Ideas and opinions came thick and fast at the bank’s first virtual event on 8th July.
Chaired by Partner and Head of Philanthropy Rennie Hoare, a lively panel discussion, hosted on Zoom, opened our season of talks on Social Impact Investment. Our guest speakers for the evening were Lyn Tomlinson of Cazenove Capital and Harry Catchpole of Tribe Impact Capital, and together they demolished the theory that impact investors are confined to illiquid, low-return investments.
Harry explored the possibilities of ‘alternative assets’ (i.e. assets not correlated to fixed income or equities) and showed how investing through the lens of social impact and sustainability can bring strong financial returns.
Lyn addressed the rapid growth of the impact-investment universe (from £502 billion in 2018 to an estimated £3 trillion today) and the importance of accurate impact reporting. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, she argued, are helpful metrics in this regard, but quantitative data in terms of carbon intensity or social costs are also compelling.
With questions thrown open to the floor, speakers and guests enjoyed a stimulating exchange of views and experiences and discussion continued comfortably in groups until it was time to hail virtual taxis. Thanks are due to our speakers and to all our guests who made the evening such a success. While we cannot invite you the bank until COVID clouds have passed, it seems we have found a new forum for old friends to find each other and new friends to connect.
