News release | Mindy Tirapelle

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (December 4, 2025)—The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, the world’s largest educator-only pension fund, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Abel as Sustainable Investment and Stewardship Strategies investment director.

Abel has more than a decade of global experience in investing as an allocator, asset manager and consultant, leading investment teams for both CalSTRS and private investment firms.

In his new role, Abel will lead and manage the SISS team; direct the SISS Portfolio across global private asset investments that deliver financial performance and provide climate solutions; lead sustainability-related collaboration with CalSTRS private-market asset classes; oversee proxy voting activities in alignment with CalSTRS’ Corporate Governance Principles and engagement with corporations and public policy makers on CalSTRS Stewardship Priorities; and guide the Teachers’ Retirement Board’s net zero portfolio emissions strategy.

“Nick is a respected leader who has driven long-term value creation and mitigated risks to our portfolio in support of our mission,” Chief Investment Officer Scott Chan said. “His ability to source the best partners and transactions and create innovative structures, along with his international experience, will help CalSTRS achieve its goal to be a global partner of choice.”

Abel replaces Kirsty Jenkinson, who was appointed to senior investment director of Private Markets and SISS in August 2025. Abel reports to Jenkinson.

“Nick’s global investment experience, excellent reputation among his peers and trusted partnerships within the industry make him ideal for this position,” Jenkinson said. “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.”

Before joining CalSTRS in 2020, Abel held positions at private-sector firms, such as Wespath Investment Management, RVK, Inc. and Saturna Capital, Inc.

“I am honored to lead our SISS program and advance our position as an innovative global investor,” Abel said. “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.”

Abel grew up in Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Vietnam and China before earning his bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Western Washington University of Bellingham, Washington. He is an Institutional Limited Partners Association Advisory committee member and has served on multiple working groups and advisory committees, including Ceres, Principles for Responsible Investment, Global Impact Investor Network, Deep Transitions Futures and Sustainable Accounting Standards Board prior to its integration with International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation.

Abel began his new role on December 2.

Media contact

Contact: Mindy Tirapelle
Phone: 916-414-1440
M–F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PDT
Newsroom@CalSTRS.com

About CalSTRS

CalSTRS provides a secure retirement to more than 1 million members and beneficiaries whose CalSTRS-covered service is not eligible for Social Security participation. On average, members who retired in the 2024–25 fiscal year had 24.9 years of service and a monthly benefit of $5,740. Established in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world with $385.8 billion in assets under management as of October 31, 2025.