Some of the best and brightest leaders in Australia’s impact investment sector were honoured at the annual Australian Impact Investment Awards. A collaboration between the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific and the Impact Investing Hub, the awards recognise outstanding activity and individuals in the Australian impact investing ecosystem.

This year’s awards were judged by a panel of experts comprised of Teena Blewitt (Group Manager, Communities Group, Department of Social Services), Abhilash Mudaliar, (Impact Investing & Social Ventures, Paul Ramsay Foundation) and Rosemary Addis (Executive Director, Impact Strategist).

The Summit Dinner and Awards were sponsored by the Department of Social Services and the awards were presented by Teena Blewitt on behalf of the Department.

“We were so thrilled with the number of nominations for the Awards, which demonstrates how much the impact investing ecosystem is continuing to develop and how many remarkable people and organisations are contributing to the future of a transformed economy,” said Jessica Roth on behalf of the Impact Investing Hub.

“The Summit Dinner and Awards are a celebration of the Australian impact investing ecosystem and the innovators who contribute to its significant growth. The Awards finalists and winners – as well as all 350+ attendees at this year’s Summit – are united by our work in deploying capital as a force for good” said Melanie Greblo, the Director of Program and Experience for the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific.

The four categories of the Awards mirror the categories of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG) chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen.

HESTA, who won Impact Asset Owner of the Year, reaffirmed its commitment to growing the Australian impact investment market by allocating a further $40 million to fund investments across health, housing and community services through its Social Impact Investment Trust.

Impact Asset Manager of the Year, Kilter Rural, a specialist manager, has dedicated to investment in Australian real assets of farmland, water and ecosystem services managing a portfolio of more than $440 million.

Impact Market Builder of the Year, Pacific Trade Invest Australia, facilitates connections that supports private sector growth in the Pacific Islands, building recognition of impact investment as a sector and introducing impact investors.

GOTERRA & Nightingale Housing,  the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year, targets the problems of food waste, methane emissions, and provides sustainable and stable livestock feed for farmers turning the insects into high protein insect meal and valuable, nutritious soil conditioner.

When assessing the nominations, there were four individuals who stood out to the judges going above and beyond, at times coming with professional sacrifices to provide significant contributions to the impact investment ecosystem.

The individuals presented with an Award for Outstanding Achievement are Lane Crockett (Head of Renewable Infrastructure, Impact Investment Group), Sandy Blackburn-Wright (Founder & Managing Director, Social Outcomes), Elyse Sainty (Director of Impact Investing, Social Ventures Australia)and Lisa Siganto, (Chairman, ImpaQt Queensland).