Minderoo backs UNSW research on impact investing

Minderdoo Foundation, in partnership with UBS and UNSW, will launch a $1 million UNSW Business School research initiative to help direct investment capital towards affordable housing, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth.

Minderoo is backed by Andrew and Nicola Forrest's private investment group Tattarang.

The consortium will produce applied research, shared datasets, and market-building infrastructure to support investors, policymakers and practitioners.

It will focus on continued delivery of Australia's largest annual impact investing benchmarking study, in partnership with Impact Investing Australia.

The research agenda includes democratising access to impact capital including place-based and First Nations capital models, intergenerational wealth transfer for family offices and philanthropic capital mobilisation as well as accelerating financing of affordable housing.

Minderoo Foundation chief executive John Hartman said philanthropy has a clear role to play in building Australia's impact investing market.

"By backing the Asia Pacific Impact Investing Research Consortium, Minderoo Foundation is supporting the evidence, standards and coordination needed to move more capital into areas where it can have real impact, including social and affordable housing and place-based initiatives," Hartman said.

UNSW said the consortium represents a new model of collaboration between academia and industry - bringing together leading researchers, philanthropic organisations, and financial institutions to co-design and deliver rigorous, practice-informed research.

UNSW Centre for Social Impact director and co-lead of the consortium Professor Danielle Logue said the initiative is designed to meet impact investing needs by embedding academic rigour within real-world market dynamics.

"What is different about this consortium is how we work. By partnering directly with industry and philanthropic leaders such as Minderoo and UBS, we are co-creating research that is both academically rigorous and immediately relevant to capital allocation decisions," Logue said.

"This model ensures independence and integrity through UNSW's research standards, while grounding our work in the realities of how capital actually flows. It allows us to build the evidence base and market infrastructure the sector now needs to scale responsibly."

The consortium will operate as a collaborative platform, working across sectors to strengthen the effectiveness, credibility and growth of impact investing in Australia and the wider Asia Pacific region.

UBS Global Wealth Management Australia head of not-for-profit segment Zarmeen Pavri said: "This structure will ensure that stakeholders explore innovative ways to deploy funding across the full spectrum - from philanthropic grant making through to patient, catalytic and commercial capital. We do this with the end goal that resources reach the opportunities with the greatest potential for measurable impact."