Investment Expert Heads West to SVA
10 February 2014 at 11:04 am
A former Investment Director, Jenna Palumbo has been appointed the Director for Western Australia at Social Ventures Australia (SVA).
Palumbo was most recently at Big Society Capital in London. She will now play a major role in managing WA’s $10 million Social Enterprise Fund and the many social ventures across the state that work to improve education and employment outcomes for people experiencing disadvantage.
“I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to help generate better social outcomes for people in WA, and to share the lessons we learn across the country,” Palumbo said.
“I have had the pleasure of being involved in a number of ground-breaking projects in the UK, particularly in the area of impact investing, and I look forward to contributing to similar efforts here in Australia.”
SVA’s consulting division shares knowledge and evidence to build social sector capacity and its impact investing team is introducing new capital and innovative financial models to help solve entrenched social problems.
Palumbo’s role will include supporting SVA’s current venture portfolio as it grows operations in WA, as well as looking for opportunities to partner with more enterprises that show potential to make a tangible difference to the lives of some of WA’s most disadvantaged communities.
Palumbo will also support the development of new approaches to finance the social sector such as Social Benefit Bonds.
Current ventures supported by SVA with operations in WA include the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), Beacon Foundation, CareerTrackers and The Song Room.