19. When Finance Met Social Purpose with Stephen Fitzgerald

In today’s episode of Sanity Check we are joined by Stephen
Fitzgerald. Stephen is the Chairman and Founding Partner of
Affirmative Investment Management, the world’s first dedicated
green and impact bond fund management company.


Stephen was the former Chairman of Goldman Sachs Australia and in
2011 was appointed to the Board of Guardians of the Future Fund
(Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund), on which he served for a
period of five years. Today he is a member of the NSW Government
Expert Advisory Panel on Social Impact Bonds, a founding member
of the Champions of Change Group committed to advancing gender
equality and serves on many boards including the Great Barrier
Reef Foundation. Not to mention Stephen was also awarded an AO in
2019 for his distinguished service to the investment management
sector, to Australia-Europe business relations, and to cultural
and environmental philanthropy.


I think you can see we have a bit of a theme developing here.
Stephen cares a lot, not only about the investment banking world
but also about making a positive impact in the process. And
that’s what this episode is all about! We discuss what’s
happening in the world with our current economic climate,
Stephen’s transition from mainstream to ethical investment
management, the advantages of green and social bonds and the
investment case behind looking at the Great Barrier Reef as an
economic asset. We also discuss the role of governance, hiring
for a senior role and gender diversity in leadership and the
workforce at large. This episode is jammed packed full of
goodness!


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And Done!