Events & News

For me, this year’s RIAA Conference Australia came at a moment of reflection.

Impact funds remain a relatively new and evolving concept for many in the market. While they are often grouped under the broader umbrella of ESG or sustainability, they differ in a fundamental way. ESG investing typically channels capital into companies that present lower environmental, social, or governance risks—essentially aligning portfolios with sustainability themes. But impact investing has a framework that goes much further. It seeks to drive systemic change, not merely capture a 'sustainability bucket'.

The opening keynote at the International Corporate Governance Network's 30th anniversary conference in New York delivered a striking message. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, overseeing $300 billion in pension assets, didn't mince his words: "If we don't do systemic stewardship, we'll lose billions of dollars in value."