A Roundtable with Mary Robinson, Mairead McGuinness and Linda Doyle
Introduction
At Venturewave Capital, we are committed to advancing the practice of Impact Investing—an approach that balances financial returns with measurable social and environmental benefits. In our latest Roundtable discussion, we had the privilege of hosting three outstanding female leaders who are at the forefront of sustainability, policy, and education:
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability, and the Capital Markets Union
Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin and advocate for sustainability and gender equality in education
This discussion, moderated by Kieran McLoughlin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Venturewave Capital, explored how Impact Investing can bridge the gap between the public and private sectors, driving progress toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Below are the key insights from the conversation.
Impact Investing: A Bridge Between Public and Private Sectors
The roundtable’s central theme was Impact Investing’s potential to drive transformative change. As the world faces complex, interconnected challenges, public-private partnerships are becoming crucial to addressing climate change, poverty, inequality, and sustainable economic growth.
Mary Robinson emphasized the urgency of meeting the SDGs, particularly in the face of a rapidly changing climate. While expressing cautious optimism about the future, she pointed out that the 1.5-degree climate goal is still within reach, but only if immediate and large-scale action is taken. Impact Investing offers a powerful solution, she argued, as it aligns both profit and purpose, fostering solutions that create long-lasting societal benefits.
Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner, added that regulations and policy frameworks are vital to enabling impact-driven investments at scale. She highlighted the importance of the EU Taxonomy and sustainable finance regulations, which help companies and investors align their goals with the SDGs. Through these initiatives, the European Union is leading the way in creating a financially sound, responsible, and sustainable investment ecosystem.
Leadership and Technology Driving Change
Mairead McGuinness and Linda Doyle shared their thoughts on how technological advancements accelerate the transition to more sustainable practices. In her capacity as Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Linda Doyle discussed the growing importance of technology in education and sustainability. Trinity is embedding sustainability into its curriculum, ensuring that young people are equipped to drive the next wave of impact-driven innovations.
Furthermore, Mary Robinson stressed the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in advancing sustainable solutions. By leveraging the power of technology, impact-driven startups can scale rapidly, creating products and services that address global challenges like renewable energy, clean water, and gender equality. In the context of Impact Investing, these technological advancements offer vast opportunities for growth and market disruption while generating significant positive outcomes for society and the planet.
Transparency and Accountability in Impact Investing
A recurring topic during the roundtable was the importance of transparency and accountability in Impact Investing. Mairead McGuinness discussed the evolving EU regulations requiring businesses to report their financial performance and social and environmental impact. This impact transparency ensures that companies are held accountable for their promises regarding sustainability and ESG goals.
Mary Robinson echoed this point, emphasizing that impact investing can only succeed if the measurable outcomes are clearly defined, tracked, and reported. She discussed how impact measurement frameworks are becoming more robust and sophisticated, ensuring investors can assess their investments’ financial viability and social impact.
The Role of Youth and Leadership in Impact Investing
In the latter part of the conversation, Linda Doyle highlighted the role of youth engagement in driving sustainable change. She pointed out that the younger generation is increasingly aware of environmental and social justice issues and demands more from businesses and governments. This value shift pushes for a more equitable and sustainable future, with impact investing at the core of this change.
The panel concluded with a call to action: The future of impact investing depends on governments, investors, and entrepreneurs’ continued commitment to aligning their efforts with the SDGs and ESG principles. Mairead McGuinness and Mary Robinson underscored that leadership is key. Governments and private sector leaders must work together to remove barriers, promote transparency, and create policies that empower impact-driven investments.
Conclusion
This roundtable discussion insightfully explored the critical role that investing plays in shaping a sustainable future. With global leaders like Mary Robinson, Mairead McGuinness, and Linda Doyle, the conversation not only underscored the importance of Impact Investing in achieving the SDGs but also emphasized the need for collaboration and leadership at all levels to drive meaningful change.
At Venturewave Capital, we remain committed to advancing impact investing as a central pillar of our investment philosophy. Through strategic partnerships, responsible governance, and a focus on transparency, we are helping to shape a more sustainable and equitable world for future generations.
Are you interested in learning more about impact investing and how it can help you align your capital with meaningful, long-term outcomes? Contact us today to explore how we can collaborate to create positive change.