerment

    We equip stakeholders with the knowledge and evidence to engage meaningfully with the fund management industry.

  • Sustainability and Justice

    We value sustainability and justice, recognising their ability to do
    good for both people and the planet.

Who we are

  • Chris is a white man with no hair wearing a green t-shirt.

    Chris Welsford (he/him)

    MEMBER

    Chris is an independent financial adviser who has been calling out greenwashing in the fund management industry for years. He is a founding member of Antithesis Research. Chris is a keen hill walker and mountaineer.

  • Wendy is a white woman with blonde hair wearing a red t-shirt.

    Wendy Welsford (she/her)

    MEMBER / FINANCE

    Wendy has always been a book person. She says she started out as the right sort of book person, a librarian. Now she's a different sort of book person, keeping the books for Antithesis Research. Wendy is a founding member of Antithesis Research.

  • Ell is white fem person with brown hair wearing a white t-shirt, orange dungarees, and a black coat

    Ell Welsford (they/she)

    MEMBER / RESEARCH

    Ell leads the research process. They are a founding member of Antithesis Research, having developed the Ayres Punchard Research Project into the rigorous and evidenced process it is today. Ell is also undertaking an MA in Medieval Studies at UCL.

  • Kayleigh is a white woman with auburn hair wearing a black blouse.

    Kayleigh Richter (she/her)

    MEMBER

    Kayleigh has worked in a variety of roles in the public and private sector, all relating to ethical and environmental sustainability. Her expertise and shared values are a welcome addition to our team.

  • Sarah Forster (she/her)

    MEMBER / RESEARCH

    Sarah worked most of her life caring for animals, as a partner of a veterinary practice. She now uses that compassion and care in her work doing research for our co-op.

  • Alex Welsford (they/them)

    MEMBER / COMMUNICATIONS

    Alex is a trained journalist and researcher, with a keen interest in politics and the methods by which media works to manufacture consent.

  • We are in the process of updating this section

Our roots

Ayres Punchard is founded, conducting anti-tobacco research and promoting responsible investment from the very beginning

1995

Chris presents keynote calling out greenwashing at a major sustainable investment conference

2014

Ayres Punchard’s Research Project is established to engage more effectively on sustainability issues with investment funds

2016

Ayres Punchard wins the inaugural Worthstone Impact Investment Academy Impact Champion Award on the back of the research project

2018

The Key to the Future Model Portfolio is launched as an ethically engaged centralised investment proposition

2019

Antithesis Research is born

2022