Social Ventures Australia (SVA) is pleased to welcome three new staff to their impact investing team, and two new venture philanthropy managers.
Rebecca Thomas joins the impact investing team as an Associate Director in the Sydney office. She brings over 10 years’ financial services experience in Australia and the UK, including with GE Capital and Bank of Scotland.
Shari Lawrence joins the Brisbane office as an Associate Director to focus on QLD impact investment opportunities. Shari was previously an Investment Manager at Foresters Community Finance, and brings a wealth of experience in funds management, deal origination, capital raising and social impact reporting. Shari established the SEDIF fund at Foresters, and held senior funds management roles in both Australia and the UK.
Zarmeen Pavri has also joined the Impact Investing team in a consulting capacity, providing specialist strategic and investment operations advice. Zarmeen was formerly an Executive Director of Strategic Implementation & Projects at Pengana Capital and has over 20+ years finance experience, holding several leadership positions at institutions such as MIR Investment Management, JPMorgan Chase and BT.
SVA is also growing their venture philanthropy teams in WA and QLD following the launch of two state focused venture philanthropy funds. Shiri Leventhal has started as WA Portfolio Manager, and Dina Jak will be managing the QLD Venture Philanthropy Fund.
Shiri Leventhal is a CFA charterholder and brings experience in strategy consulting, wealth management, corporate and development finance at the World Bank, HSBC and various microfinance and SME lending institutions in South Asia. Dina Jak brings experience in community finance, social enterprise and community development, having worked for the Multicultural Development Association and Foresters Community Finance prior to joining SVA, and at the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.
SVA’s CEO Rob Koczkar welcomed the new staff and called attention to the important role of both venture philanthropy and impact investing in fostering social innovation in Australia.
‘We are delighted to be able to grow the footprint of our venture philanthropy and impact investing work through welcoming this fantastic group to the SVA team. Their deep business and community experience will strengthen our ability to provide philanthropic, business and investment support to initiatives across the country that show great potential to affect transformational social impact.’
