2021 impact investing leaders celebrated
17 December 2021 at 4:50 pm
“Given the challenges of COVID-19 this year, it is especially important to recognise achievement in the impact investment ecosystem.”
In a year that tested everyone, some of the best and brightest in the Australian impact investing sector have been recognised for their leadership, innovation and hard work at the Australian Impact Investment Awards.
A collaboration between the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific and the Impact Investing Hub, the awards recognise outstanding activity and individuals in the Australian impact investing ecosystem.
One of the world’s first dedicated impact fixed income fund managers, Affirmative Investment Management (AIM), took out the impact asset manager of the year award. The award celebrated their work promoting robust verification, active portfolio management, engagement and reporting to generate consistent performance and sustainable impact in accordance with international climate agreements and the sustainable development goals.
In addition to now being the 2021 Impact Asset Manager of the Year, AIM was recognised as an ESG leader by both Morningstar and Responsible Investment Association Australasia and has received awards for their process, funds and impact reports.
Other winners included impact market builder of the year, the international development agency, Good Return, for its work across the Asia Pacific region to alleviate poverty by delivering economic and social development programs for the financially and socially excluded; and Jigsaw, a social enterprise that trains and transitions people with disability into mainstream employment was named as impact enterprise of the year.
The awards were judged by an expert panel comprised of Libby Cremen, the branch manager of Community Cohesion Branch and the Department of Social Services; Zarmeen Pavri, a senior advisor of the Australia and New Zealand Global Impact Investing Network; and Rosemary Addis AM, the executive director of Impact Strategist.
The panel noted the calibre of this year’s nominations, something they said reflected the passion and dedication of those working to advance impact investing in Australia, as well as the growth of the ecosystem itself.
Jessica Roth, the founder and director of Social Impact Hub, said that given the challenges 2021 had thrown, it was important to take the time to reflect and recognise the good work that had happened.
“Given the challenges of COVID-19 this year, it is especially important to recognise achievement in the impact investment ecosystem,” Roth said.
“It is wonderful to have something to celebrate at the end of such a difficult year,”
Supported by the Department of Social Services, the awards are designed around similar criteria and categories to those of the Global Steering Group (GSG).
A full list of winners can be found here.
