The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will host the Bay Area Impact Investing Conference on Tuesday, May 7 to discuss how and why institutional investment pools can participate in Impact Investing activities in the Bay Area. These sorts of investment strategies are developed to focus on regional investments that first and foremost, meet our fiduciary requirements for risk and return expectations, but that also include particular Environmental, Social, and Governance factors, Socially Responsible investing criteria and align at least part if not all of the portfolio, even across all asset classes, with some degree of intentional impact on the mission to keep the Bay Area economy strong, diverse and innovative.
At this conference, a noted Bay Area economist will present an overview of the Bay Area economy, its strengths and investment challenges. Two thought leaders in impact investing, moderated by an institutional investment consultant, will describe what Impact Investing broadly means, its development, opportunities, challenges and infrastructure. Confirmed speakers include:
- R. Sean Randolph, PhD., President and CEO, Bay Area Council Economic Institute
- Ben Thornley, Director of Insight, Pacific Community Ventures
- Georgette Wong, Curator of Take Action! Impact investing conferences and author of US State Department report: “Insights & Innovations: A Global Study of Impact Investing + Institutional Investors”
- David Chen, Board Chairman of the Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and Principal, Equilibrium Capital
- Brian Prater, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development & Corporate Affairs, Low Income Investment Fund
- Nancy Pfund, Managing Partner, DBL Investors
- Lauryn Agnew, President, Seal Cove Financial
As we demonstrate that our fiduciary duty need not be compromised when we seek to include Impact in our portfolio considerations, through careful financial structures, due diligence and prudent investment policies and processes, we will need appropriate vehicles in all asset classes in order to implement impact investing strategies. Gathering critical mass will drive the formation of new Bay Area Impact Investments across a continuum of risk, return, liquidity and impact. For example, it could result in the development of a family of funds for a variety of investment needs: stocks, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity and debt/venture/ growth funds. Catalyzing more investment dollars into all types of Bay Area investments could help our unique and special region keep its competitive advantages, extraordinary talent, diversity and prosperity long into the future.
To view a draft agenda and pre-register for the conference, please follow this link. A final agenda will be available soon.