Driving Social Change through Social Business & Impact Investing

The Social Enterprise Summit was first organized in 2008 as a response to the Hong Kong community’s as well as the government’s growing interest in the cause of social entrepreneurship. As a new driving force of social change in the 21st century, social enterprises have proved to be a viable solution to social problems, an effective agent of community improvement through cross-sector actions and an important feature of modern civil society. They also offer good opportunities of investment combining business with corporate citizenship. In the past three years, the Summit has played a significant role in enhancing public awareness and understanding of the subject. In particular, it has made special endeavour to promote cross-sector dialogue and partnerships. The Summit is attracting increasing attention overseas, especially in the Greater China region.

Social Enterprise Summit 2011 will have at its anchor an International Symposium. Once again, world-renowned experts, leading local social entrepreneurs, frontline social business practitioners, academics, government representatives, NGO and business leaders and aspiring young social entrepreneurs will gather to exchange ideas and experiences. This year’s theme of “Driving Social Change through Social Business and Impact Investing” highlights the common nature, dynamics and objectives of these two pillars of social entrepreneurship.

A starter of the Summit is the Public Lecture by David Bornstein – a rare opportunity to meet the Guru of Social Innovation and should not be missed. The Summit programme will include the first ever SE Bazaar in Hong Kong, a Power Lunch for NGO leaders, a Dinner to meet leading social entrepreneurs, a range of Workshops for both young and established social entrepreneurs and Visits to local social enterprises.

The Summit is totally community-driven and has been supported by the Government, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and many sponsors.

Summit Objectives:
• To promote social entrepreneurship as an agent of social change and building a modern civil society;
• To build a platform for social enterprises, NGOs, charities, businesses, investors, academics and government to engage with one another in developing cross-sector partnerships;
• To explore ways to enhance the business capabilities of social enterprises and to nurture innovative entrepreneurship among young people;
• To establish social enterprises as opportunities for investment and to promote impact investing;
• To bridge between funding bodies, investors and social enterprises;
• To capture the new dynamics of social entrepreneurship in the region and around the world and to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and strategies.