Global Impact Initiative announced as Global Compact LEAD
LEAD participation demonstrates a company’s ongoing commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 23 September 2021 — Global Impact Initiative (GII) has today been announced as a Global Compact LEAD participant (for the third year in a row) for its ongoing commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles for responsible business.
Announced at the UN Global Compact Leaders Week in New York, GII was identified as being among the most highly-engaged participants of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said, “LEAD companies represent the highest level of engagement with the UN Global Compact. More than ever before, the world needs businesses of all sizes — like the ones announced as LEAD today — that continuously work to improve their sustainability performance and take action to build a better world.”
“I am honoured that the Global Impact Initiative has been named as part of the UN Global Compact LEAD group. As the only Australian company on the list and one of only 35 companies acknowledged globally by the UN as a LEAD company for our work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, I believe GII are in a unique position to lead Australia and our financial services industry, into a sustainable future.
As businesses, governments and communities seek new solutions to enable an inclusive and sustainable society, our impact investment approach plays a key role in proactively creating both positive social and environmental impact and financial return. We CAN balance purpose with performance and I’m looking forward to the great strides we can make together with the UN, in the coming 12 months.” Giles Gunesekera, Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative
To be eligible for LEAD, a company must:
Be a participant in at least two UN Global Compact Action Platforms to demonstrate the company’s engagement with the UN Global Compact and commitment to defining and fostering leadership practices in line with the Ten Principles and the Global Goals; and
Submit or commit to submitting an Advanced Communication on Progress — an annual sustainability report detailing progress on implementing the Ten Principles.
GII has demonstrated its commitment to the UN Global Compact this year by participating in Action Platforms on Financial Innovation for the SDGs and Climate & Health. Each UN Global Compact Action Platform convenes business, Global Compact Local Networks, leading experts, civil society, Governments and UN partners to solve complex and interconnected issues and innovate around the Sustainable Development Goals. GII’s Communication on Progress (CoP) and other related information is available in its Participant profile on the UN Global Compact website.
Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2016, Global Impact Initiative has been proud to be part of a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders. By adopting a principles-based approach to sustainability, GII is taking shared responsibility for building a better world.
Contact:
Giles Gunesekera
Chief Executive Officer
Global Impact Initiative
+61 (0)458 683 629
giles@globalimpactinitiative.com.au
linkedin.com/in/gilesgunesekera/
globalimpactinitiative.com.au
About Global Impact Initiative
Global Impact Initiative creates impact investments; seeking both a positive financial return and a positive social impact for its clients and stakeholders. Working with a wide variety of skilled partners focused on solving social problems by using investment capital, we create and consult on bespoke global impact investing strategies at scale that are mapped to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We aim to educate and collaborate with those seeking to achieve outcomes that produce measurable positive change.
Founder and CEO Giles Gunesekera is a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia, Fellow of the School of Social Entrepreneurs, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders and Member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development. Giles holds numerous Volunteer Not-for-Profit Directorships ranging from the UN, Education, Human Rights, Disabilities, Arts and Sports. He is also an Advisory Board Member of the Securities and Investments Institute of Asia Pacific. Giles has received an Outstanding Alumnus award from Oxford for creating an innovative, sustainable business that generates positive social impact.
Giles has formal academic qualifications from Melbourne University, Monash University, Financial Services Institute of Australia and Oxford University.