by Antonella Abategiovanni, Executive Director, Financial Inclusion Forum
On November 20th, The Impact Principles as a Foundation for Active Investing event, hosted by the Financial Inclusion Forum (FIF), in collaboration with the London Impact Investing Network (LIIN) and A&O Sherman, brought together a diverse group of professionals passionate about social impact investing. Despite the chilly weather, the room was filled with energy and enthusiasm, clearly reflecting the growing interest in harnessing financial services for positive social and environmental change.
We were fortunate to have a carefully curated program featuring insightful speakers. One of the key highlights was the fireside chat on the CFA UK’s latest certificate in impact investing. This discussion gave attendees a first-hand look at how impact investing is evolving into a more mainstream financial practice.
We also delved into the potential of impact principles to generate “alpha” — excess returns beyond the market benchmarks. It was fascinating to hear perspectives on how targeting environmental and social outcomes doesn’t just create positive change, but also drives financial performance. As Greg Brown, the event’s welcoming host, pointed out, the integration of impact principles into traditional finance is no longer a niche practice but has become a defining feature of contemporary investing.
The panelists discussed how businesses across sectors, including private equity and infrastructure, increasingly incorporate sustainability into their operations. They emphasized that sustainable investments not only align with global megatrends such as decarbonization and equitable access to services but they are also well-positioned to perform well financially.
Another significant conversation revolved around social impact and the importance of developing business solutions for pressing societal challenges, such as affordable housing and financial inclusion. The evening underscored the necessity of blending capital from different sources — including concessional capital — to address these challenges at scale.
One key takeaway from the event is that impact investing isn’t just a moral pursuit; it’s a sound investment strategy. Whether through the reduction of carbon footprints, fostering talent diversity, or improving access to critical services, impact investors are proving that financial returns and social good can go hand in hand.
As we continue to explore these intersectional spaces, we are committed to creating opportunities for our community to not only invest in financial returns but also in social change. With more organizations and individuals focusing on impact-driven strategies, the future of investing looks not only profitable but also profoundly transformative.
As FIF celebrates two decades of driving financial inclusion, events like last night reaffirm our commitment to advancing impactful investing. The insights shared serve as a beacon for professionals navigating this dynamic field, inspiring us all to leverage capital for a greater societal good
Thank you to the speakers, moderators, and everyone who attended for contributing to such a meaningful discussion, and helping make the event a success. We look forward to seeing you at our future events!
P.S. Two attendees traveled from South Africa to be part of this special evening, while we also had two very engaged students from SOAS and City University. Their dedication to participating in this conversation about impact investing made us prouder than ever of the global reach and relevance of our work.
If you couldn’t join us this time you can watch the conversation in the recording below:
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