Impact Investing: the Game Changer

A Summit in Sydney in October aims to grow the burgeoning impact investment sector in Australia with a stellar line up of international keynote speakers for the inaugural event.

Leading investment advisors will descend upon Doltone House in Sydney, 19-21 October for the Impact Investment Summit – Asia Pacific.

Fast catching the attention of the world’s leading economies, the market for impact investing is estimated to reach A$32 billion domestically, and US$500 billion– $1 trillion globally, over the next decade.

The Summit aims to grow the burgeoning impact investment sector and mobilise the investment community to understand and educate its members on how it can galvanise capital for good as well as financial returns.

Jessica Roth, founder and director of the Social Impact Hub and impact investment consultant, predicts that the impact investment sector is on the cusp of massive growth. “There has already been a near-doubling of impact investment funds globally in the past five years,” she says.

“By bringing this Summit to Sydney, we will demonstrate that impact investing is not a niche way of doing things. It’s a paradigm shift in the way we think about making money,” CEO and co-founder of Platinum sponsor Small Giants, (Australia’s first certified B-Corporation, and Chair of Platinum sponsor Impact Investment Group) Danny Almagor said.

“It’s simple: would you prefer to invest in something that hurts people and the planet or helps people and the planet? That’s a no-brainer.”

The inaugural Impact Investment Summit has a leading line up of international speakers, including Beau Sneil from Unitus Impact, an impact investment fund backed by Bill Gates, and Andrew Kuper from Leapfrog Investments, backed by George Soros and Pierre Omidyar.

Jed Emerson and David Carrington are also international keynotes. Jed Emerson, the originator of the concept of Blended Value is an internationally recognised thought leader in impact investing, specialising in sustainable finance, impact investing, and strategic philanthropy. He has twice been selected by the NonProfit Times as one of the 50 Most Influential People in the Sector.

David Carrington has worked across almost every imaginable aspect of the charity sector for 47 years and has amassed a wealth of understanding of its many facets. Carrington is currently Inspiring Impact UK Chair (among other positions on his extensive CV), an organisation aiming to shape the way the UK voluntary sector thinks about impact.

The Impact Investment Summit will be a deep dive into the world of impact investing and an exploration of the impact investment opportunities across the Asia Pacific region.  Bringing together world leaders in impact investing, the conference will feature sessions across all aspects including designing and implementing an impact investment strategy, sourcing and structuring impact investments across asset classes, as well as measurement of impact investments.

Geoff Wilson, founder and Chairman of Silver sponsor Wilson Asset Management founded Australia’s first publicly listed investment companies that are geared philanthropically. Future Generation Investment Company, and the soon to be listed Future Generation Global Company, are both listed investment companies that charge 0.0% management fees and 0.0% performance fees.

The fund managers manage the capital entirely pro bono. It is because of this that 1 per cent of Net Tangible Assets each year will be directed to Australian non-profits focused on children at risk and young Australians affected by mental health issues.

“A new way of doing business is emerging, one that harnesses the power of capital markets to deliver social and environmental change while also delivering a financial return. The Summit is a pivotal gathering of like-minded investors in this space,” Wilson said.

The Summit will feature sessions on profit and purpose and how to scale impact; a deep dive into best practice impact investing and how to create an impact portfolio. It will also feature an exploration of social impact bonds.

The Summit will focus on nine specific themes of social and environmental impact:

• Climate Change and the Clean Energy Sector
• Improving Education
• Investing in Women and Gender Equality
• Improving Healthcare, Disability and Aged Care
• Indigenous Australians
• Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Water
• Property, Housing and Infrastructure
• Culture and the Arts
• Employment and Poverty

Tickets for the Summit are currently available at an early bird discount offer.

Visit www.impactinvestmentsummit.com to secure your place.