Newsletter Link: https://mailchi.mp/29c5514f1766/its-time-to-redefine-finance-12648518
Friends of IFB,
Although the summer months were not quiet for IFB, the month of September is full of action and preparations for more.
IFB is expanding its supporter and membership group (more in the next newsletter). We signed two MoUs with important organizations grouping different financiers in Belgium (see below). IFB hosted the first meeting of its Advisory Committee: very relevant people in the impact finance space in Belgium. It is a luxury to have such people contribute to IFB (see below).
Many of you must have seen the announcements for the 2nd Belgian Impact Day on 8 November and bought your tickets. Others are in touch with us about the content and break-out sessions. We were proud to announce three strong keynote speakers (Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Vincent Van Peteghem and Hans Stegeman) supporting the premise that you cannot miss this day if you want to be part of impact finance in Belgium.
As a small teaser: do not miss our in-house event (for members and prospect members) on 21 September at the Impact House. Astanor and Incofin will tell us all about Impact as a driving factor in their investment work.
None of this without all of you: our network in Belgium. We look forward to your input and contribution to the content of different topics and to seeing you at one of our events.
Best regards,
Frederik van den Bosch and the IFB team
IFB/Febelfin signing the MoU, featuring IFB Steven Serneels and Frederik van den Bosch and Febelfin Karel Baert and Tom Van den Berghe
Mid-September, IFB signed two Memoranda of Understanding, first with Febelfin and another with PYM, recognizing the different roles we play and agreeing on our further collaboration.
Febelfin needs little introduction (the Federation of the Belgian Financial Sector … the voice of the financial sector in Belgium). In 2019, Febelfin developed the Towards Sustainability label, the objective of which is to qualitatively and quantitatively increase the level of socially responsible and sustainable financial products in Belgium. IFB’s focus on impact is very complementary to this as sustainability considerations are crucial in building steps towards more impact!
PYM – The conscious investors’ community, is an independent foundation that connects and guides wealth owners to invest their capital consciously for a better world. It is a peer-to-peer community of families, philanthropists, individual investors, family offices, and foundations.
Both organizations have an important role to play, linking IFB to many actors that we need in our strive for more impact finance in Belgium.
First meeting of the AC of IFB on 15 September: Loïc De Cannière (Incofin, board member), Christel Dumas (Ichec, member AC), Tom Van den Berghe (Febelfin, member AC), Steven Serneels (Chair of the board), Thomas Van Craen (Triodos, member AC), Michel Vermaercke (Alio Consilio, member AC),Céline Vaessen (SFPI/FPIM, board member), Frederik Matthijs (Trividend, member AC), Stéphane Vermeire (BNP Paribas Fortis, member AC), Frederik van den Bosch (CEO of IFB), Peter De Coensel (DPAM, member AC), Jérémie Leroy (KBS/FRB, board member). Not on the picture: Alizee Dubus (Collibri foundation, member AC), and Piet Colruyt (Impact Capital, board member). And joining us next time: Joris Laenen (Ethias, member AC), Marilou van Golstein Brouwers (member AC), Aline Buysschaert (board member) and Philippe Lambrecht (PYM, member AC).
Both Febelfin and PYM will have a representative inthe new IFB Advisory Committee. This is a strong group of 12 people representing the “eco-system” of impact finance in Belgium. They provide insights and advice from the market to the Board of IFB. This input can steer the activities of IFB, from its strategy to its different programs. We are honored to have such an esteemed group of persons supporting the cause of IFB, to further impact finance in Belgium.
IFB Members’ Talk – 21 September
This Thursday IFB organises its Members’ Talk at the Impact House in Brussels. With Laure Peronnin (Astanor) and Paul Buysens (Incofin). They will talk about how their organisations incorporate impact in their business; how they include impact in their financing decisions, how they target and measure this with their clients and how Astanor and Incofin report on this. You can still attend for this event as a (prospect) member by sharing your interest via hello@impactfinance.be.
2nd Belgian Impact Day – 8 November
With keynote speakers Sandrine Dixson-Declève, President of Club of Rome, Vincent van Peteghem, minister of Finance and Hans Stegeman, chief economist Triodos, the 2nd Belgian Impact Day is promising to be an informative and inspiring day. Get your ticket now!
Drawing inspiration from Kampani’s multi-stakeholder investment model
We are proud to announce that Kampani, a Belgian social impact investment fund, has shown it to be possible to address the challenges of the missing middle in agri-finance. The key to this success lies in the innovative stakeholder-shareholder model of this fund. In Kampani’s new article, published on the Stanford Social InnovationReview website, Wouter Vandersypen, Chris Claes and Steven Serneels explore Kampani’s investment strategy and they uncover the underlying factors that make this risky model viable.
SuFi Masterclass
The new edition of the SuFi Masterclass is on its way. Professors from ICHEC,ULB and UNamur, UAntwerpen, KULeuven, UGent, UMons, come together to offer atraining on sustainable finance for decision makers and field actors. Learn about this pressing topic, registration is open here: Homepage – The Sustainable Masterclass – SuFi(sufi-masterclass.be).
Call for partners & financing
‘Duurzaam Beleggen Academy’ offers sponsors and partners the possibility to re-evaluate their impact strategy, to share their expertise and to enlarge their visibility. Find out more on their website!
Webinar Dutch NAB
Webinar Dutch NAB: ‘Changing perceptions, An analysis of private debt in emerging markets under Solvency II.’ The webinar will be on September 21st, 14.00-15.00 CET. Find out more!
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