Rosemary is a trusted advisor, mentor and coach to senior leaders stepping into opportunities to innovate, drive solutions to scale and make better outcomes a priority. She is a sounding board to individual leaders, senior executive teams, boards and committees to check and challenge strategy and directions and enable them to and deliver what’s needed in a complex and rapidly shifting global context.
Enabling Impact
Strategist - Connector - MentorOur Approach
Rosemary leads Impact Strategist with clear values and commitment to the highest standards of integrity and professional excellence. She is principled and clear about what we can and cannot do and what we will and will not do. Engagements are designed to be collaborative, fun and disciplined, reflecting the value she brings and valuing the contributions of others.
Impact is at the centre of everything. The first criteria for accepting an engagement is whether it is an opportunity to have clear impact and where the leadership we can inform better outcomes.
Timeline for Impact
2022
2022
Sorenson Global Impact Leader
Rosemary Addis AM was invited to join the inaugural group of Global Impact Leaders of the Sorenson Impact Center, a diverse and inclusive network of impact practitioners and thought leaders working toward positive social and environmental impact around the world, formed to recognize, elevate and amplify the contributions of those working to solve the world’s most pressing social and environmental problems.
2022
2022
Enterprise Professor University of Melbourne
Rosemary Addis AM was appointed as Enterprise Professor in Impact, Sustainability & Innovation in the Faculty of Business & Economics at the University of Melbourne
2021
2021
Chair Sweef Capital Board of Advisors
Having been actively engaged in the spin out of Sweef Capital Management Pte Ltd, a women led investment firm based in Singapore, Rosemary took up the role of Chair of the Board of Advisors and actively guides the firm’s strategy and partnerships. She is also a member of the Investment Committee and Chairs the Sweef Capital Gender ROI™ Steering Committee
2020
2020
Chair, Advisory Board, Climate Ready Initiative
Invited by Griffith University to Chair an Advisory Board for the Climate Ready Initiative, a partnership-based social impact initiative focused on preparing society for its transition toward a net-zero emissions and climate-resilient future.
2020
2020
Ambassador, Global Steering Group for Impact Investment
After finishing her term as an elected Trustee of the GSG, Rosemary was appointed by the GSG Board as Global Ambassador with a focus on impact governance – brining impact to the tables where decisions are made
2020
2020
Director, Indigenous Business Australia
Appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Australians as a Director of Indigenous Business Australia, an Australian Government Statutory Corporation with a vision for a nation in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are economically independent and an integral part of the economy.
2020
2020
Non-Executive Director Indigenous Business Australia
In September 2020 Rosemary Addis AM was invited by the then Minister for Indigenous Affairs to take up an appointment to the Board of Indigenous Business Australia.
2020
2020
Sustainable Finance Initiative Asia Advisory Panel
Rosemary was invited to join the Advisory Panel of the Sustainable Finance Initiative Asia, a community of investors across Asia who believe in capital that matters
2020
2020
Member Order of Australia
Rosemary was awarded membership of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2020 for significant services to social innovation, impact investment and the law
2019
2019
Leap of Reason Ambassador
Rosemary was invited to join the global community of Leap of Reason Ambassadors: thought leaders, leader practitioners, progressive funders, policy makers, and instigators working to make high performance the norm to enable meaningful progress in addressing society’s most challenging problems.
2019
2019
SDG Impact Practice Standards
High level strategy and advice to SDG Impact team at the United Nations Development Programme to anchor engagement of its Steering Group, facilitate development and consultation on SDG Impact Practice Standards and provide a sounding board to the team leadership
2019
2019
SDG Impact
Rosemary was invited to become a Senior Adviser to the SDG Impact team at the United Nations Development Programme to anchor engagement of its Steering Group, facilitate development and consultation on SDG Impact Practice Standards and provide a sounding board to the team leadership.
2018
2018
Impact Investing Australia Market Builder of the Year
Impact Investing Australia, founded by Rosemary Addis was named Australian Impact Investing Market Builder of the Year at the inaugural Australian Impact Investing Awards for its work developing impact markets in and from Australia.
2018
2018
Expert Reviewer, OECD The Impact Imperative
Rosemary was a member of the expert group informing and was asked to review OECD research for its second impact investment initiative, The Impact Imperative, published January 2019
2018
2018
GSG Trustee
Rosemary was elected by member national advisory boards across 18 member countries and the EU as a Trustee of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen with a growing membership of 23 countries and the EU. In 2019 she was asked to Chair a Board Committee on National Advisory Boards and Governance.
2018
2018
GSG Working Group, The Impact Principle
Rosemary led a global working group across 10 countries for the GSG on the seminal issue of widening participation and deepening practice to drive impact investment at scale, covering a vision for an impact economy, field definition, theory of change together with roadmaps for concrete action.
2018
2018
GSG Working Group Policy
Providing expert advice and review and Australian insights to
2018
2018
Growth Grants
In 2018, the Growth Grants fund was recapitalised with Impact Investing Australia being awarded administration of $7m in Australian Government sector readiness funding which will run through to 2021.
2018
2018
Australian Advisory Board Blueprint, Scaling Impact
The Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing blueprint for collective action, Scaling Impact, was launched in late 2018 following a market engagement and strategy development process which Rosemary led in collaboration with Fabienne Michaux, then head of the AAB Strategy Working Group.
2018
2018
Impact Investing Australia Market Builder of the Year
Impact Investing Australia recognised as market builder of the year in the inaugural Australian impact investing awards.
2017
2017
Finalist Women in Finance Thought Leader of the Year
Rosemary was a finalist for Thought leader of the Year In the inaugural Women in Finance Awards in recognition of her contribution to finance through pioneering thinking in impact investment.
2017
2017
Women in Super Annual Roadshow
Invited to keynote for the Women in Super Annual Roadshow which toured all Australian capital cities, joining an alumni of keynote speakers for this flagship event in the finance calendar, including Liz Broderick AO and Rosie Batty AO
2017
2017
Australian Field Scan
In 2017, the Australian Advisory Board went to practitioners and stakeholders of the field in Australia to seek views on what had changed since 2014 and what was needed next. Led by Rosemary Addis in collaboration with Regina Hill and the Impact Investing Australia team and funded by Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, the results of the scan were released publicly report and video form.
2016
2016
Major institutional Investor
A major Australian institutional investor anchor its understanding of impact investing, its application for institutions and options for action.
2016
2016
Investing to Save Lives
Collaboration with Social Finance UK for the FIA Foundation to demonstrate the investment case for investment in prevention of road trauma. It is a companion report with Breaking the Deadlock
2016
2016
Impact Capital Australia
Founding Chair of company to lead implementation of game-changing wholesale impact institution. Fellow Directors are Sally McCutchan, CEO of Impact Investing Australia, and Simon Longstaff AO, CEO of The Ethics Centre. Ambassadors for ICA include: Carol Schwartz AO, Carolyn Hewson AO, Greg Hutchinson AM, Jillian Segal AO, The Hon. John Brumby AO, Peter Hunt AM, Prof Peter Shergold AC, Simon McKeon AO and Rob McLean AM.
2016
2016
Practical Guide to Understanding Social Costs
Oversaw delivery of initiative Chaired by Louise Sylvan AM and carried out by Deloitte Access Economics to deliver a practical guide to understanding social costs that could inform applied understanding of social costs and the costs of delivering better outcomes.
2016
2016
Impact Investing Investor Survey
Oversaw first Australian investor survey of interest and activity in impact investment led by Working Group Chair Fabienne Michaux and Impact Investing Australia CEO Dan Madhavan inb collaboration with RIAA and Melbourne Business School.
2016
2016
Leaders’ Delegation to Canberra
Coordinated and led delegation of 30+ senior leaders for 3 days of meetings with Ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials in Canberra.
2016
2016
Benchmarking Impact
Co-authored report of first benchmarking of Australian impact investment activity and performance, Benchmarking Impact with the aim of establishing market-based data to understand impact activity and set early baselines to measure growth and development. The methodology and branding has been transferred to the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia to carry forward. They undertook the second benchmarking in 2017, which showed fourfold growth.
2015
2015
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Foundational advice for the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade to anchor its understanding of impact investing , its application as a policy tool and options for action.
2015
2015
Breaking the Deadlock
Collaboration with Social Finance UK for the FIA Foundation to bring a social innovation and investment lens to solutions to death and serious injury through road trauma. It is a companion report with Investing to Save Lives which demonstrates the investment case.
2015
2015
Social Finance – Role of Governments & Policy
Requested by Professor Alex Nicholls of the Skoll Centre at Said Business School, Oxford, to write chapter on role of Government and policy for first text on social finance
2015
2015
Australian Financial Review Women of Influence
Acknowledged as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence for contributions to innovation in the Australian Financial Review Women of Influence
2015
2015
Global Steering Group for Impact Investment
Founding Executive Board member of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, which took the baton for catalysing and scaling global markets for impact from the G8 Taskforce in August 2015
2015
2015
Growth Grants
Agreement with National Australia Bank to capitalise grant funding for investment readiness funding for purpose driven enterprises and design of the fund to roll out March 2015. Since then, NAB’s contributions of $1.75m enabled an impressive range of enterprises to secure advice and raise capital including Hire Up, Maths Pathway, Vanguard Laundry, averaging more than 20 x leverage on grant funding. In 2018, the fund was recapitalised by administration of $7m in Australian Government sector readiness funding which will run through to 2021.
2015
2015
Blueprint to Market
Chaired working group of leaders to design and document blueprint for Impact Capital Australia, a game-changer, specifically designed to accelerate development and achieve scale for impact investing in Australia. Its mandate is mobilising more capital and transforming the way Australia deals with social and environmental challenges.
2014
2014
Invisible Heart of Markets
As an active member of the G8 Taskforce, Rosemary contributed to its landmark report Impact Investing: The Invisible Heart of Markets and the 4 working group reports that accompanied it.
2014
2014
Impact Investing Australia
Impact Strategist has supported and informed the work of Impact Investing Australia, founding the organisation in 2014 to provide operations, strategy and implementation capability for the Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing. Rosemary Addis’ services were provided as Executive Chair of the AAB and Impact Investing Australia until July 2019. During that time, Rosemary was instrumental in developing and executing strategy to grow innovation and impact investing in and from Australia. She continues as an Ambassador for the AAB and non-executive Chair of Impact Investing Australia.
2014
2014
National Australia Bank
Foundational advice for National Australia Bank to anchor its strategy in impact investing.
2014
2014
Expert Reviewer, OECD Impact Investing: Building the Evidence Base
Rosemary was a member of the expert group informing and was asked to review OECD research for its second impact investment initiative, Impact Investing: Building the Evidence Base, published January 2015
2014
2014
Expert Review Committee World Economic Forum
Rosemary was invited to be join a three member expert review committee for the World Economic Forum Margins to the Mainstream initiative From Ideas to Practice, Pilots to strategy
2014
2014
Impact Investing Australia
To ensure that the market-building work of the G8 Taskforce and Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing could be delivered as a public good in Australia, Impact Investing Australia was established to provide the operating platform and drive strategy and implementation.
2014
2014
Invisible Heart of Markets
As an active member of the G8 Taskforce, Rosemary contributed to its landmark report Impact Investing: The Invisible Heart of Markets and the 4 working group reports that accompanied it.
2014
2014
Delivering on Impact
As Chair of the Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing, Rosemary led on development of the strategy to catalyse impact investing in and from Australia, Delivering on Impact which set a delivery focused framework for leadership, action and policy.
2013
2013
Impact-Australia
Led first broad-based public consultation and engagement and Australian field scan to set out a clear definition of impact investing, why it matters, what was happening globally and in Australia and what could and should happen in and from Australia. Undertaken as a Departmental initiative, this field scan laid the groundwork to grow the field.
2013
2013
Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing
Impact Strategist has supported and informed the work of the Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing, founding the body in 2013 as part of the G8 Taskforce effort. Rosemary Addis’ services were provided as Executive Chair of the AAB and Impact Investing Australia until July 2019. During that time, Rosemary was instrumental in developing and executing strategy to grow innovation and impact investing in and from Australia. She continues as an Ambassador for the AAB and non-executive Chair of Impact Investing Australia.
2013
2013
Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing
At the first meeting of the G8 Social Impact Investment Taskforce at the White House conference centre in late 2013, participating countries agreed to establish sector led national advisory boards to inform the global effort and lead an action-oriented agenda in their own countries. Rosemary founded the Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing, which she chaired until July 2019; she remains an Ambassador.
2013
2013
G8 Social Impact Investment Taskforce
Invited to join the Social Impact Investment Taskforce established by then UK Prime Minister David Cameron during his presidency of the G8 and Chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen. Australia was the only country outside the G7 invited to participate and Rosemary led a sector based effort to enable Australia to take up this leadership position at the forefront of impact investment.
2011
2011
Children’s Ground – networked incubation in Government
From late 2010 to 2012 led the incubation of Children’s Ground, a transformation approach to working in and with communities to create change over a generation. A 2013 report by former McKinsey & Co partner Liana Downey, showcased the methodology as a new model of networked incubation in Government. Children’s Ground was spun out of Government and is operating in Alice Springs
2011
2011
Senate Enquiry: Investing for Good
Led foundational submission from Government Departments to Senate Economics References Committee on impact investing
2011
2011
Social Enterprise Development & Investment Funds
Led design and implementation of the Social Enterprise Development & Investment Funds, utilising government grant funding as cornerstone capital for new investment funds to help social enterprises expand their reach and impact. Resulted in three new investment funds entering the Australian market, which had a catalytic effect in the early stages of impact investment.
2010
2010
NSW Government Social Impact Expert Advisory Group
Appointed to NSW Government Social Investment Expert Advisory Group chaired by Professor Peter Shergold AC, to advise NSW Treasury and the cross-departmental steering group on social investment policy. Informed whole of government strategy 2015 including establishment of the Office of Social Impact Investment.
2010
2010
Australian Gov Social Innovation Strategist
Invited to join Australian Government Senior Executive Service as the first Social Innovation Strategist to drive initiatives in social innovation, enterprise and investment across a Government agenda of productivity and inclusion. Oversaw ground-breaking initiatives translating economic policy tools to social policy.
2008
2008
National Reform Agenda
Brought in by The Victorian Premier’s Department to lead major national social and economic policy reform agenda focused on productivity across all Australian jurisdictions. Strategy across complex agenda spanning financial arrangements between Commonwealth and States and policy areas from health and education to consumer affairs and deregulation which delivered billions in additional funding to States for core services and an outcomes focused platform for service delivery.
2008
2008
Victorian Government, Premier’s Department leading National Reform
Recruited to Victorian Premier’s Department to lead ambitious productivity oriented suite of national reforms in social and economic policy and federal financial relations across Australian jurisdictions, including leading on engagement through the Council of Australian Governments agenda.
2007
2007
Prospectus Guide: Inviting Investment in Social Enterprise
Led development of prospectus guide for inviting investment in social enterprise – supported by the RE Ross Trust, this was one of the first initiatives to put the spotlight on investing in purpose driven organisations to enable them to grow their impact. The Trust still supports this initiative with small grants to enable organisations to apply the guide.
2002
2002
Australian Institute of Company Directors
In 2002 Rosemary was among the first cohorts to undertake the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and she has nearly 2 decades of experience as a Director and Chair
1999
1999
Equity Partner Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks (now Allens Linklaters)
In 1999 Rosemary was invited to become an equity partner of what was then Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks, Australia’s leading professional services firm. From 2000 – 2002 she was ranked by Chamber’s Global among the world’s leading lawyers.
