IIA Chair news, shape national research, mobilise capital at scale
Progress, participation and practical insights
This month’s newsletter reflects continued momentum in the impact investing market – from opportunities to shape national research, to ecosystem recognition and new insights on how capital can be mobilised at scale.
Firstly, we congratulate our Chair, Richard Brandweiner, on his appointment as Chief Investment Officer of the Future Fund. Richard will continue as our Chair alongside this new role.
We’re pleased to launch our 2026 Benchmarking Impact Survey, in partnership with the UNSW Centre for Social Impact. Building on last year’s findings, we are once again inviting investors, advisers and market participants to contribute their perspectives and help shape the next phase of the market.
We were thrilled to be named Impact Market Builder of the Year at the Impact Investment Awards – and thank you for your support and congratulations.
The Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI) Grants have been extended and a SEDI First Nations Grants will be introduced. Stay tuned for updates.
Also in this edition, Michelle Di Fabio reflects on key insights from the Impact Investment Summit, including systems thinking, blended finance and the integration of impact into mainstream investment decision-making.
We also highlight our upcoming session on blended finance at next month’s RIAA Conference, the latest impact investing webinars, new insights from a leading philanthropic impact investing report and a survey on catalytic capital.
We look forward to connecting soon.
David
David Hetherington, CEO
Impact Investing Australia
IIA Chair appointed Future Fund CIO
JWe’re delighted to congratulate our Chair, Richard Brandweiner, on his appointment as Chief Investment Officer of Australia’s $335 billion sovereign wealth fund.
Richard will commence in the role at the Future Fund in July, bringing extensive experience in investment leadership and portfolio management. He will continue in his role as Chair of IIA.
The appointment reflects Richard’s deep expertise and strong leadership across Australia’s investment landscape. We look forward to continuing to work with Richard to further deepen Australia’s impact investing market.
Take part in the 2026 Benchmarking Impact Survey
Impact Investing Australia, in partnership with the UNSW Centre for Social Impact, invites investors, advisers and market participants to contribute to the 2026 Benchmarking Impact Survey – a key national study shaping the future of impact investing in Australia.
The survey will inform the Benchmarking Impact: Australian Impact Investor Insights, Activity and Performance Report 2026, one of the most comprehensive views of market activity, sentiment and performance. Its findings help guide investment decisions, inform policy and direct capital toward initiatives delivering measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns.
Why it matters
Our 2025 research highlighted the sector’s rapid growth, with Australia’s impact investing market expanding nearly eight-fold since 2020 to more than $157 billion. It revealed investor confidence remains strong, with most reporting they are meeting or exceeding both financial and impact expectations. At the same time, the research pointed to opportunities to strengthen the market – particularly in impact measurement and policy support. It’s time to build on this momentum to help shape the next phase of the impact investing market.
Who should participate
We encourage participation from:
- Impact investors (active and emerging)
- Advisers and intermediaries
- Fund managers
- Organisations involved in impact investment
Whether you are deploying capital, advising clients or exploring the market, your perspective is valuable.
What to expect
- 20–30 minutes to complete
- Confidential and ethics-approved
- Open across asset classes and impact themes
Your input will directly shape national insights and support the continued growth of impact investing in Australia.
SEDI Grants extended and First Nations Grants introduced
The Australian Government has extended the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI) Grants program for one year, with $2.60 million in funding for new grants. IIA will continue to deliver the capability building grants to social enterprises, with Grant rounds set to open for 2026–27.
IIA in partnership with Malu will also receive just over $2.60 million in funding for capability building grants specifically for First Nations social enterprises.
We’re currently working with the Department of Social Services to finalise details on the two programs. You can stay updated, including when the Expressions of Interest open, by subscribing to our newsletter or checking our SEDI web page.
Impact Market Builder of the Year
We were honoured to be named Impact Market Builder of the Year at the Impact Investment Awards, presented at last month’s Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific.
This recognition reflects our ongoing work to strengthen both the supply of and demand for impact capital – from supporting social enterprise readiness through to mobilising institutional investment.
We acknowledge our fellow finalists – Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA), City of Parramatta and Transition Accelerator – for their important contributions to the ecosystem.
We also thank our partners and supporters. Building a more inclusive and sustainable impact investing ecosystem is a collective effort – and there is more to do. We look forward to continuing the work together.
Investing in Asia’s Impact Economy
If you’re interested in how capital is being mobilised for impact across Asia, don’t miss this free online session hosted by GSG Impact on 30 April (5pm AEST). The webinar will explore:
• Where the biggest financing gaps and opportunities are across the region
• How innovative investment vehicles are being structured
• Practical insights from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Bangladesh
As Australia’s representative on GSG Impact, we’re pleased to bring opportunities like this to the Australian market.
Learn more and register
From systems to scale: Summit insights
The 2026 Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific brought together more than 800 participants to explore how to scale capital for impact. Our Head of Engagement, Michelle Di Fabio, and Master of Ceremonies for the Summit, shared her reflections in a recent article in OnImpact.
A key message from the Summit is that the question is no longer whether impact investing works but how to integrate it into mainstream investment practice at scale.
Key themes included:
- The growing importance of systems thinking
- Positioning gender lens investing as core to fiduciary responsibility
- Ensuring AI development remains human-centred
- The critical role of blended finance in mobilising capital
These insights reflect a sector that is maturing quickly and focused on moving from momentum to full integration.
Join us at the RIAA Conference
We’re looking forward to contributing to the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) Conference in Melbourne next month. As the impact investing market continues to grow, attention is turning to how we mobilise capital at scale. IIA’s panel will explore the role of blended finance in bringing together institutional, philanthropic and private capital to accelerate impact.
Session: Blended finance at scale: Mobilising institutional, philanthropic and private capital for impact investingWhen: Thursday, 28 May | 1:55pm
Where: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Michelle Di Fabio, our Head of Engagement, will be joined on the panel by IIA Board Member, Dr Catherine Brown OAM, Monique Andrew (Transition Accelerator) and Caroline Scott (DFAT).
Impact investing webinar series
Our friends at Impact Investing Hub have commenced their 2026 impact investing webinar series for social enterprises, not-for-profits, foundations, institutional and impact investors and professional advisors.
Upcoming webinars include:
- How Legal Structures Shape Impact Investing – a practical look at how legal structures can enable, influence or constrain impact investment opportunities and outcomes.
- Deal Anatomy: Inside an Impact Investment Transaction – an inside view of how an impact investment transaction comes together, with real-world perspectives from leaders involved in structuring and delivering impact deals.
Wyatt Trust: Perspectives on investing
The Wyatt Trust has released Perspectives on Investing, a report drawing on more than a decade of experience in impact investment. The report outlines how the organisation approaches portfolio management to achieve outcomes beyond financial returns, including its internal processes, lessons learned and ongoing challenges.
IIA Founding Chair, Rosemary Addis, contributed to the report with the article Impact: From bold idea to shaping the future.
Survey: Catalytic capital in Australia
GoodWolf Partners and the Paul Ramsay Foundation are conducting a national survey on the role of catalytic capital in Australia.
The survey (which takes around 15-20 minutes to complete) explores current use, challenges and opportunities to grow the market. It is intended for those involved in deploying, managing or supporting catalytic capital.