The GSG Global Impact Summit, the most influential impact investing event focused on delivering impact solutions for people and planet, will take place virtually from 6-8 October 2021.  

Leaders from the worlds of business, finance, government, and academia will come together for a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops organised around four themes: mobilising capital for impact, impact in emerging economies; green and social solutions for a just transition; and impact harmonisation and transparency.

Over 200 expert speakers and 1,500 participants from 75 countries are expected to join this year’s Summit. The confirmed list of speakers includes:

• Amel Karboul, CEO, The Education Outcomes Fund, former Tunisian Minister
• Andrew Kuper, CEO, LeapFrog Investments
• Dolika Banda, former CEO, African Risk Capacity Insurance Ltd., former Director, IFC
• Douglas Peterson, President and CEO, S&P Global
• Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO, African Leadership Group
• Gillian Tett, Chair of the Editorial Board and US Editor-at-Large, The Financial Times
• Gonzalo Gortázar, CEO, CaixaBank
• Hiro Mizuno, Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General on Innovative Finance and Sustainable Investments
• Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia
• Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, Ghana
• Marina Silva, Environmentalist and Politician, Sustainability Network Party (REDE) (Brazil)
• Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
• Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
• Nick Hurd, Chair of the G7 Impact Taskforce and former UK Government Minister
• Sir Ronald Cohen, Chairman, GSG
• Safeena Husain, Founder and Executive Director, Educate Girls
• Tebogo Naledi, Managing Director, Old Mutual Investment Group

Impact investing^[1]  assets under management totalled $715 billion in 2020, rising by over $200 billion compared with the previous year^[2]. The volume of impact assets continues to grow strongly as international institutions increase their investment in the space. Among the sessions at this year’s GSG Global Impact Summit, Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek will be discussing its $500 million impact partnership with Africa and Asia-focused investment firm LeapFrog Investments.

The Summit agenda will also include sessions on improving education through new financial models, the impact of the pandemic on gender equality, and the future of the impact sector. It will also include an opportunity to hear directly from G7 Impact Taskforce (ITF) leaders about their critical work driving the impact agenda. The ITF, established as part of the UK’s G7 presidency and coordinated by the GSG and the Impact Investing Institute, aims to explore and advise on how private capital can be mobilised for public good with integrity and at scale.

In addition to stimulating keynote speeches and thought-leading discussion, the Summit will feature networking opportunities to meet speakers and fellow attendees online.

Cliff Prior, Chief Executive of the GSG, said:

“As the world works toward recovery from COVID-19, impact investing has a critical role to play in creating more inclusive, sustainable economies. The GSG Global Impact Summit 2021 reflects the calibre of actors involved in this space today and the importance of the issues being actively addressed. The global impact movement is gathering momentum, and this year’s Summit promises to be one of the most influential yet.”

Sir Ronald Cohen, Chair of the GSG, added:

“Impact investing has reached the mainstream. We are delighted to welcome so many leaders in the fields of entrepreneurship, politics, and investing to this year’s GSG Global Impact Summit. Together, we will discuss, develop and drive forward solutions that can dramatically scale up impact investing for the benefit of people and the planet.”

To find out more about the Summit and to view the agenda, please click here. A full programme, including sessions and speakers, will be published later in September, so please look out for further announcements on our website. Accredited journalists are welcome to attend. If you would like to join the GSG Global Impact Summit 2021, please email media@gsgii.org.

ENDS//

Notes to editors

We are grateful to the GSG’s supporters, Summit sponsors and partners for making this event possible: LGT Group; Ford Foundation; MacArthur Foundation; Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; FCDO Impact Programme; Palladium; Wietlisbach Foundation; Skoll  Foundation; Hewlett Foundation; Omidyar Network; BNP Paribas; MeaningSphere; Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation; Open Society Foundations; The Rockefeller Foundation; Old Mutual; CaixaBank; Torino Social Impact; BlueMark; Bridgewater Associates; LeapFrog Investments; UBS Optimus Foundation; Be Inspired Films.

About Impact Investing

Impact investments are investments made with an explicit intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. Impact investment optimises risk, return and impact to benefit people and the planet.

[1] Impact investments are investments made with an explicit intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. Impact investment optimises risk, return and impact to benefit people and the planet.

[2] Source: Global Impact Investing Network: https://thegiin.org/impact-investing/need-to-know/#how-big-is-the-impact-investing-market