7:30am to 9:00am
Goodwill Industries - Town Hall Room
255 Horton Street

Born of Pillar’s initiative to create a London social innovation shared space, the Social Innovation Exchange is a monthly gathering for cross-sector innovators, entrepreneurs and collaborators to come together for vital conversations.

Register for this Social Innovation Exchange event

Each month features a different topic jointly led by Pillar Nonprofit Network and London Community Foundation. This month the topic is Social Finance: How is London Using This Approach to Mobilize Money for Social Good.

Target Audience: Cross-sector innovators, entrepreneurs, collaborators and community-builders

About the Presenters:

Andre Vashist is a social innovator passionate about building inclusive communities. As a social entrepreneur, community development professional and impact investor, he has a combined 15 years of experience.

As the Social Finance Manager with VERGE Capital, Andre supports social enterprises through a loan fund, helps organizations develop social finance tools and creates opportunities for impact investors. VERGE is a community collaboration of partners and investors including Libro Credit Union, London Community Foundation, Pillar Nonprofit Network, Sisters of St. Joseph, and United Way London & Middlesex.

Lina Bowden is committed to creating a vibrant and caring community, through her work in social innovation, social enterprise and social finance. She has been the catalyst behind VERGE, a community-led collaborative that promotes and creates local investment for local impact. In addition, Lina provides financial expertise and leadership to Innovation Works, an initiative to create a social innovation shared space in downtown London, Ontario. Lina also provides leadership to the Impact Loan Program delivered by Goodwill Industries and she volunteers with the London Community Foundation Social Finance Committee, Heart-Links and the Ursuline Sisters. Lina spent 30 years in leadership roles within the financial services industry and she holds a Masters of Arts in Development Policy and Practice from the University of New Hampshire and is a fellow of the Society of Management Accountants.

The Social Innovation Exchange is being presented in partnership with Goodwill Industries, London Community Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, United Way London & Middlesex and Pillar Nonprofit Network.

SOURCE: Pillar Nonprofit Network