Asia Pacific Impact Investing Research Consortium (APIIRC)
The Consortium
The Asia Pacific Impact Investing Research Consortium is a flagship initiative of UNSW Business School, jointly led by the Centre for Social Impact UNSW and the UNSW School of Banking and Finance, and supported by Minderoo Foundation and UBS.
The Consortium represents a new model of collaboration between academia and industry, bringing together leading researchers, philanthropic organisations, and financial institutions to co-design and deliver rigorous, practice-informed research.
Through applied research, shared market intelligence, and cross-sector collaboration, the Consortium supports the next phase of growth and effectiveness in impact investing across the region.
It is jointly led by Professor Danielle Logue, Director, Centre for Social Impact, and Professor Francisco Barillas Bedoya, Head, School of Banking & Finance.
Core research
Annual Impact Investing Benchmarking Study
In partnership with Impact Investing Australia, the Consortium delivers Australia's largest annual benchmarking study of the impact investing market.
The latest report, Benchmarking Impact: Australian Impact Investor Insights, Activity and Performance Report 2025, analysed 197 publicly available impact investment products and surveyed investors representing more than $345 billion in funds under management.
Explore the study:
- Participate in the 2026 Benchmark Survey
- Download the 2025 Benchmark Report
- Read coverage in The Guardian Australia and BusinessThink
2026/27 research streams
Democratising Access to Impact Capital
Academic Leads: Dr Yi Zhao and Professor Hokyu Hwang
Explores how impact investing can extend beyond large institutions to support community and place-based investment, including First Nations led capital models.
Data Infrastructure and Market Intelligence
Academic Leads: Associate Professor Jianfeng Shen and Dr Edward Shore
Focuses on improving the quality, comparability and usability of impact and ESG data to support better decision-making, accountability and market confidence.
Intergenerational Wealth Transfer: Family Offices and Philanthropic Impact
Academic Lead: Professor Danielle Logue
Examines how family offices, trusts and philanthropic capital can be mobilised more effectively for impact, with a focus on investment behaviours, tailored vehicles and practical tools, including gender-lens investing and inclusive innovation.
Blended Finance and Accelerating the Financing of Affordable Housing
Academic Lead: Associate Professor Melissa Edwards
Investigates how impact investing and blended finance can accelerate the supply of affordable housing at scale, including investment structures, risk-sharing models and approaches to long-term affordability.
Industry fellows
The Consortium also has access to a distinguished group of UNSW Fellows who provide expertise across global finance, philanthropy, government and impact investing.
