Program speakers

Jacob Edwards 

Fund Manager – Australian Unity

Jacob joined Australian Unity in 2021 as the Fund Manager for the Specialist Disability Accommodation Fund, now a $250 million fund with operating and contracted commitments across Australia. As the Fund Manager, Jacob is responsible for portfolio strategy and composition, execution of equity and debt funding strategies, fund performance, managing risk, acquisition and developments to maximise returns for investors and achieve the intended sustained positive social outcomes.

Prior to joining Australian Unity, Jacob managed Bank Australia’s Impact Finance business. In this role he was responsible for establishing over $1 billion of debt funding to the Community Housing sector as well as a range of social infrastructure assets and energy efficient commercial and residential property.

Jacob is a founding Director and Treasurer of the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Alliance Ltd. (the Alliance), a Not for Profit entity established to provide a unified voice to better support development of a diverse and sustainable SDA market. Jacob is also a member of the Social Infrastructure Committee of the Property Council Australia, and member of the Australian Property Institute (API) Working Group to establish a valuation standard for SDA.

Jacob’s leadership and experience across the housing continuum afford him unique insights into policy, practice and what is required to meet the housing challenges that lay ahead of us.