Impact Leaders are the silent champions that go the extra mile to advance the Impact Investing field — be it in their individual capacity or through their organizations.
On June 13, 2013, IIX presented the very first Impact Leader Awards to acknowledge these champions at its Impact Forum in Singapore. Ms. Tracy Chen of One Legal, a full-service law firm specializing in patents and trademarks, and Mr. Benjamin Pwee of the Pwee Foundation, a non-profit company providing consulting services to non-profits and Social Enterprises (SEs), received the Award in recognition of their contribution and leadership in Impact Investing in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region. Their contributions go beyond providing pecuniary support to include advisory and professional services, creating opportunities by casting a wider network, and connecting people from diverse backgrounds.
Ms. Chen was integral in providing legal services and advice to SEs raising capital. On her own initiative, Ms. Chen worked with SEs on pro-bono basis and assisted them with legal work that resulted in the SEs raising investment capital to expand their impact. Mr. Pwee is a great supporter of SEs both as a direct impact investor and as an advocate of Impact Investing by introducing other investors in his network to impact investing to close deals.
To raise the awareness of Impact Investing and to encourage more individuals and organizations to create positive social and environmental impact, IIX will be giving the Impact Leader Award on annual basis. The Award gives due recognition and acknowledgement to those contributing to the creation of social capital markets.
By: Daryl Capanzana, IIX/Shujog