UNSW Launches $1 Million Initiative
UNSW Business School has launched a $1 million research initiative to enhance impact investing across the Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific Impact Investing Research Consortium was announced on 20 May 2026.
A collaboration between academia and industry, this Consortium involves the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW and the UNSW School of Banking and Finance. It aims to drive social and economic outcomes by leveraging the region's growing interest in impact investing.
UNSW Business School, along with Minderoo and UBS, co-funds the Consortium. It will produce research, datasets, and market infrastructure to support investments in affordable housing, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.
Professor Danielle Logue, Director of the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW, stated, "Australia’s impact investing market is reaching a new level of maturity. Our recent benchmarking shows growth to more than $157 billion."
The impact investing sector in Australia has expanded rapidly, growing eightfold since 2020. This growth reflects increasing investor confidence and demand for capital aligned with social and environmental outcomes.
However, the next phase of growth will depend on stronger coordination, clearer measurement frameworks, and robust evidence to guide decision-making. The Consortium aims to meet these needs by embedding academic rigour within real-world market dynamics.
Focus Areas for Research
The Consortium will continue Australia’s largest annual impact investing benchmarking study and focus on democratising access to impact capital. Research will also address inter-generational wealth transfer and blended finance models.
David Gonski AC, Chair of the Centre for Social Impact Advisory Council, emphasised the importance of the Consortium in providing trusted evidence for market development.
Field trials and research activities are expected to commence throughout 2026 and 2027. The Consortium operates as a collaborative platform to enhance the impact investing landscape in the region.
As Australia enters a once-in-a-generation wealth transfer estimated at $3.5 trillion, the Consortium aims to ensure this capital drives measurable social and economic outcomes rather than reinforcing inequality.
