Cutting-edge ideas in the world of philanthropy were showcased yesterday – often with a particular focus on the plight of women – at a forum hosted in St Moritz by UBS.

Cutting-edge ideas in the world of philanthropy were showcased yesterday – often with a particular focus on the plight of women – at a forum hosted in St Moritz by UBS.

This is the tenth such global forum on philanthropy that UBS has held. The forum concludes after a further set of sessions today.

Clients of the Zurich-listed bank, philanthropy leaders and policymakers from around the world gathered in the famous Alpine resort, for a two-day event that is designed to highlight current major issues such as “impact investing”, “venture philanthropy” and the practical processes involved in setting up philanthropic campaigns.

Sister publication WealthBriefing was the exclusive media partner to cover this event and your correspondent was moderating a panel discussion today around the topic, "Philanthropy & Investing - Broadening the Opportunity for Impact."

The Swiss bank’s event is a sign of how such wealth management firms realize that philanthropy, far from being a peripheral issue for high net worth and ultra high net worth clients, is becoming an increasingly regular topic. Philanthropy can be a way to engage with clients at a more emotional level and is also seen as a good way to engage with younger people.

Among those speaking at the event were Vuslat Doğan Sabancı, chairwoman, Hürriyet, Turkey; Carolina Müller-Möhl. Other speakers were Alexander Friedman, global chief investment officer, UBS; Kathryn Shih, CEO, UBS Wealth Management, Asia-Pacific, Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues and Michael Kimmel, Professor, State University of New York.

This publication will provide further reports on the discussions at the event in due course.