AVPN Conference 2019: Unlocking Asia’s wealth for good

Asia’s largest social investment conference takes place in Singapore from 25 to 28 June with the aim of unlocking more money to tackle the urgent social and environmental challenges that face the region.

The AVPN Conference 2019 will bring together people with money to invest – such as philanthropists and social investors – with those seeking investment – creative and social entrepreneurs – as well as policymakers from Asia’s governments. Consultants and advisers who are developing the social investment ecosystem will also play a key role.

Themes that will be explored include the climate emergency, sustainable agriculture and gender-based violence.

Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO and chair of AVPN, said: “Despite the significant wealth generation in Asia, its social investment ecosystem has not yet matured sufficiently to maximise the volume and flow of capital towards impact.”

The global line-up of speakers includes Amit Bouri, CEO of the Global Impact Investing Network, Larry Kramer, president of the USA’s William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Belinda Ford, Coca Cola’s sustainability director for ASEAN. 

The AVPN Conference is a prime opportunity to connect with Asia’s leading impact economy eco-system builders

The UK is playing a leading role in catalysing social investment across Asia, particularly through the British Council which is leading a number of activities during the conference.

For example, some of the creative and social entrepreneurs that the British Council has supported to develop their work will be taking part in the ‘Deal Share’ platform where they will get the opportunity to meet potential investors. Creative hub leaders – professionals who support creative entrepreneurs – have a dedicated networking space provided by the British Council’s creative hub programme. 

Tristan Ace, the British Council’s global lead for social enterprise and creative and inclusive economies, will lead a session to explore legal forms for social enterprises in Asia, examining, in particular, the investors’ perspective on this.

On 25 June, the British Council and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will host a Strategic Policy Dialogue with government ministers from Asia-Pacific countries that are leading the way in developing their social economies – Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Together they will agree how their policy agendas will develop over the coming year. 

Ace said: “The annual AVPN Conference is a prime opportunity to connect with Asia’s leading impact economy eco-system builders. It brings together creative and social entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors and funders seeking to cement existing partnerships, build new ones, advance supportive policy frameworks and share learning around the opportunities and challenges to creating more inclusive and impactful economies.”

Pioneers Post is delighted to be a media partner to the AVPN Conference 2019. More coverage coming soon.

Header photo: Singapore marina