Impact Investing Network and Responsible Investment Association Australasia Explore Integration
The Impact Investing Network (IIN) and Responsible Investment Association Association (RIAA) boards have been in exploratory discussions on deepening integration between the two organisations. With an aim to have the IIN sitting as an integrated portfolio within RIAA by mid-2025.
Both boards have endorsed this opportunity at a high level and reiterate that there continue to be developments on these exploratory talks before a formal agreement can be reached. The objectives of this integration would:
- Achieve strategic alignment of peak bodies to lift the capability, profile and market size of responsible/sustainable/impact investing.
- Remove the market confusion of peak bodies’ respective roles by delivering aligned advocacy and messaging on impact investing.
- Increase capacity through grouping resources and expertise across complementary functions within the peak bodies, e.g. marketing, PR, events, digital, and research.
- Remove unnecessary duplication in building and maintaining an impact-focused network, delivering educational resources, undertaking advocacy work and administering these activities (e.g. secretariat, separate Charitable Trusts for each peak body).
IIN Board Chair, Mr Alastair Rhodes, welcomed this initiative and said: “The Aotearoa NZ investment ecosystem is rapidly maturing in terms of its understanding and adoption of impact/sustainable/responsible investing.”
Mr Rhodes added, “The IIN has always worked closely with RIAA given our similar priorities. We now believe the time is right to explore greater integration with RIAA to accelerate further the profile and market size of responsible/sustainable/impact investments in Aotearoa NZ.”
RIAA Co-CEO, Mr Dean Hegarty, said: “There’s no question we need to develop better pathways and drive more capital to impact investments, and we see enormous potential to unlock new opportunities through this partnership. While there are obvious operational efficiencies, this integration will better align New Zealand’s impact ecosystem with the broader investment market. It will streamline efforts, strengthen workplan delivery across both groups and bridge the gap between impact opportunities and mainstream investment, with a goal to deliver real-world outcomes.”
As these negotiations continue, the respective organisations would like to reiterate that IIN and RIAA will continue with their current work programmes and coordinate closely, as has always been the case.