SIO moves forward on strategic directions

The Social Investment Organization made progress at its recent conference on a number of key strategic initiatives to advance socially responsible investment.

The Canadian Social Investment Conference – held in Montreal between June 3 and 5 – explored many new areas of social investment and provided an opportunity for the SRI industry in Canada to gather. But it also provided a forum for members and directors to explore new strategic directions for SRI in Canada.

At a Board of Directors meeting before the conference, the SIO Board gave preliminary approval to a new membership strategy to raise membership among financial advisors and asset managers – two key constituencies in the SRI movement. SIO staff will work with a membership committee of the Board to finalize details of the strategy over the summer for implementation in the fall.

In addition, a workshop attended by financial advisors gave strong support to a proposal to hold regional meetings of SIO financial advisor members in the next year to attract new members and share market development ideas.

There was also support for a proposal to hold a mini conference bringing together asset managers with with an interest in SRI with pension consultants working with pension funds, foundations, endowments and trusts. This will help to support SIO’s goal to attract a greater membership from asset managers and institutional investors.

SIO also intends to move forward on a number of other suggestions at the conference:

·         Carry out the second Canadian Social Investment Review in 2002

·         Implement a quarterly tracking of SRI pooled funds (investment funds available to sophisticated investors or institutions)

·         Work more closely with our partners in other countries (the US Social Investment Forum, the UK Social Investment Forum, the French Social Investment Forum, the Euro Social Investment Forum and two international working groups of SRI professionals) to document best practices of SRI internationally and to better communicate policy issues. This was discussed by the Board in conjunction with a special meeting of international SRI representatives.

·         Determine member interest in a survey to study attitudes of financial advisors toward SRI

·         Hold the second Canadian Social Investment Conference in Vancouver in June, 2003

“This is an ambitious agenda for the coming year, but I think it is achievable with the continuing support and help of our members,” said SIO Executive Director Eugene Ellmen.

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