The SIMNA Sydney Organising Committee invites you find out more about impact investing and how social impact measurement is used to make investment decisions and demonstrate results.
When: Wednesday 15 November 2023, 5.15pm AEDT for a 5.30pm start
Where: Blue Gum Hall, Yirranma Place, 262 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst AND online
Tickets: Free for SIMNA members, $15 for non-members. Tickets are available here
Event overview
Around the world investors are providing capital to tackle social and environmental challenges through impact investing. Impact investments are made with the goal of creating measurable positive impacts along with financial returns.
Join us to explore impact investment and how social impact measurement is used to make decisions and demonstrate results. This in person and online event will provide an overview of what impact investment is, followed by examples and perspectives from key players in the impact investment sector in Australia.
Ben Smith, Head of Impact Investing at the Paul Ramsay Foundation will explain how philanthropic investors consider impact measurement.
Pat Bollen, Manager Impact Investing, Social Ventures Australia will share insights from the point of view of an intermediary partnering with governments, service providers and investors to develop social impact bonds.
Casey Taylor, Director at Conscious Investment Management will outline how investors can seek market returns alongside positive impact.
After the presentations, we will transition to networking and refreshments.
Please join us in the stunning venue, Yirranma Place for our deep dive into impact investing with some of Australia’s most inspiring impact creators.
This event is presented in partnership with SIMNA organisational member, Paul Ramsay Foundation, who have generously provided a venue and refreshments.
We are grateful to AICPA & CIMA for their sponsorship of this event.
Meet the presenters
Ben Smith, Paul Ramsay Foundation
Ben leads the Foundation’s impact investing activities. This involves growing the impact investing portfolio, managing the team, shaping future strategy and designing new investment opportunities. Ben has a decade of experience in impact investing and social enterprise. Before joining the Foundation, Ben established UnLtd’s – the UK’s largest early-stage social enterprise supporter – investment department and first funds. Most recently, Ben was Head of Social and Impact Investment at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – the UK’s largest impact investing foundation. Other notable activities in the space include being Vice Chair of NatWest Social and Community Capital – where he implemented the charity’s ‘total impact approach’, lecturing social finance at the University of Westminster and co-Chairing the UK’s Social Impact Investors Group.
Pat Bollen, Social Ventures Australia
Patrick is in the Impact Investing team and primarily supports SVA’s social impact bond and outcomes-based contracting related work. He previously worked as a consultant, where his focus was helping government agencies to operationalise outcomes-focused commissioning approaches and implement large scale policy reform. He has worked on a range of strategy development, operating model design and technology advisory projects for the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Department of Social Services and other government agencies. Prior to consulting, he worked as a lawyer in banking and financial services, and as an accountant.
Casey Taylor, Conscious Investment Management
Casey is focused on the origination, execution and management of Conscious Investment Management’s investments.
Prior to joining CIM, Casey worked at Social Ventures Australia developing social impact bonds and managing impact investing funds. Prior to SVA, Casey worked in Deal Advisory at KPMG.