Diversity in Impact Investing: Panel & Interactive Discussion

Apr 11 2018 14:15

A panel and interactive group discussion on the current situation of diversity and representation in the impact investment industry, its implications and strategies for the future.

The questions we aim to explore are: Does the impact investment industry representatively reflect the general market and/or the communities we aim to serve? How does this impact our social/ financial performance? Do we need a new strategy?

Speakers

The panel discussion will be chaired by Bonnie Chiu, Managing Director of the Social Investment Consultancy and Co-Founder of the Diversity Forum.

Speakers include:

Gemma Rocyn Jones, Head of Financial Resilience, Big Lottery Fund

Alex Pitt, Co-Founder, Mustard Seed Impact VC Fund

Tara Sabre Collier, Co-Founder, Affiniti VC and Director of Impact Investment, ProNatura

Sheeza Ahmad, Founder, UpEffect

Key questions

In an era when 90% of US venture capital only flows to white male founders and 90% of East African impact investment flows to ventures with North American/European founders, it's important to ask ourselves some tough questions.

How do we access and evaluate a pipeline which is more representative of the general market and/or the communities we wish to impact? Are we leaving money on the table by missing important and relevant market audiences and demographics in our portfolio and/or our investment teams? How does representation affect market understanding, access to information and the ability to select the best deals? What are the implications for social impact and financial reterns? And what are the best strategies to ensure both through diversity and inclusiveness…..