Podcasts

Capital with a cause: investing for systemic change

Impact investing is reshaping how Australian families, foundations and leaders think about their capital - not just as a source of returns, but as a lever for systemic change. By aligning grant-making and investment strategies, and using frameworks like avoid–benefit–contribute, investors can move beyond traditional philanthropy to unlock larger pools of capital for social and environmental good. As the next generation pushes for purpose-led portfolios and regional collaboration, those willing to bridge philanthropy, wealth management and impact investing will be best placed to drive meaningful, scalable change in Australia and beyond.

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Key Topics
  • The conversation explores why foundations should treat philanthropy and investing as a single continuum for impact, using their entire corpus (not just a small “impact” slice) as catalytic capital to drive systemic change.
  • Liz Gillies highlights the value of structured frameworks such as the ABC impact management model (avoid–benefit–contribute) and a clear overarching strategy to align grant‑making, investment decisions, risk appetite and measurement of impact.
  • She stresses the need for deep, long‑term collaboration between boards, foundations and investment advisers, moving beyond transactional mindsets so capital can unlock large‑scale solutions, including blended and tech‑enabled finance.
  • Next‑generation wealth holders are seen as key protagonists in systemic change; Gillies advocates involving them directly (for example, via youth board observers) and broadening both philanthropy and investing beyond an inward‑looking Australian focus to regional and global opportunities.
  • Looking ahead, she argues that rapid technological and societal change will make purpose, values and collective responsibility to act for the greater good the defining anchors for philanthropy, investment and leadership over the coming decade.

LGT Wealth Management Head of Sustainable Investment, Amanda MacDonald, speaks with Liz Gillies, CEO of the Menzies Leadership Foundation, to explore how Australian foundations can deploy their entire corpus – not just their grants – to drive systemic social change.

 

 

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Podcasts

Infrastructure Investing – Navigating Growth, Sustainability & Digitalisation

In our latest episode of The Astute Investor, Kevin Wan-Lum, sits down with Esther Peiner, Head of Infrastructure at Partners Group. Infrastructure investment is adapting to global trends - growth, sustainability, and digitalisation. In this podcast, Esther discusses how this ‘adaption’ is...
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Podcasts

Investing beyond the numbers

In our latest edition of the Astute Investor podcast series – ‘Looking beyond numbers with quantitative investing’, Kevin Wan Lum, Deputy Chief Investment Officer of the LGT Investment Office interviews Morry Waked, Managing Director and Head of Investments from Vinva Investments.