Farhad Reza

Farhad is in a ‘mission’ to establish the Impact Economy Ecosystem in Bangladesh and other emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific. He is leading Build Bangladesh, the Impact Investment stream of the Impress Group while focusing inter generational well-being and SDGs to transform ‘Poverty to Power’. Build Bangladesh in partnership with UNDP SDG Innovative Finance (UNSIF), launched two Impact Funds including the first impact fund to support social entrepreneurs, mutual funds targeting people at the bottom of the pyramid and accelerator programme supporting young entrepreneurs. His role was instrumental in establishing the first National Advisory Board (NAB) for Impact Investment in Bangladesh and Bangladesh becoming the 19th member country of the Global Steering Group (GSG) for Impact Investment in 2018. Prior to this role, Farhad had been involved in high level policy development and program delivery for all levels of Australian Government. As a Senior Executive for the Australian Government, he ensured A$120bn worth of welfare payments being delivered to the eligible recipients. Farhad led the team at Infrastructure Australia to establish the first strategic policy on housing and infrastructure for remote Indigenous communities in Australia including national programme delivery of around A$100m per year. His dream is to have 'few minutes' with people across the world on their own soil to reconfirm 'human commonalities'! He has a strong history of advocacy for justice and equality, focusing disadvantaged and minority groups through people centric investments and awareness campaign. Farhad strongly believes, people do not want charity, they want a chance!