Social Impact Investment Trust
What was the SIIT?
The Social Impact Investment Trust (SIIT) was the first major impact investing mandate from a major superannuation fund in Australia.
SVA managed the HESTA-funded SIIT for more than seven years. In that time, we achieved measurable social returns in our communities and delivered financial returns for investors. We’re proud of the work we’ve done together and we believe the impact investing market is stronger and deeper as a result of our partnership.
The SIIT’s impact
The SIIT successfully demonstrated the role that superannuation funds and institutional investors can play in supporting better outcomes in our communities. During SVA’s management, the SIIT grew to a $91M investment pool and invested in multiple social impact transactions. Nightingale Housing is a wonderful example as it built homes for priority groups including teachers, nurses, social workers, people with disability and First Nations people.
Since the SIIT’s beginning in 2015, the depth and breadth of the Australian impact investment market has grown substantially. Having now reached the end of the fund’s investment period, SVA will also no longer manage the SIIT from 1 July 2023. This is an important step in the evolution of SVA’s impact investing strategy and reflects our role as an intermediary that creates innovations to be adopted and managed by others in the market once they’re proven and mature.
We are delighted to see that our pioneering work with the SIIT has encouraged more super funds and institutional investors into the market – and highlighted the potential to governments who are now actively investigating impact investing’s ability to drive positive change in Australia.
Where to next?
SVA has a strong heritage in helping to pioneer impact investing in Australia and has been a key contributor in the growth of the market including the development of social enterprises, the creation of social impact bonds and the launch of Synergis disability housing fund.
Having helped catalyse a strong impact investment market, SVA is looking forward to working with our partners to create the next generation of innovations in impact investing in Australia to deliver better outcomes for people and communities and grow the market.
