Leadership transition heralds next stage in impact investing market
After 6 years, Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing (AAB) Chair and Founder, Rosemary Addis, will refocus her market building efforts at the global level, including as a Trustee of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG). Ms Fabienne Michaux and Mr Richard Brandweiner will take over as interim co-chairs in Australia and lead a search for a new Chair.
Mrs Addis was elected as one of the 10 global Trustees overseeing the leadership of the Global Steering Group which is Chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen. She will Chair the Board Committee with responsibility for National Advisory Boards and Governance. Mrs Addis’ growing global portfolio also includes appointment as a Senior Adviser to the SDG Impact initiative of the United Nations Development Programme.
The GSG is an independent group catalysing impact investment and entrepreneurship to benefit people and planet. The GSG was established in August 2015 as the successor to and incorporating the work of the Social Impact Investment Taskforce established under the UK´s presidency of the G8. The GSG currently has 23 countries plus the EU as members. The AAB represents Australia’s commitment to this global initiative.
Mrs Addis said “We have been working for some time to empower more distributed leadership in the growing impact sector. Pleasingly, we have seen strong Federal Government commitment through the recently announced Social Impact Investing Taskforce. The AAB plays an important role in linking the domestic leadership to the international movement. I look forward to continuing to support Australia’s development in this space through a more global role.”
Ms Michaux said “I thank Rosemary for the enormous contribution she has made in Australia. I look forward to continuing to work closely with her in this new capacity and through this transition. We aim to build on the many accomplishments and ensure the AAB continues to play a leading role to scale and deepen impact investing in and from Australia.”
Mr Brandweiner said “in the time I have been a member of the AAB, I have seen Australia’s impact investing landscape develop and deepen, in a large part due to Rosemary’s significant contribution. However, there is still a significant challenge ahead to unlock institutional capital, in particular, to help deliver both financial returns and social outcomes. The opportunity to use finance to help shape a positive future is too great to ignore.”
The AAB delivered an ambitious, dynamic 2014 strategy for leadership, action and policy: Delivering on Impact. This was followed up with a 2018 Blueprint for collective action, Scaling Impact, which sets the scene for the next wave.
The AAB’s contributions include benchmarking and investor surveys that show growth in impact investment interest and activity, Impact Investment Growth Grants introduced in 2015 enabling organisations delivering services in communities and solving problems for people and the planet to raise capital and grow for greater reach and impact and an implementation-ready blueprint for a wholesale institution, Impact Capital Australia.
Quotes attributable to Rosemary Addis
“The AAB is unique: a group of leaders from across sectors coming together to drive change as a public good as part of a global community. It is a privilege to work with this group to shape an ambitious, dynamic vision backed with concrete actions to amplify voices from the community and practice and put impact on the agenda.”
“I’m looking forward to working with them in this new capacity and optimistic we can play a strong and important role in realising the historic opportunity to make investments in improving the lives of people and conserving the planet.”
Bios
Fabienne Michaux is Non-Executive Director Housing Choices Australia, The Song Room; Professor of Practice (Finance), Deakin Business School. Fab has a portfolio of complimentary board, research and consulting roles that share a focus on creating social impact. Fab previously enjoyed a 30 year executive career, most notably with S&P Global Ratings where in her final role she was Australian Country Head and Head of Developed Markets (Asia-Pacific).
Richard Brandweiner CFA is the Australian CEO of Pendal Group, a Top 100 Listed Australian Company and one of the largest managers of sustainable investments in Australia. He is a member of the NSW Government’s Social Impact Investment Expert Advisory Group, sits on the Steering Committee for the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative and is a member of the CFA Institute’s Global Future of Finance Content Council.
For further information please contact Sabina Curatolo on 0400 318 205
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