2025 Australian Impact Investment Awards

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Written By Jessica Roth

Some of the most inspiring initiatives and leaders in Australia’s impact investing sector were celebrated at the 2025 Australian Impact Investment Awards, held on March 26 as part of the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific. The annual Awards are delivered by the Impact Investing Hub, an initiative of impact intermediary Social Impact Hub, dedicated to growing the impact investing ecosystem nationwide.

The Impact Investing Hub is an inclusive impact investment initiative that connects impact investors and advisors to education, community and investment opportunities; mobilising more capital for impact, democratising access to impact investments and collaboratively growing the sector nationally.

The 2025 Australian Impact Investment Awards, now in their seventh year, were held in partnership with the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific and proudly supported by Platinum Sponsor, the Department of Social Services (DSS), alongside key sponsors and supporters including Australian Ethical, Alberts, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Unless Financial and Century Group.

This year’s keynote address was delivered by the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services and the NDIS. Her remarks reinforced the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between private and public sectors and acknowledged the pivotal role of impact investing in driving equitable outcomes for all Australians. Minister Rishworth commented:

"The Albanese Labor government is proud to support these awards, which recognise the extraordinary work being done to improve the lives of Australians, to break down barriers, to tackle entrenched disadvantage and to ensure that no one is held back and no one is left behind"

The judging panel for the 2025 Awards was composed of respected leaders including Emily Albert, Executive Director at Alberts; Emma Coath, Chair of Impact Club; Sabina Curatolo, Board Member of The Australian Centre for Social Innovation; David Hetherington, CEO of Impact Investing Australia; Amber O’Connell, Director of Social Impact Investing Policy at the Department of Social Services; Rebecca Parkinson, Investment Specialist at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Michael van Niekerk, CFO and Head of Corporate Services at BioCarbon AU, and a member of the Social Impact Hub’s Professional Impact Network.

The winners of the 2025 awards are:

Impact Asset Manager of the Year: NorthStar Impact Funds

Impact Asset Owner of the Year: Australian Unity

Impact Market Builder of the Year: Australian Impact Investments

Impact Enterprise of the Year: Hutt St Centre

Emerging Markets Impact Investment of the Year: Joint winners Good Return (Impact Investment Fund 1) and LeapFrog Investments (Growth Equity Strategy)

Individual Outstanding Achievement Award

There were five individuals who stood out to the judges for going above and beyond, at times even making personal or professional sacrifices to provide significant contributions to the impact investment ecosystem. The winners of the Individual Outstanding Achievement Award, were:

If you are interested in keeping in touch with developments in the impact investing space, including the 2026 awards and various initiatives of the Impact Investing Hub, please join the community join the community.

About the Impact Investment Awards Winners

Impact Asset Owner of the Year

  • Australian Unity
    Recognised for mobilising significant capital in 2024 and deeply embedding impact-first principles across its investment strategy. Judges highlighted its participant-centred design and alignment with social outcomes.

Impact Asset Manager of the Year

  • NorthStar Impact Funds
    Awarded for its innovation in listed equities — demonstrating sector leadership through financial performance and rigorous impact transparency.

Impact Enterprise of the Year

  • Hutt St Centre
    This Adelaide-based nonprofit supports people experiencing homelessness through practical services and long-term solutions. It returned over 14% to investors, proving the viability of impact-first enterprise models.

Impact Market Builder of the Year

  • Australian Impact Investments
    Acknowledged for shaping the national ecosystem over the past decade through strategic advisory services, capital mobilisation, and deep commitment to impact integrity.

Emerging Markets Impact Investment of the Year

  • Good Return (Impact Investment Fund 1) – empowering underserved communities through financial inclusion and livelihood support.

  • LeapFrog Investments (Growth Equity Strategy) – combining strong financial returns with scalable social impact, especially in healthcare and financial services.

Individual Outstanding Achievement Award

Jennifer Buckley – SWEEF Capital
Jennifer Buckley was recognised for her pioneering leadership in advancing women’s economic empowerment across Southeast Asia. As Founder of SWEEF Capital, a women-led investment firm, she has championed growth capital solutions that prioritise gender equity and deliver value through diversity and inclusion. With over 20 years of experience in private equity across Europe and Asia, including senior leadership roles at GE Capital, Jennifer has consistently applied world-class management practices to drive innovation and impact in emerging markets.

Ben Smith – Paul Ramsay Foundation
Ben Smith has driven systemic change through his leadership as Head of Impact Investing at the Paul Ramsay Foundation. His work demonstrates how capital can be a transformative force for social good. Ben also serves as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Investment Committee at NatWest University's Centre for Social Impact. With a career spanning influential roles at major foundations and social investment organisations in both the UK and Australia, he has made a lasting contribution to the evolution of global impact investing.

Claudia Kwan – NorthStar Impact
With over 15 years of experience in equities and sustainable finance, Claudia Kwan has played a pivotal role in advancing responsible investing. As Co-Portfolio Manager at NorthStar Impact, she has helped shape the future of listed equities impact investing. Her career spans leadership roles at Morphic Asset Management, Morgan Stanley, and Smithtan Asset Management, particularly in Asian markets, where she built a strong track record in stock research and ESG integration.

Dr Andrew Kuper AO – LeapFrog Investments
Dr Andrew Kuper AO was honoured for his visionary leadership in transforming the landscape of impact investing in emerging markets. As Founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, he has built a portfolio that reaches over 500 million people across Africa and Asia with critical services such as healthcare, financial inclusion and climate solutions. Under his leadership, LeapFrog has attracted billions in global investment and was recognised by Fortune as one of the top five Companies to Change the World. A recipient of the Order of Australia and an advisor to global leaders through platforms such as the G7 Task Force on Impact Investing, Dr Kuper remains a foundational voice in the field.

Dr Silvia Pfeiffer – CARED
Dr Silvia Pfeiffer was celebrated for her innovation and leadership in digital health. As Co-Founder and former CEO of Coviu, she transformed a research idea born at CSIRO into a globally recognised telehealth platform, improving healthcare access across communities. With a background in research, standard-setting, and building successful startups, Silvia combines technical expertise with business acumen to solve systemic challenges in health. Her contributions have left a lasting legacy across Australia’s tech and social enterprise ecosystems

Jessica Roth
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