Few would contest Sir Ronnie Cohen’s standing as one of the most important figures in impact investing. From pioneering the concept to advocating for its widespread adoption, his influence has touched every phase of the sector’s development, and he is often described as the godfather of impact investing.

Born in Egypt, Cohen arrived in the UK as a refugee at the age of 11. London has been his home ever since, and the place where he has built a career spanning venture capital – most notably as co-founder and executive chair of Apax Partners – as well as philanthropy and social innovation. He is currently president of GSG Impact, chair of the Portland Trust and vice-chair of Capitals Coalition, among other roles.

During the first decade of the century, he co-founded Bridges Fund Management and Social Finance, and later went on to establish Better Society Capital. He also chaired the 2013-14 G8 Social Impact Investment Taskforce, and played a pivotal role in a range of landmark initiatives, including the launch of the world’s first social impact bond and the development of outcomes-based contracts.