20/30 Visions

The world is currently lagging well behind target on many of the Sustainable Development Goals - but the challenge is particularly acute in Africa and the Global South.  In this week's 20/30 Visions, we're delighted to welcome Dolika Banda, who after a long career with the International Finance Corporation now sits on a number of boards (including British International Investment) and has recently launched a new initiative promoting good corporate governance. Dolika draws on her vast experience of the banking, development finance and impact worlds to tell us what needs to change if we are going to narrow the gap between investment rhetoric and reality. We discuss:The scale and shape of the challenge in Africa (and the Global South more broadly)Why this matters to the Global North like never beforeShifting dollars away from climate mitigation to adaptation and resilienceThe problem of 'inexplicable inequalities'How we change investors' perception of risk in emerging marketsThe vast gap between commitments and disbursements (and how to resolve it)and more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

It’s clear that we need more big investors to allocate more of their capital towards sustainability and impact. But what does this actually look like in practice? How do institutions get from broad ambitions or long-term commitments (achieving Net Zero, say) to specific portfolio construction decisions?These are the some of the questions we address in 20/30 Visions this week with our guest Graham Cook, who leads on responsible investment at The Phoenix Group. Graham was previously CIO at the Environment Agency Pension Fund, where he put together an industry-leading sustainable investment programme. Now he’s applying some of the same principles at Phoenix, albeit on a substantially bigger scale. We discuss:The key steps in implementing a Net Zero commitmentSetting the right benchmarksWorking with pooling partnersThe importance of natural capitalWhy things could get worse before they get betterand more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

We are hugely reliant on nature; it is the bedrock of a healthy society and a healthy economy. Yet the human race continues to damage nature in profound ways. We urgently need to invest in restoring nature - but the current funding gap between existing commitments and the amount required is thought to be around $700bn a year globally.For this episode of 20/30 Visions, we caught up with James Alexander, chair of Finance Earth, a social enterprise set up to try and channel more private and public capital to invest in nature, climate and communities. We discuss:The scale and urgency of the challenge we face when it comes to natureWhy natural capital solutions may be the key to tackling climate changeHow the UK government is trying to kick-start the marketMarrying his passion for sustainability with his interest in innovative financeThe challenge of human natureWhy it's time to mandate action - and punish laggardsand more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

Most people know Richard Curtis as the creator some of the most successful British films of all time. But he's also been an hugely important figure in the development world, dating all the way back to 1985 when he co-founded Comic Relief after witnessing the famine in Ethopia (Red Nose Day) has since raised over £2bn for charity). In the last decade he has been working with the United Nations to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals - and his most recent venture is Make My Money Matter, a campaign to unlock some of the $50trn in our pension pots globally to invest for good.For our latest 20/30 Visions interview, we caught up with Richard to discuss:How he thinks we're doing with the SDGsWhy business has been an 'unexpected success'Why he got excited about pensionsHow the pension companies have responded to this challengeWhy we need to talk about the banksWhy investors are cooler than pop stars and movie-makers (kind of)and more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

Buildings contribute up to 40% of global carbon emissions (even more in big cities) - and 80% of the buildings we see around us today will still be around in 2050. So if we are to have any hope of getting to Net Zero, we need to get much better at refurbishing and retrofitting our existing building stock to make it more sustainable.Our guest this week is Emma Hoskyn, JLL's UK Head of Sustainability. We discuss:The scale of the challenge with our existing building stockHow attitudes are changing among investors and asset ownersThe retrofit measures that really make a differenceThe value and rental premium for sustainable buildingsThe barriers preventing faster progressThe need for a clearer policy framework (and the threat of IRA)and more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

To build a more sustainable and inclusive economy, we need to scale the businesses that are helping to solve our biggest environmental and social challenges. But what's the best model for funding the growth of companies that are focused on these long-term goals?Longer-term capital vehicles are increasingly emerging as a viable alternative to standard private equity and public markets. In theory, these models allow impact-driven business to remain focused on long-term value growth and impact, without the distraction of short-termist equity markets or regular changes of ownership. But can they be structured in a way that also works for investors?Our guest is Diana Propper de Callejon, Managing Director of US-based Cranemere. Cranemere describes itself as "a long-term holding company for founders, management teams and family-owned companies in the U.S. and Europe"; to date it has raised $2.5bn from investors and backed seven operating companies. We discuss:The problem Cranemere was established to solveThe benefits of long-term capital for impact-driven businessesTypical investor concerns - and how to resolve themLong-term capital vs PE/ public marketsHow we get more long-term vehiclesand more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

Web3 – the next generation of the internet – is set to transform our online lives over the next decade, with far-reaching implications for identity, privacy, finance, governance and more. So can we harness this new blockchain-enabled internet to drive better outcomes for people and the planet? Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are notoriously energy-intensive; but in this formative stage of Web3's development, we still have a real opportunity to embed sustainability and inclusion at the heart of these new platforms.To discuss this emerging (and incredibly exciting) space, we’re joined by Bettina Warburg, one of the world's leading investors in and educators on Web3 (her Ted talk on blockchain has had over 4 million views). She explains why she believes Web3 can help us super-power our efforts to solve some of the world's biggest challenges, including:Why Web3 is a 'paradigm shift' in the way we use the internetHow the new platforms are integrating sustainability at a network levelWhy Web3's decentralised model will drive more creativity and innovation, particularly in terms of climate solutionsThe key factors in achieving broader adoptionThe intersection of Web3 and AIand more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

The world’s biggest asset managers control a significant portion of global AuM. If we want to supercharge the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy, we need them to direct more of this capital towards investing for impact.In recent years, almost all of the big money managers have been expanding their impact strategies, in response to rising investor demand – hiring dedicated teams and raising dedicated funds. But how do we make sure that this is more than just a marketing exercise; that it’s done in a considered, authentic, additive way? And critically, how do we make sure that impact becomes central to all their investment strategies, and not just a niche pursuit?To discuss this, we’re joined by Lisa Hall, a lynchpin of the impact investing movement who is now helping to steer Apollo Global Management’s first official foray into impact investment. She tells us:How (and why) Apollo designed its impact strategyThe benefits of operating within a larger platformWhy new entrants shouldn’t be ‘riding the rails for free’The dangers of proprietary approaches to impactWhat this means for Apollo’s other $500bn+ of assetsand more...Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

If we're going to have any hope of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, business and enterprise clearly need to play a central role. So it follows that we need to get many more of the world's best entrepreneurs working on solutions to our biggest social and environmental challenges - and then give them the resources they need to succeed at scale.This week's guest is Ella Goldner, the co-founder and GM of UK-based Zinc, whose model offers an interesting exemplar of how to do this. Zinc gets would-be entrepreneurs excited about solving a pressing societal challenge, helps them identify a specific commercial solution, and then provides them with the capital, expertise, and connections they need to scale the business up.In our interview, Ella discusses:How to get the best talent focusing on big societal challengesThe importance of breaking down silosWhat to look for in a co-founderThe support these fledgling businesses needWhy ecosystems matterThe funding outlook for mission-driven businessesAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

It's clear that we cannot build a more sustainable and inclusive world without substantial investment in emerging markets - not only because of the need to improve access to services and opportunities for low and middle-income consumers, but also because many of these countries are on the front line of some of the planet's biggest environmental threats. Impact investing can help to direct capital towards these challenges - but in most of these markets, the sector remains small and nascent. So how do we scale it up?To discuss this, we're joined by Daniel Izzo, co-founder of Brazil-based VOX Capital. VOX has been a real pioneer of impact investing in Brazil over the last decade, focusing primarily (and very successfully) on the venture capital space. However in recent years it has been expanding its platform across other asset classes - in response to both the range of the challenges in Brazil, and also the urgent need to attract more capital into impact.Given VOX’s pioneering role in Brazil, Daniel is ideally placed to assess the challenges - and the opportunities - of scaling up impact investment in emerging markets. In our interview, he discusses:Overcoming investor scepticism in a nascent marketThe importance of good impact storiesWhy VOX is expanding into new asset classesThe compromises needed to attract retail investorsThe influence of politicsInvesting in the resilience of local systemsAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

Governments around the world are grappling with a huge array of increasingly complex social challenges. Outcomes-focused projects - sometimes called 'pay for success', or previously 'social impact bonds' - have shown clear potential to help address these challenges, by creating innovative partnerships between governments, philanthropy, the social sector and the private sector, based on a shared vision of success. But globally, this market remains small, especially relative to the scale of the problem. Why is that? And what can we do to do unlock its true potential?To discuss this, we're joined by Kevin Tan of Tri-Sector Associates. Based in Singapore, Tri-Sector is working with various east Asian governments on outcomes-based projects - and experimenting with new ways of adapting the model so it is better aligned with standard government procurement and budgeting systems. In our interview, Kevin argues:Why pay for success can be a vital tool for solving big social challengesWhy it's hard for Governments to 'fail', especially in AsiaThe problems with the standard 'social impact bond' modelTwo modifications that can help solve the 'product/ market fit' issueThe importance of working within existing government systemsAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

In the U.S. alone, private foundations hold more than $1 trillion of assets. So how do we deploy more of this capital to help solve our biggest challenges? And can foundations play a bigger role in catalysing investment from across the broader financial spectrum?To discuss this, we're delighted to be joined by a true leader in the field: Roy Swan of the Ford Foundation. After a career in Wall Street (latterly with Morgan Stanley's Global Sustainable Finance division), Roy joined Ford to run Mission Investments, a ground-breaking programme that's aiming to invest $1bn in funds seeking attractive social and financial returns. In our interview, Roy explains:Why Ford decided to launch MissionIts remarkable performance to dateWhat they've learned from the programme's first five yearsWhy investors' incentives need to changeThe problem with fiduciary dutyAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

In this episode, we're focusing on a critical aspect of building a more inclusive economy: ensuring that more funding flows to businesses led by diverse founders. The stats are stark: although venture capital investment hit record highs last year, businesses led by black, Latinx and female entrepreneurs accounted for a disproportionately small amount of this - low single digit percentages at best. According to Morgan Stanley, this means we are missing out on a $4 trillion opportunity in the U.S. alone!To discuss how we can fix this, we're delighted to welcome Kim Folsom, CEO of US-based Founders First Capital Business. A successful entrepreneur in her own right, Kim is now focused on using revenue-based financing to help over 1,000 diverse entrepreneurs access the capital and knowledge they need to build sustainable businesses. In our interview, we discuss:Her own journey as an entrepreneur,, and the challenges she had to overcameThe scale of the capital gap facing diverse founders, and why it existsThe disadvantages of traditional debt funding for communities of color (and the benefits of revenue-based financing)The need for more education and awareness-buildingWhy funding diverse founder-led businesses is not about philanthropyAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

For this episode, we were delighted to be joined by the Rt Hon Nick Hurd, former UK Government minister and now chair of the G7 Impact Taskforce, to talk about the role of government and multilateral institutions in driving the change we need. In our interview, we discuss:How the UK Government helped to accelerate two key markets in the UKWhy better cooperation with the private sector has to be a key priorityThe positives from COP 27 - and the clear negativesThe need for stronger accountability frameworksThe critical importance of good leadership (both political and corporate)And moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

In this episode we're talking about science, and its role in tackling some of our biggest challenges. Our guest is Johanna Chao Kreilick, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a US nonprofit that does research and advocacy work around translating science into action. In our interview, Johanna discusses:How science is already showing us a clear pathway to Net ZeroWhy climate change is also a socio-economic and racial equity issueThe importance of people-centered policymakingThe receptiveness of the US Government to scienceThree reasons to be hopefulAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

In this episode, we're exploring another essential topic: innovation. If we are to have any hope of tackling the challenges we face, innovation is clearly going to be critical: not just inventing whizzy new technologies, but also designing better products and better services and better ways of working.Our guest is Ravi Gurumurthy, CEO of Nesta, which styles itself as "the UK's innovation agency for social good". In our interview, Ravi discusses:Why innovation is important - and why it's hardHow to accelerate the move to Net Zero homesThe key to tackling the expensive problem of obesityHow regulation can support innovationThe one area where Government is well-placed to drive long-term changeThe key policy levers for accelerating innovationAnd moreProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

In this episode, we're exploring the fascinating topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the role it can play in helping us build a better future (or not!). Our guest is Dorothy Chou of DeepMind, one of the world's leading AI companies. In our interview, Dorothy discusses:How AI is already driving significant scientific breakthroughs that are helping to reduce emissions and improve health outcomesThe importance of ensuring these benefits are shared equallyThe problem with our current dataWhy technology requires a renegotiation of the social contractThe future potential of AIProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

Our guest for this episode is Laurie Spengler, CEO of Courageous Capital Advisors, who's been leading the Impact Investing Institute's recent work on the Just Transition. In our interview, Laurie talks about:Why we'll never get to Net Zero unless we think carefully about the social consequencesWhat a Just Transition investment looks likeThe scale of the opportunity if we get this rightThe key barriers to adoption, and how we get around themThe organisations leading the way in mobilising capital at scaleProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

In this episode, we're talking to Charlie Green, co-founder of The Office Group. Charlie (with his partner Olly Olsen, and a little help from Bridges' first fund) was an early pioneer in recognising the value that a sustainability-led approach could create in the real estate sector.Charlie talks about:How TOG was one of the first to introduce green roofs, and the impact it had on the businessWhy occupiers value sustainability features in buildingsHow the pandemic has changed the game for commercial real estate The opportunities and challenges of using more sustainable construction materials like timberHow the sector needs to change Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

Our first episode features a legend of the impact movement and one of its greatest change-makers: Sir Ronald Cohen, chair of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (and, inter alia, Bridges' founding chair). In our interview, Sir Ronald talks about:The importance of bringing impact into financial accountingWhat the Impact-Weighted Accounts Initiative is revealing about 3,000 top companiesWhy he thinks this transparency will change the worldThe opportunity for $1bn+ outcomes fundsWhy governments can (and should) support the development of impact investingHow the energy crisis is sparking a wave of innovationAnd why this will lead us to a new impact revolutionProduced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions

A series exploring how we build a more sustainable and inclusive world in the current decade (and beyond).Produced & presented by James TaylorEditing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird FilmWatch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions