The Impact Investment Summit: meet the woman behind it all

Communications guru, Ranya Alkadamani has had a varied career, from advising Kevin Rudd during his time as Foreign Minister, to working alongside one of Australia's leading philanthropists, Andrew Forrest. She tells Industry Moves about her latest work for the upcoming Impact Investment Summit and says that the five headlining speakers "jumped at the chance" to be a part of the event.

Last year, the inaugural conference attracted over 200 attendees and 80 speakers, including former executive director of Social Ventures Australia and chair of UniSuper, Chris Cuffe. Alkadamani tells us what we can expect from this year's conference, what ignited her passion for impact investments and sheds some light on a few influential characters in her life.

"I was made in Syria and born in Australia, so every day I thank my lucky stars that I am here." - Ranya Alkadamani

Q&A with Ranya Alkadamani

You have 5 high profile international speakers at this year's event. How hard was it to galvanise such international talent?

We were very surprised at how well known the Summit had become internationally following last year's inaugural gathering. Our international speakers jumped at the chance to be part of this event with the impact investment community in Australia and the Asia Pacific. We also have an incredibly influential Program Advisory Board, who have strong connections both in Australia and overseas.

How has the program changed this year to reflect the current appetite from institutional investors for information on Impact Investments?

This program is really about the deals. With that in mind we have leading institutions, including BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse pitching their impact funds - as well as a number of super funds including HESTA and Christian Super. NAB and QBE are strong supporters, sponsoring the Summit because they realise how critically impact investing is growing - both internationally and in Australia.

This is the 2nd year of the conference. What has been put in place this year from the feedback that you received from last year's attendees?

Last year we gathered, we laughed, we talked. While we obviously want to have a great time this year, we're very focused on presenting the deal flow to our delegates. That's definitely what they want and we've listened!

What ignited your passion for impact investments and how do you get people to care?

Having spent time in government and then advising a philanthropist, I realised there is a limit to what government funding or philanthropy could do to help solve some of our most wicked problems. But the huge power of the capital markets - and deploying capital for good - as well as financial returns, would ensure we could actually create sustainable solutions.

Look at climate change for example. I know that the only way we will shift to favour renewables is when they are so profitable and scalable that we no longer need fossil fuels. It's only capital that will drive this. Sure, we need a lot of risk capital to get us there, but once we are there - when solar, wind, wave and microgrids are cheaper and more reliable than the status quo, we will have ensured that capital was delivering a strong market return and of course an environmental return.

And if I have a part to play in that, my work is definitely worth getting up for.

As Kevin Rudd's Press Secretary, during his time as Foreign Minister, what would you say was the biggest lesson that you took away?

It was that Australia had its part to play in the world and we need to be actively part of the international community. We are an influential G20 country. We have leading financial services and a huge super pool of over two trillion dollars active internationally. Our foreign policy should reflect that.

What are the major differences between working for a politician versus working for a philanthropist?

Politicians have limits, boundaries and what I would call a box. You could push against the edges of that box but you never jumped out. A philanthropist - well Andrew Forrest at least, has no box. The impossible is possible. And if you can't think like that then you can't be part of their team. If you go up to the Pilbara and see these amazing mines that Andrew and FMG (Fortescue Metals Group) built, you understand that thinking. Despite all the barriers, hurdles - even building their own train line to port - you realise that amazing things can be done.

Who have been the biggest influences on your life/career so far?

Other than Kevin and Andrew, Peter Varghese who was the former Secretary of DFAT. He sent me on my first stint to Washington DC and I was always so impressed by how accessible he was. Geoff Wilson, founder of Wilson Asset Management, and my first client, also influenced me because of the way he harnessed the potential of fund managers to do good with Future Generation Investment Company and Future Generation Global Company. This was the first ASX listed structure that had the dual purpose of creating wealth and changing the lives of children through a perpetual donation to be realised annually.

"The impossible is possible. And if you can't think like that then you can't be part of their team."

What has been one of the most valuable philanthropic projects that you have encountered so far and why?

I'm very passionate about refugees - I was made in Syria and born in Australia, so every day I thank my lucky stars that I am here. There is an incredible man called Kilian Kleinschmidt, who was known as the "Mayor of Za'atari". He headed up the UNHCR camp in Jordan. He has realised that we have completely missed the boat on how to deal with refugee flows and is providing some useful structures to drive refugee care through economic development - such as encouraging Special Economic Zones for places with a significant refugee population. He's in discussions with leading American philanthropists as well as George Soros [Founder and Co-Founder, Open Societies Foundation]. While this can potentially be an impact investment - it certainly needs philanthropic risk capital.

Can you tell us about your involvement with Walk Free Global Slavery?

I was right there at the beginning as we were developing the Walk Free Foundation. Back in 2012, modern slavery was something that we could not measure, that barely received any coverage or funding. Through the creation of the Global Slavery Index, we could finally put a number on how many people were trapped in modern slavery. I headed up two global launches of this Index, and the media coverage we generated was phenomenal. That certainly brought it up on the agenda.

What keeps you busy when you're not part of the Summit?

Impact Group International, the company I founded, is an experienced team of experts focused on strategic communications advice for innovators, incredible organisations, ASX-listed companies, and philanthropists that are all doing something that will better our society or environment. We only work with people and teams who we would want to have dinner with.

Because our work isn't about work. It's about doing the work we excel at, with people who excite us and on significant issues that have an impact on us all.

The Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific 2016 will be held 26 October 2016 at Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont and will include speakers such as Ben Thornley, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Tideline and Wolfgang Hafenmayer, Head of Societal Impact Advisory at Trusted Family. Click through for ticket information.