A leading investor from the world of sustainable forestry will be among the expert figures at a symposium, co-hosted by Edinburgh Napier University [ENU] and Greenbank Investments, which will aim to face up to challenges and drive financial backing for Scotland’s £1bn forestry sector.

The upcoming instalment of the Impact Investment Symposium will be held on 27-28 November and sponsored by Greenbank Investments and CGI, one of the largest IT and business consulting services companies in the world. 

The symposium will address key sector issues such as combatting deforestation, enhancing biodiversity and developing investment.

The event will include a series of workshops and talks, including a keynote address by Dr David Brand, Founder and Executive Chair of New Forests, which manages more than $8bn in sustainable forestry assets – equivalent to over half of Scotland’s land mass.

There will be a panel discussion featuring Dame Susan Rice DBE, an experienced chartered banker and Chair of the new Forth Green Freeport.

Organisers hope the symposium, which aligns with the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests and its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, will help to position Scotland at the forefront of sustainable forestry innovation, a sector which already sustains more than 34,000 jobs across the country.

It also responds to the call of the Scottish Government’s Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Service for enhanced green finance and sustainable development.

Professor Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Deputy Chancellor and Vice Principal of Research, Innovation, and Enterprise at Edinburgh Napier University, said:

“Hosting the Impact Investment Symposium highlights Edinburgh Napier University’s commitment to sustainable development and our drive to promote an eco-conscious future. This convergence of global minds will help foster social, environmental, and economic progress.”

Craig Leslie, Investment Director, Greenbank Investments said:

“At Greenbank we aim to shape investor action on biodiversity and encourage investors to take the necessary steps to align their investments with the needs of the planet – needs which, as the Dasgupta Review showed more than 3 years ago, are intrinsically linked to the health of our economy and investments.

“The symposium provides an excellent platform to collaborate and further this objective in one of the important local contexts – the future of Scotland’s forests.”

Mattie Yeta, Chief Sustainability Officer at CGI in the UK and Australia, said:

“CGI’s engagement in this important event highlights our commitment to bringing together expertise to enable positive climate change action. Our CGI SEEDS programme illustrates this effort, as the collaboration between CGI and Edinburgh Napier University enables the development of innovative solutions and significant advancements in sustainable development to tackle complex societal issues.

"At CGI, we are dedicated to not only transforming our clients’ businesses with cutting-edge technologies but also supporting sustainability efforts through measurable, nature-based solutions.

Paul Atkinson, Chair of the Impact Investment Symposium and Founding Partner of Par Equity, said:

“This year’s symposium also marks the launch of the Investing for Impact Hub, a testament to the power of collaboration among industry leaders, innovators, and community advocates.

“It is a unified call to action aimed at integrating community well-being and sustainable growth in forestry, ensuring a green and prosperous future for all.”

The Impact Investment Symposium was founded in 2020 and holds several events each year on the topic of impact investment and community wealth building. It will involve more 60 attendees from across the forestry and investment sectors and has attracted speakers from as far afield as Finland, Belgium and Australia.