UBS Optimus Foundation to launch Australian chapter
6 October 2022 at 5:14 pm
The new philanthropic service, backed by UBS, will fund scalable solutions to tackle social issues and ‘create lasting community change’.
The UBS Optimus Foundation, the philanthropic arm of global investment banking company UBS, is launching a new Australian chapter to help meet growing demand for philanthropic services in the region.
Australia is the fourth most generous country in the world according to the 2022 Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index. This result was echoed by the nation’s Asia Pacific neighbours, with Indonesia leading the ranking for the fifth year in a row, New Zealand placing fifth and Myanmar placing sixth.
The new UBS Optimus Foundation Australia will act as an impact venture incubator, connecting clients with entrepreneurs, technology and models to fund initiatives that sustainably address social and environmental problems.
Applying an investment-based philosophy, the foundation will focus on scalable and evidence-based approaches tackling environment, health, education and child protection issues. It will also partner with the government and development agencies to support the UN’s sustainable development goals.
CEO of the UBS Group Ralph Hamers reflected on the power of philanthropy to increase and enhance local projects across the country.
“Philanthropy can play a crucial role in unlocking the investment needed to test and advance innovative solutions designed to tackle the most pressing social and environmental issues,” said Hamers.
“The Australian chapter of the Optimus Foundation reflects UBS’ commitment to growing our philanthropic efforts globally and our existing community projects within Australia.”
The foundation will serve the overarching mission to deliver impactful philanthropy and systemic change to meet its four goals of ensuring children survive and thrive; fulfilling children’s potential; freeing people from harm; and protecting the future of the planet.
The Australian branch will be the eighth UBS Optimus Foundation office worldwide and fourth in the APAC region, along with Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore.
The UBS Optimus Foundation supports over 320 programs across 60 countries, and last year raised over USD 160 million globally.
