New research consortium launched to unlock trillions in impact investing across Asia Pacific
Centre for Social Impact at UNSW and the UNSW School of Banking and Finance
MEDIA STATEMENT
20 May 2026
As Australia enters a once-in-a-generation wealth transfer worth an estimated $3.5 trillion, UNSW Business School has launched a flagship Asia Pacific $1 million research initiative to ensure this capital drives measurable social and economic outcomes rather than reinforcing inequality.
The Centre for Social Impact at UNSW and the UNSW School of Banking and Finance today announced the establishment of the Asia Pacific Impact Investing Research Consortium. The Consortium represents a new model of collaboration between academia and industry—bringing together leading researchers, philanthropic organisations, and financial institutions to co-design and deliver rigorous, practice-informed research. It is co-funded by UNSW Business School, and a consortium of industry partners including Minderoo and UBS.
The Consortium will produce applied research, shared datasets, and market-building infrastructure to support investors, policymakers, and practitioners in directing capital toward pressing challenges including affordable housing, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth.
Impact investing in Australia has grown rapidly in recent years, increasing eightfold since 2020. While this reflects rising investor confidence and demand for capital aligned with social and environmental outcomes, the next phase of growth will depend on stronger coordination, clearer measurement frameworks, and robust evidence to guide decision-making.
Professor Danielle Logue, Director of the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW and co-lead of the Consortium, said the initiative is designed to meet this need by embedding academic rigour within real-world market dynamics.
“Australia’s impact investing market is reaching a new level of maturity. Our recent benchmarking shows growth to more than $157 billion, and as the market scales, investors are seeking more consistent evidence, clearer standards, and stronger coordination across sectors,” said Professor Logue.
“What is different about this Consortium is how we work. By partnering directly with industry and philanthropic leaders such as Minderoo and UBS, we are co-creating research that is both academically rigorous and immediately relevant to capital allocation decisions.”
“This model ensures independence and integrity through UNSW’s research standards, while grounding our work in the realities of how capital actually flows. It allows us to build the evidence base and market infrastructure the sector now needs to scale responsibly.”
David Gonski AC, Chair of the Centre for Social Impact Advisory Council, said the Consortium reflects a critical shift in how research can support market development.
“As more capital moves into impact investing, the need for trusted evidence and clear frameworks becomes critical. This Consortium has the potential to set a new benchmark by combining UNSW’s and CSI’s academic strength with deep industry engagement to build the foundations for a more effective and accountable market.”
The Consortium comes as Australia enters an unprecedented period of intergenerational wealth transfer, expected to reshape capital allocation across family offices, philanthropic trusts, and institutional portfolios—creating both significant opportunity and risk if capital is not deployed effectively.
At the same time, expectations are rising for private capital to play a greater role in addressing systemic challenges such as affordable housing, climate resilience, and inclusive economic development.
The Consortium will focus on unlocking capital at scale through a core program of research and market-building activity, including:
- Continued delivery of Australia’s largest annual impact investing benchmarking study, in partnership with Impact Investing Australia
- A 2026/27 research agenda includes a focus on:
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- Democratising access to impact capital, including place‑based and First Nations capital models
- Inter-generational wealth transfer for family offices and philanthropic capital mobilisation
- Blended finance models and accelerating the financing of affordable housing.
Professor Francisco Barillas Bedoya, Head of the UNSW School of Banking and Finance, said the initiative reflects UNSW’s commitment to applied research that shapes real‑world financial markets for positive outcomes.
“This is a flagship initiative for UNSW Business School in the Asia Pacific, and an opportunity to position Australia—and UNSW in particular—at the forefront of impact investing research. By combining academic excellence with deep engagement across financial markets, we can help shape how impact is understood, measured and integrated into mainstream investment practice.”
Anchor industry partners will play a central role in shaping the agenda, bringing deep experience across intergenerational wealth stewardship, impact finance and market development.
John Hartman, CEO, Minderoo Foundation said: “Philanthropy has a clear role to play in building Australia’s impact investing market. By backing the Asia Pacific Impact Investing Research Consortium, Minderoo Foundation is supporting the evidence, standards and coordination needed to move more capital into areas where it can have real impact, including social and affordable housing and place-based initiatives.”
Zarmeen Pavri, Head of Not for Profit Segment at UBS Global Wealth Management Australia, said: “We are very proud to be one of the founding partners of this initiative. This Consortium will strengthen the way collaboration is achieved across the for-purpose sector. It will bring rigour to how we coordinate initiatives aimed at addressing challenges through systems change.
By bringing researchers together with practitioners and capital providers, we can build a platform for Australian, context-rich data intelligence that supports informed capital allocation. This structure will ensure that stakeholders explore innovative ways to deploy funding across the full spectrum —from philanthropic grantmaking through to patient, catalytic and commercial capital. We do this with the end goal that resources reach the opportunities with the greatest potential for measurable impact.”
The Consortium will operate as a collaborative platform, working across sectors to strengthen the effectiveness, credibility and growth of impact investing in Australia and the wider Asia Pacific region.
Contact details:
Media contact:
Joy Goldfeder 0421 272 218