Adam Levin
Founder, Touchstones 100 | Founding Member, Impact Investment WA Alliance

How lucky are we here in Western Australia. Our strength in the last economy helped WA to sail through the GFC and helped us through the pandemic. However, since then, everything has shifted. We see it. We hear it. We feel it.

A New Economy is forming. If you are wondering what it looks like, it looks like WA did in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020. WA families found themselves putting human, social, intellectual and natural capital ahead of financial capital and it felt good.

When push comes to shove we can find our humanity, move quickly, collaborate, connect with what’s truly important and find comfort with the simple things in life.  Our planet Earth that sustains us began to flourish as she was also able to breathe again. We also found we had more time and less distractions so we spent time outside in nature. We found our Natural Capital.

We were shown a window into the New Economy. The window glass was broken. It’s now time to climb through.

WA, entrusted with abundant renewal resources and great people,  is uniquely placed to flourish and prosper in the New Economy. Strong local Impact Investment and Social Enterprises are part this New Economy. We need to nurture and accelerate their growth during this period of transition. Home to the oldest continuous living culture and economy, custodians of the amazing land on which we live, our First Nations are also critical to guide us into the New Economy. By actively listening to indigenous people, we  may actually find that was Old is New again.

Our New Economy needs meaningful WA government support  in our social, environmental and cultural infrastructure, more than it needs new roads. I believe this is the fastest way to create many more meaningful profitable  enterprises and jobs and stronger communities here in WA.  

If WA is to stand on the shoulders of the Last Economy to take its place and lead in the New Economy, then now is the time to send a loud and clear message that WA has what it takes to get there.

Support the Impact Investment WA Alliance, WA Social Enterprise Council, the WA Impact Fund, Social Procurement targets and employee-owned businesses.

-Adam Levin

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