How have you engaged with CAFIID? 

In a lot of ways, honestly — CAFIID has become part of the fabric of how Kore Global shows up in this community. I have sat on the steering committee for the GLI Community of Practice, we’ve presented on our work on the climate/care nexus with the GLI and Impact Measurement and Management CoPs, and my team regularly participates in the CAFIID Connects events here in Vancouver, including one we co-hosted with GAC and the Trade Commissioner's office (which Aysha Dawood from CAFIID came out to support!). We've also taken part in the mentorship program, submitted case studies on what drives performance on gender in DFIs, and shared newsletter updates on our work on gender-lens investing. Most recently, Kore Global sponsored the State of the Sector report, and being part of both the virtual share-out and the in-person event in Ottawa - these were great opportunities to connect with others in the ecosystem.

How has CAFIID supported your professional journey and growth? 

Being based in Vancouver can feel like a distance from the center of Canadian GLI activity, but CAFIID has helped us see it differently: rather than sitting on the edges of this ecosystem, Kore Global is helping build it. It has given us a seat at the table with those who are shaping this space and a platform to bring our work on gender equality and social inclusion into that conversation from the forefront rather than the periphery.

That matters more than ever right now. Given the current climate, Canadian organizations working closely together, rather than in isolation, is essential to keeping this sector resilient and moving forward. CAFIID is one of the few spaces that makes that kind of close collaboration possible, and I'm so proud to be leading a Canadian SME and to be part of a network that's genuinely helping shape GLI both nationally and globally.

Can you share a meaningful connection or key lesson learned through CAFIID? 

I’ve made so many meaningful connections through CAFIID all across Canada, but the local ones are particularly special to me. Jared Klassen from GAC, who co-hosted the Vancouver CAFIID event with us and the Trade Commissioner. Magali Lamyin from Deetken Insights, who invited me to stay at the same hotel in Mexico City at the GLI Forum last year. Diana Smallridge from Momentus Global, who I now go hiking with on the North Shore mountains regularly. Joanne Noris, who I met as an independent consultant, we regularly co-host CAFIID Connects, share info on local events, and am now working alongside on Canada’s Social Finance Fund.

If there's a lesson in all of that, it's this: relationships matter as much as the work. This work can feel big and sometimes lonely, and having people you can call, hike with, or grab a coffee with at a conference across the world makes all the difference.

What motivates you to stay involved with CAFIID? 

Canada is punching above its weight in gender lens investing with large organisations like GAC, FinDev, the Equality Fund, and Grand Challenges Canada leading the way. But there's so much work still to be done in this space, and none of us can do it alone. Collaboration isn't a nice-to-have in impact investing — it's essential. CAFIID keeps me connected to people who are just as committed to that as I am, and that keeps me energized and involved.

I'm especially excited right now because Kore Global will be at the 2X Summit in Montreal this September. Whether you will be at the 2X summit or not, I love getting to know others in the CAFIID community, so feel free to reach out on LinkedIn for a virtual or in-person coffee chat.

What advice would you give others to support their professional growth in impact investing? 

Get involved, and get specific about how. Join a Community of Practice, say yes to a mentorship program, show up to the events even when it means travelling. The relationships you build will open doors that no amount of solo research ever could. And don't underestimate your own city or region — some of my most valued connections started right here in Vancouver.

Connect with Emily on LinkedIn