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Responsible Investment Association of Australasia

The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) is the peak industry body for professionals working in responsible investment in Australia and New Zealand. Almost every financial adviser, fund manager and consultant working in responsible investment is a member of RIAA together with many other professionals who work towards similar goals.

In addition to helping professionals in the industry, RIAA also helps individuals and organisations to learn more about how they can make investment choices that take environmental, social, ethical or governance issues into account as well as financial objectives. RIAA was formed in 1999 as the Ethical Investment Association (EIA). The EIA pioneered programs such as the annual Benchmark Report, the specialist course for Financial Advisers and the world's first certification program for products and services in the area of responsible investment. In 2007, due to the increasing diversity of members within the organisation and the broadening interest in this type of investment from professionals and consumers, the members of the EIA voted in favour of changing the name of the organisation to Responsible Investment Association Australasia. The term responsible investment was selected as it has been embraced by the global international investment community, government organisations, civil society and academia through the creation and implementation of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. The term also captures the intent of a rapidly increasing number of investors who seek to act in an environmentally and socially responsible way while seeking positive financial outcomes.

RIAA is committed to promoting the concept and practice of responsible investment to an increasingly engaged general public, the mainstream investment community, analysts, superannuation trustees, financial advisers, regulators, religious, charitable and other values-based organisations, government and non-government organisations and to the corporate sector.