
16 October 2025, New York City
AGENDA
BE INSPIRED BY THE IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY PIONEERS!
Impact Summit America invites global leaders, pioneers and experts of the impact investing universe to share their knowledge and inspiration. Our programme focuses on the impact investments, offering experienced impact investors the stage to share best practices & know-how with their industry peers.
Complimentary for asset owners/LPs, please apply for invitation.
INTERESTED TO CONTRIBUTE SHAPING 2025 AGENDA?
Please get in touch with Prachi Modi : prachimodi@phenixcapitalgroup.com

In a world marked by complexity and rapid change, resilience and adaptability aren’t optional, it’s essential. Under this year’s theme Eye on the Future we invite institutional investors and asset owners to explore how we adapt, lead, and invest with long-term purpose in mind. This new era requires investors who are not only visionaries but also stewards of the principles they uphold, creating environments where these values flourish and have a measurable impact on the world to fully serve their fiduciary duty. Some of the key themes on the agenda:
NAVIGATING POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT
In an increasingly polarized world and unstable market environment can pose significant challenges for investors seeking to uphold principles of equity and fairness. This subtheme explores strategies for navigating polarization and its implications for long-term investment decision-making.
COLLABORATIVE STEWARDSHIP IN AN ERA OF COMPLEXITY
As the pace of global changes accelerates, traditional models of stewardship are being tested. The challenges we face are interconnected and system-wide, from climate risk and social fragmentation to technological disruption. In this context, siloed strategies and short-term metrics can no longer suffice.
REDEFINING FIDUCIARY DUTY
We explore how fiduciary duty is being reinterpreted in a time of transition and what does it mean to act in the "best interests" of beneficiaries in a world shaped by systemic risks? We discuss on going topics on how do legal frameworks, investor expectations, and real-world outcomes intersect.
SCENARIO ANALYSIS AS A STRATEGIC COMPASS
How can forward-looking, scenario-based analysis move from a compliance tool to a strategic driver? We'll explore methodologies and how they can inform real-world decision-making across sectors.
ADVISING COMMITTEE
Bhavika Vyas Vincent
Managing DirectorStepStone Group
Kavita Vijayan
Senior Director, Head of MarketingImpactAssets
Keren Raz
Senior RI ManagerAPG Asset Management
Laura Weeks
Senior Responsible Investment ManagerPrinciples for Responsible Investment
Mike McCreless
Executive DirectorImpact Frontiers
Ryan Malloy
Research Analyst, Sustainable InvestingFiduciary Trust
PRELIMINARY AGENDA 2025
09:00 - 09:30 Registration for the Investors’ breakfast workshop
09:30 –10:20
Investor's breakfast workshop
Developed by Impact Frontiers & Principles for Responsible Investment
09:30 – 10:30 General attendance registration & welcome coffee
10:40 – 10:50
Keynote speech I A call for collective action
This keynote explores how enduring climate progress requires a bold alliance across technology, business, community activism, and culture; each offering a unique path to change. In a time of political volatility and rising division, it calls for solutions that transcend election cycles and touch every part of society. By honouring innovation, justice, and imagination, the keynote underscores that we fight for the planet not only out of urgency, but because of the possibility we believe the future holds
10:50 – 12:00
Investor Panel l Investing in climate adaptation and resilience investments: is it just good business?
Investing in climate adaptation is no longer just a moral imperative, it's one of the most financially sound development strategies available. This session covers why adaptation is underfunded despite proven economic and social value and will highlight investable opportunities that deliver outsized impact even in the absence of climate disasters.
12:00– 13:00 Lunch
13:00– 14:20
Breakout session A1 l InvestorConnect session
This dynamic session, consisting of short 15-minute speed meetings, is designed to give asset owners an efficient way to learn about a selected group of impact strategies of institutional quality and take an opportunity to enquire for more details, whilst making connections with other asset owners along the way.
* For asset owners & fund managers.
13:00– 13:35
Breakout session B1 l Re-thinking impact exclusions amid complexity
In this session, we address how exclusion lists are evolving (nuclear, fossil fuels, defence), and the ethical, financial, and geopolitical pressures that are reshaping decision-making. We also discuss the complexities of dual-use technologies and whether ethical frameworks can keep pace with innovation.
13:35– 14:10
Breakout session B2 l Redefining the language of impact
As backlash grows, storytelling is becoming a critical strategic tool. How do we describe what we’re doing, why it matters, and who it's for? This session looks at the role of language, transparency, and reframing.
14:10– 14:30 Networking coffee break
14:30-15:20
Breakout session B3
Interactive discussion I Myth busting LP-GP reporting standards
As impact investing matures, LPs are demanding clearer, more consistent reporting to assess whether funds are truly delivering on their stated impact goals. In session we cover certain myths from surveyed LPs & GPs around reporting challenges to unpack the root causes of these discrepancies. We’ll explore how both sides can align expectations, improve data transparency, and co-create more effective, decision-useful impact reporting.
14:30-15:20
Breakout session B4
Panel discussion I Shareholder engagement in a new era of private wealth
We are entering a new era of investor influence where rising legal scrutiny intersects with rising generational values. As governance norms shift and ESG pushback grows louder, shareholder engagement is under the microscope. At the same time, a historic wealth transfer is underway, with younger generations and underrepresented communities are bringing a deeper commitment to social equity, climate justice, and long-term stewardship.
This panel will focus on the rise of shareholder activism among next-gen and values-driven investors and how are private wealth holders use their capital and their voice to push for accountability? What happens when values-driven advocacy
15:20– 15:40 Networking coffee break
15:40-16:40
Panel discussion | Public-Private collaboration in impact investing: navigating challenges and opportunities
In this panel, we explore how governments, private investors, and non-profit organizations can work together to enhance the effectiveness of social & environmental investment initiatives in the Americas. The discussion focuses on innovative financing mechanisms, policy frameworks, and strategies for overcoming coordination barriers at local, regional, and national levels.
16:40-17:00
Case study I Infrastructure & the future of Power
No matter the energy source: solar, wind, nuclear, or gas, everything flows through an outdated grid. How do investors, innovators, and policymakers collaborate to modernize infrastructure in the face of local resistance, regulation, and rising demand?
17:0-17:20
Keynote I The Future of Stewardship: from influence to accountability
With growing scrutiny and fragmented political landscapes, the role of stewardship is shifting. What does credible, future-fit stewardship look like and who defines it?
17:20 – 18:30 Closing reception drinks
JOIN YOUR IMPACT INVESTING PEERS!
Complimentary passes for institutional investors, asset owners, LPs. Please apply for an invitation.
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A LOOKBACK AGENDA 2024
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The 5th edition of Impact Summit America brought together a highly curated audience and some of the brightest minds in impact investing for another year of thought-provoking, meaningful discussions. Held on October 30, 2024, in New York City, this pivotal event convened institutional investors and asset owners, impact fund managers, experts, and industry specialists to advance the field of impact investing.
UPHOLDING AGAINST HEADWINDS
The Summit’s theme was a resounding call to action, encouraging financial players to build resilience amid a constantly evolving landscape. Participants explored how to embody the values they champion while driving capital toward transformative solutions with even greater ambition. This new era of investing demands visionaries who also act as stewards, fostering environments where values thrive and deliver measurable global impact. The Summit’s agenda focused on three areas: Navigating Polarization, Standardizing Impact Metrics, Addressing Social Equity.
OUR 2024 ADVISORY BOARD
We are proudly collaborating with impact thought leaders as our agenda advisory board to identify current challenges, opportunities and forward-looking topics in the impact investing universe to build a beneficial & thought-provoking programme.
- - Mike McCreless, Executive Director, Impact Frontiers
- - Pedro Henriques da Silva, Director, Shifting Trillions, Sierra Club Foundation
- - Ryan Malloy, Research Analyst, Sustainable Investing, Fiduciary Trust
- - Tom Achoki, M.D., Ph.D., FACHE, Senior Director of Strategy and Impact, AB INBEV FOUNDATION
- - Tyler Blickhan, CFA, CAIA, Associate Director of Investments, Ascension Investment Management
WITH SUPPORT OF LEADING ORGANISATIONS 2024
We are delighted to have the leading organisations within the impact ecosystem supporting our mission and contributing to the growth of the industry with their research, knowledge and advocacy.
WHAT IS IMPACT INVESTING
Whereas ESG investing looks to integrate environmental, social and governance factors when subject to an investment’s performance, impact investing goes a step further by seeking investments that contribute to measurable social and/or environmental impact.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPACT INVESTMENTS
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Intentionality: intent to achieve a social or environmental goal is clearly expressed and the investor identifies outcomes that will be pursued
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Additionality: thesis or narrative describes how the investor’s actions will help achieve the goal and how the outcome would not have occurred without the investment
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Measurement: impact measurement framework in place to assess the level of expected impact and monitor progress against the goal
SPECTRUM OF CAPITAL
Impact Summit America programme is focusing on the financial-first impact investment opportunities, offering experienced impact investors the stage to share best practices with their industry peers.

First published by Bridges Fund Management (2015), the Spectrum of Capital maps out different investment approaches, depending on investors’ desired risk, return and impact profile, and categorizing them in a range from traditional investment to philanthropy.
- Financial-First Impact Investments: select funds in specific sectors, impact themes, or in alignment to the SDGs. In this approach, there is no trade-off between return and impact, and thus all investments should achieve fully commercial risk-adjusted returns.
Impact-First Impact Investments: funds are selected to maximize impact over returns. These investments may target lower risk-adjusted returns to deliver greater impact.
INTERESTED IN A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT?
For more information on speaking engagements, please get in touch with
Prachi Modi: prachimodi@phenixcapitalgroup.com
IN THE COMPANY OF THOUGHT LEADERS
Al Gore
Former Vice President of the United StatesAnita Bhatia
Former Assistant Secretary - General & Deputy Executive Director,UN Women
Sir Ronald Cohen
Chair,The Global Steering Group (GSG)
Ndileka Mandela
Founder and CEO,Thembekile Mandela Foundation
Matt Damon
Co-founder,WaterEquity and Water.org
Scilla Elworthy
Peace Builder, Three-time Nobel Prize NomineeMark Mobius
CEO,Mobius Capital Partners
Eva Halvarsson
CEO,AP2
Eduard van Gelderen
Chief Investment Officer,PSP Investments
Anna Snider
Managing Director and Head of Due Diligence for the Chief Investment Office,Bank of America Corporation
Amit Bouri
CEO & Co-founder,The GIIN
Fran Seegull
President,U.S. Impact Investing Alliance
Roger Havenith
Deputy CEO, The European Investment FundHazel Henderson D.Sc.Hon., FRSA,
Founder, Ethical Markets Media,Certified B Corporation
Hartwig Liersch
Chief Investment Officer,Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek
Jennifer Morris
CEO,The Nature Conservancy

Anita Bhatia
Former Assistant Secretary - General & Deputy Executive Director,
UN Women
Before that, Ms. Bhatia served since 2014 as the Director for Development Partner Relations at the World Bank Group. Previously, she held the position of Director of Partnerships and Advisory Services Operations (2011–2014) and Global Head of Knowledge at the International Finance Corporation (2010-2011).
Ms. Bhatia also served as Head of IFC’s Latin America Advisory Operations. In addition to Latin America, she has worked in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and South and East Asia. Ms. Anita Bhatia brings extensive experience in the area of strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and management. During her time at the IFC, she developed and expanded innovative partnerships with public and private sector partners to support its strategy in key areas, including fragile and conflict-affected states, gender equality, financial inclusion, support to women-owned businesses, and other priorities critical for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ms. Bhatia holds a BA in History from Calcutta University, an MA in Political Science from Yale University, and a Juris Doctor in Law from Georgetown University.
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Sir Ronald Cohen
Chair,
The Global Steering Group (GSG)
Ndileka, having more than 15 years’ experience in the medical field, leads the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, which focuses on health, education and youth development in South Africa's rural villages. She recently participated in a panel at COP28 entitled "Strategies in Climate Financing; Empowering Sustainable Development in Africa", where she called for an end to "climate apartheid".
Ndileka's philanthropic ethos also shines through her involvement with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. Beyond her contributions to healthcare, Ndileka's leadership extends to impactful community projects, including the transformation of Clarkebury High School. She is also a council member for the Nelson Mandela Museum and a Global Fund Champion for HIV, TB, and malaria.
Through her memoir, "I am Ndileka," she shares her remarkable journey, inspiring others to embrace their own potential for change.

Matt Damon
Co-founder,
WaterEquity and Water.org
Inspired during international travel with his family throughout Mexico and Guatemala as a youth, Matt has long been devoted to environmental and social issues. Learning about the immense challenges of accessing safe water and sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Matt decided to create the H20 Africa Foundation. In 2009, he teamed up with Gary White to join their organizations and launch Water.org.
For his work as Co-founder of Water.org, Matt, along with fellow Water.org Co-founder Gary, was recognized as one of the TIME 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 and received the Environmental Media Award from The Environmental Media Association in 2013. In 2014, the World Economic Forum named Matt as the Crystal Award winner for his work through Water.org. Matt’s active participation in his organization’s work, including site visits to multiple countries, strategy development, advocacy, and high-level meetings with institutions like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum over the past decade, has positioned him as one of the world’s experts on water and sanitation issues.

Scilla Elworthy
Peace Builder, Three-time Nobel Prize Nominee

Eva Halvarsson
CEO,
AP2

Eduard van Gelderen
Chief Investment Officer,
PSP Investments
Prior to joining PSP Investments, Eduard was senior managing director at the office of the chief investment officer of the University of California. As a member of the executive team, his primary responsibilities included overseeing the University’s retirement plan, heading up equity and real assets activities, and handling strategic partnerships in Europe. He also served as CEO of the Dutch financial service provider APG Asset Management and as deputy CIO of ING Investment Management.
Eduard is a certified financial risk manager and a chartered financial analyst and has served on several investment advisory boards. He holds a master’s degree in quantitative finance from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a post-graduate degree in asset liability management from Maastricht University in Limburg. He is currently a PhD candidate at the International School of Management in Paris. Eduard began his career as an investment banker in London and Amsterdam.


Amit Bouri
CEO & Co-founder,
The GIIN

Fran Seegull
President,
U.S. Impact Investing Alliance
Fran was the Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Investments at ImpactAssets where she headed investment management for The Giving Fund—an impact investing donor advised fund. She also oversaw product development for and managed the Global Sustainable Agriculture and Microfinance Plus Notes.
Prior to joining ImpactAssets, Fran was Managing Director at Funk Ventures, an early-stage impact venture capital and acceleration firm. She also served as Vice President of Business Development at Novica, an online retailer of products made by artisans in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Fran has consulted to National Geographic and NPR West as well as a number of family foundations and offices.
Fran has a BS in Economics from Barnard College at Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She serves on the Investment Committee of Align Impact. Previously, Fran taught a graduate-level course on impact investing at USC’s Marshall School of Business and served on the Investment Committee of the Goldhirsh Foundation and on the G7 Social Impact Investment Task Force Working Group on Asset Allocation. She tweets on impact investing at @franseegull.

Hazel Henderson D.Sc.Hon., FRSA, founder of Ethical Markets Media, Certified B Corporation. She is a world-renowned futurist, active environmentalist, syndicated columnist, and author of award-winning Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy (2006); Mapping the Global Transition to the Solar Age (2014), and other books in 800 libraries, in 20 languages, including “Planetary Citizenship “co-authored by Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda. Ethical Markets is the publisher of Henderson’s forthcoming textbook, “Mapping the Global Green Transition: 2009-2020“.
She is the producer of the global TV series “Transforming Finance“ and the Ethical Markets TV series. She created in 2004 the EthicMark® Awards for Communications Uplifting the Human Spirit & Society, showcasing positive messages to raise the ethical bar on global advertising and in 2009 the annual Green Transition Scoreboard®.
She launched the EthicMarkGEMS®.com, the first global standard certifying only gems NOT mined from Mother Earth, to phase out unnecessary global gem mining, now chemically- identical gems are cheaply available worldwide and also co-created Ethical Biomimicry Finance®. Henderson served as a cabinet-level science policy advisor to the US Office of Technology Assessment, the National Science Foundation, and the National Academy of Engineering.
Her over 400 articles appear in Harvard Business Review, New York Times, LeMonde Diplomatique, and journals in Japan, Britain, Venezuela, China, France, Australia. Honorary Member of the Club of Rome, Fellow of Britain’s Royal Society for Arts and of The World Academy of Art & Science, Henderson shared the 1996 Global Citizen Award with Argentinian Nobelist Pérez Esquivel. She has many honorary degrees.

Jennifer Morris
CEO,
The Nature Conservancy