MinterEllison Partner Keith Rovers, leader of the Social Impact Practice, including the Pro Bono and Community Investment programs, has been recognised by receiving the prestigious Individual Outstanding Achievement Award at the Australian Impact Investment Awards. The awards celebrate the most exceptional individuals and organisations in the impact investing sector.
The Individual Outstanding Award recognises an individual making outstanding contributions to the Australian impact investment market through their vision, innovation and leadership to drive a significant change or development that is shaping the impact investing landscape in Australia and more broadly.
This award follows Rovers' recent announcement as one of Australia’s Social Enterprise Movers, Shakers & Movement Makers 2023 by Social Change Central who noted that Rovers embodies what it means to champion ethical and sustainable operations, impact investment, social procurement, and sustainable finance.
Rovers was recognised by Impact Investing Australia for his extensive work over many years supporting over 100+ social enterprises, Indigenous businesses, charities and for-purpose businesses, including advising on innovative social finance and collaboration models like Payment by Outcomes contracts and collaborative grant funding programs, as well as collective impact projects with social enterprises, corporates and government agencies.
Keith's contribution as a thought leader and expert advisor shaping sustainability standards, social enterprise and other certification frameworks, was highlighted alongside his extensive board and chair roles with impact organisations. MinterEllison was a finalist in the Impact Market Builder category.
Upon winning the award, Rovers said: "Receiving the Individual Outstanding Achievement Award at the Australian Impact Investment Awards is an incredible honour that reflects the collective effort of MinterEllison's dedicated Social Impact Practice team and the inspiring social enterprises, Indigenous businesses, charities, and for-purpose businesses we've had the privilege to support. This recognition fuels our commitment to fostering innovative business and social finance models and collaborative initiatives for the betterment of our communities and the broader impact investing landscape."
MinterEllison congratulates Keith on the Australian Impact Investment award and his inclusion on Social Change Central's list of Australian Social Enterprise Movers, Shakers & Movement Makers for 2023.
About Keith Rovers
Keith Rovers leads the MinterEllison Social Impact Practice and the firm's Pro Bono and Community Investments programs.
Rovers and his team support over 100+ charities, social enterprise and for purpose businesses, and Indigenous businesses on strategy and sustainable business models, entity formation, governance and scaling up operations including alliances, joint ventures, franchising, M&A, access to finance and markets and certification. They work on many shared value and collective impact initiatives and funding programs. They support corporate clients with aligned foundations and leverage this extensive experience in the for purpose sector to advise corporates on building more sustainable and inclusive business models through meaningfully incorporating social and Indigenous procurement into supply chains and managing social washing risks.
His experience has been gained over a 30-year career, acting across the financial capital spectrum - for sponsors, intermediaries and funders in many industry sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, technology and the social sector.
Rovers sits on ISO and Standard Australia’s Technical Working Groups for Sustainable Finance and Environmental Management Systems, which enables him to provide clients with up-to-date information about sustainable finance and local market and global trends.
Rovers is an experienced director with current board positions at Westpac Foundation, White Box Enterprises, MothersBabies, Constellation Project, Humanitix, Xceptional Academy, Certified Sustainable, Plus One and sits on the Social Traders Expert Advisory Group, Heart on My Sleeve's Advisory Board and Football NSW's Legal & Regulatory Board sub-committee.
