The Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) is to open its doors to members in November. AVPN, which has been set up as a counterpart to the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) will aim to create an active network of private equity firms, foundations, high net worth families, professional service firms, corporations, investors and academics in the region interested in venture philanthropy. EVPA now has more than 130 members in 20 countries.

AVPN will also act as a conduit for ideas from the US and Europe and will promote the exchange of knowledge and best practice within Asia. Simon Chadwick (pictured), whose background is in private equity fundraising and advisory services, will be CEO of the new network. Kevin Teo, a co-founder of Volans, a social innovation company, former head of East and Southeast Asia for the Schwab Foundation and a Global Leadership Fellow at the World Economic Forum, will be chief operating officer.

In order to raise interest, AVPN is launching a roadshow which will involve venture philanthropy practitioners Impetus Trust from the UK and New Profit Inc from the US. It will visit four Asian cities in October: Mumbai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. There will also be a European study tour for prospective members of AVPN in mid-November, with a roundtable in London followed by a visit to the EVPA conference in Turin.

AVPN is headquartered in Singapore and will have members across Asia. It already has country consultants Sohini Bhattacharya in India and Ken Ito in Japan.

For more information
Contact Simon Chadwick at simon@avpn.asia or Kevin Teo at kevin@avpn.asia
http://www.avpn.asia