Impact Investing Network
Kia ora <<First Name>>,
Welcome to the February edition of impact investing news in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally.
This edition covers: an update from our NAB Chair;
major 2022 events; investing in degrowth; launch of the Impact Management Platform; and interactive material on a Just Transition and biodiversity.
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NAB in the community
Highlights of the activities our National Advisory Board (NAB) and Impact Investing Network (IIN) team have been involved in recently.
New Year, New Chair - Alastair looks at year ahead
In February, the NAB got together online to lay out the foundations for the year ahead, our strategy and also to re-align our purpose. A convergence of themes emerged as key roles the NAB can play with our detailed plan to be communicated shortly.
A key theme was a transition from our previous focus on international alignment and best practice, we will still keep across this, to showcasing the strengths of impact investing in the unique Aotearoa NZ way.
Also, we need to be the kaitiaki of impact by setting and raising the integrity bar through intentionality and impact measurement to help catalyse, through proof and experience, the transition to a truly sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand. For other themes from Alastair and the NAB, read more.
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Events and Programmes
Discover the latest trends and connect with the impact investing community at these events and programmes.
Everyone will have their individual perspective on attending in-person events in the COVID context, which we're respectful of.
We'd like to support the hard work of the organisers by making the impact investing community aware of these important events. They're later in the year, so save the date if you're interested.
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Impact Unconference: 27-28 October, Christchurch
Steven Moe (Seeds podcast) is coordinating the Impact Unconference with the key theme: Reimagining Business as a Force for Good. It'll be a conference with 'unconference' elements, where the attendees help design the programme.
Steven is big on transparency and collaboration and is providing video updates on how the event is shaping.
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Combined Community Trusts Conference: 22-24 November, Rotorua
The Combined Community Trusts biennial conference will be hosted by BayTrust, with a new date of 22-24 November 2022 due to COVID.
The 12 Combined Community Trusts of New Zealand are the custodians of over 3.5 billion dollars of investments, including impact investments. The conference is open to working or trustees of a Combined Community Trust.
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Purpose Capital: Investing in Degrowth
Investing in Degrowth has been co-authored by Jennifer Wilkins (Heliocene) and Bill Murphy (Purpose Capital).
The white paper draws attention to the emerging degrowth economy, setting out the rationale for investing in degrowth-compatible enterprises. This paper is a call for New Zealand’s investing communities to fund the transition to a new economy that supports economic activities within the safe ecological and fair social boundaries.
The paper includes a foreword by David Woods (NAB member, and part of the Leadership Group of Toitū Tahua: Centre for Sustainable Finance). “We’re on an exciting journey as capitalism rediscovers itself, and it goes far beyond just greening the economy. Degrowth is a significant part of this journey, and this thought-provoking white paper is a welcome addition to the canon of ideas for our country and our world”. Read more.
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Investing for Impact, Otago University: event recordings
Video recordings are available for the 2021 Assembly of Investment Chairs hosted by Otago University.
The event covered topics such as green construction, green bonds, direct impact investing, iwi investing and secondary market investment impact. Leading speakers from the impact investing sector included: Nicola Nation (NAB member, Ākina), Maria English (ImpactLab) and Roy Thompson (New Ground Capital).
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Impact Management Platform - the single measurement standard to unite them all, not quite.
The launch of the Impact Management Platform (the Platform) is one of the most significant global collaborations in impact management. A five-year project between leading global providers, and facilitated by the Impact Management Project (IMP), to consolidate and mainstream impact management practices.
The Platform was launched at the end of 2021 with an accompanying webtool, which is a first product of the Platform.
Our view is The Platform is a step in the right direction. It's a very valuable collection of resources and interactive tools, usefully consolidated into one central place. However, it is not a single method of impact measurement that is required to provide consistency and clarity for impact management practitioners in New Zealand and globally. Read more.
More than $1 trillion of greenwashing - Morningstar
Greenwashing, more than $1 trillion of it, according to Morningstar's latest research showing ESG funds not delivering their stated goals.
Analysis of the industry resulted in ESG tag being removed from more than 1,200 funds, or roughly one in five, according to Morningstar Inc.’s classification system.
"The findings feed into concerns that asset managers are still making misleading claims on the extent to which their allocations are doing the planet or its inhabitants any good".
Shows the critical importance of measurement and reporting, and regulation to ensure transparency and integrity. Read more.
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Education
A selection of educational research and content on impact investing.
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BlackRock: Larry Fink's annual letter to CEOs, from BlackRock world's largest asset manager. "Every company and every industry will be transformed by the transition to a net zero world. The question is, will you lead, or will you be led"? Read more.
Mindful Money: In Being Mindful about the impact of our money Barry Coates asks investors to look at investing that includes impact, alongside risk and return. To avoid investing in companies that cause harm and greenwashing tactics, and instead invest in companies that create positive impact. Read more.
Pathfinder/Stuff - A Just Transition: An interactive feature by Stuff, and supported by Pathfinder, explores what a Just Transition means in Aotearoa NZ. How the job market is changing and thriving in climate-friendly industries, and what a Just Transition looks like for iwi and Māori businesses. Read more.
Stuff - This Is How it Ends: Not directly about impact investing but well worth a watch. Well created series of short documentaries investigating New Zealand's biodiversity crisis. Nature and biodiversity related financial disclosures is becoming increasingly important, alongside climate-related disclosures. Watch videos.
Southeast Asia Women’s Economic Empowerment Fund (SWEEF): employs a gender-lens to boost the participation of women in both the workforce and leadership roles with a $100m fund. A series of free webinars are being hosted and includes Pamela Ryan, an early investor in SWEEF and author of Amazon best-seller Impact Imperative. Pam will share her personal experience of how investing in female founders and backing emerging markets and trends early can generate outsized returns. Read more.
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Get in contact
We will soon be sharing more detailed thoughts with yourselves to get your input, stories and experiences to further enable the community of impact investing practitioners.
If you have any questions and/or ideas, please contact Tan Huynh (IIN Manager).
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