Life after SVA: in conversation with Ian Learmonth

Meet Ian Learmonth, former Executive Director of Impact Investing at SVA. We sat down with Ian a few months ago to chat about his time working with us.

How did you find your way to SVA?

After spending 13 years as a Senior Managing Director with Macquarie Group, I realised I didn’t want to go to my grave as a career investment banker. SVA seemed the perfect place to take a step away from 20 plus years of investment banking and see if I could use some of my skills to make a positive impact.

Could you share a bit about your favourite part of your time working at SVA?

Put simply, I am proud of what we were able to achieve during my time at SVA and the way the organisation is now seen across the sector. Over 6 years, we built the team, created Australia’s first social impact bond – the Newpin Social Benefit bond – the SVA Social Impact Fund and the Diversified Impact Fund, which reached first close in December 2017.

Our work in the social impact investing space has influenced a lot of thinking from institutional investors and it’s really taking the organisation and sector somewhere. This work will hopefully lead to opportunities at scale through the social and affordable housing sectors, the disability sector, and more broadly in community health and education.

What stands out to you about the culture at SVA?

SVA is a very progressive organisation. It’s at the cutting edge of so many things. The way it thinks about the organisation of social purpose companies, diversity, indigenous affairs, and social and affordable housing make it unique.

It wasn’t until I stepped away from SVA that I began to truly understand the unique organisational culture and its standing within the community.

Any final thoughts as you move on from SVA?

I think the one thing SVA should always remember – and probably underestimates – is just how influential and highly regarded it is. Particularly across state and federal government. There’s a lot to be proud of and my personal reflection is that I learnt a lot of things at SVA that I will carry with me for many years.