Social

Industry to coordinate efforts to develop impact investing

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 19 APR 2013  |  NEWS
Building the impact investment sector will require coordinated action to grow what is currently a nascent market, a conclusion that has led interested organisations in the financial services sector to set up a financial services forum to address this.

StepUP loans provide social, economic return on investment

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 19 APR 2013  |  NEWS
The social and economic return of the StepUP micro-loan program run by National Australia Bank and Good Shepherd Microfinance is equal to $2.68 for every dollar invested, according to a report by the Centre for Social Impact (CSI).

Investor questions about risks, oversight of coal seam gas

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 12 APR 2013  |  NEWS
There have not been any recent, fundamental changes to the identified environmental and social risks of coal seam gas (CSG) production, but there are growing concerns over the risk of fugitive gas emissions and the impact on water supply and if regulatory ...

Australian Ethical puts tobacco resolution to TOMRA AGM

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 12 APR 2013  |  NEWS
Australian Ethical has put forth a shareholder resolution for the annual general meeting of TOMRA, calling on the Norwegian company to cease manufacturing tobacco sorting machines.

NAB publishes 2013 plan for Indigenous employment, inclusion

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  THURSDAY, 28 MAR 2013  |  NEWS
National Australia Bank (NAB) has released its 2013 reconciliation action plan (RAP) outlining their approaches to employing Indigenous Australians, addressing financial exclusion, building partnerships with indigenous organisations and traditional owners ...

Social Enterprise Finance Australia hires Ben Gales as CEO

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 MAR 2013  |  NEWS
Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) has hired Ben Gales as chief executive officer.

The hidden movement: how responsible brands strike back

STEPHEN HALE  |  FRIDAY, 22 MAR 2013  |  NEWS
Ed Note: The Sustainability Report welcomes this comment from Stephen Hale, a director at Core and former founding MD of OgilvyEarth. Core is an independent Sydney-based marketing and strategy agency

Community Sector Banking to extend microfinance pilot

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 1 MAR 2013  |  NEWS
Additional government funding will allow Community Sector Banking to extend loans to hundreds more people in Queensland and northern New South Wales, according to Peter Quarmby, Community Sector Banking's executive director.

Government allocates additional funds for microfinance pilot

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 FEB 2013  |  NEWS
Community Sector Banking has extended its Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) contract with the federal government and received an additional AU$448,800 in pilot funding.

Monash University selected as sustainable development hub

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 13 FEB 2013  |  NEWS
Monash University has been selected one of two universities in the world to lead a United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) hub.