Lead Discussants (3 min each):
Amit Bhatia (GSG),
Piyush Gupta (DBS Bank),
David Heng (ABC World),
Annie Chen (RS Group),
Herry Cho (ING),
Sunny Verghese (Olam)

There is a profound change underway in the global economic system, with Capitalism 1.0 paving way for more conscientious Impact Economies. With US$ 22 trillion in AUM classified as Responsible Investment, Sustainable Investment or Impact Investments, we are already on a path to this new economy requiring all actors- big business, investors, impact entrepreneurs, consumers, and governments – to change their role. We are calling this #ImpactRising. How are  Singapore and Asia-Pacific going to take part in this revolutionary movement?

• How do you envision Impact Economies in Asia-Pacific? What goals will inspire you to join the impact movement?
• What key factors are contributing to the momentum and what changes can push the market forward?
• How does the risk-return-impact paradigm vary across the continuum of responsible, sustainable and impact investments?
• What role would you like to see Singapore play in driving the impact movement in the region and also, globally?

Presentation by Abhinav Akhilesh (KPMG)
Initial Discussant: Jonathan Wong (ESCAP)

The Asia Pacific Regional Roadmap for implementing the 2030 Agenda for SDGs and endorsed by the ESCAP member countries via Resolution 73/9 was a big win for the impact movement in the region1. It brought to the forefront the importance of impact investing, and the need for policy guidance for different stakeholders, resulting in  GSG’s collaboration with UNESCAP to develop a practical Policy Toolkit for policy makers.

• What are the current policy frameworks supporting the development of impact investment ecosystems in the region?
• Do we have evidence of what works and what doesn’t?
• Where does the gap lie? What role should Governments play?
• How do we strengthen the local ecosystems?
• How can policy play a bigger role in attracting new impact capital flows and foreign investment supporting the achievement of National Development Plans and SDG targets?

Presentation by Jamuna Verghese (PwC)
Initial Discussants:
En Lee (LGT Impact),
Fernanda Lima (LeapFrog Investments),
Simba Marekera (Brightlight), 
Durreen Shahnaz (IIX)

In Asia Pacific, a multitude of socio- economic challenges are competing for limited public or philanthropic capital. With ASEAN estimated to need at least $1 trillion USD  of infrastructure in the next 5 years to keep pace with the economic growth, and to meet the goals of ending extreme poverty, [1] there is an urgent need to scale up private investment with the support of enabling policy, regulatory, financial and market conditions to develop and utilize new mechanisms to unlock private financing. Singapore is increasingly being recognized as the hub for Impact, and as a gateway to funding and catalyzing impact in the region.

• How can innovation in financial products and vehicles catalyse impact economies at scale?
• What are some of the key points of intervention that would be useful at this point of time?
• How do you see the various factors influence investor preference- liquidity, quality of returns vis-à-vis risk, need for measurable impact, availability of products, etc.
• Does the region need wholesale products?

Presentation by Krisztina Tora (GSG)
Initial Discussants:
Pradeep Nair (Ford Foundation),
Alex Hannant (NewZealand NAB)

GSG, an independent multilateral, operates in countries via its National (and Regional) Advisory Boards (NABs), with currently 22 countries and the  EU as members. A NAB is a group of leaders, united in purpose to create a thriving environment where increasing amounts of capital to flow ventures that create impact and contribute to the SDGs. A NAB is representative of the entire impact ecosystem nationally and creates consensus around key priorities, inspires all actors and furthers the impact movement.

• How can we create public dialogue and consensus in Asia-Pacific? Should it be at a country level or a regional level?
• Which stakeholders are likely to support and to lead the NAB Development efforts in Singapore and other countries of the region?
• What is the ideal process for the actors in Singapore and Asia-Pacific to reach a shared agenda?
• What role should Government play vis-à-vis NABs in the region?