Rockefeller to speak at NZ philanthropic conference

Pictured, US millionaire and philanthropist, John D. Rockefeller. Justin Rockefeller, a fifth generation member of the famously rich Rockefeller family will visit NZ next year.

Justin Rockefeller, a fifth generation member of the famously rich Rockefeller family, will speak to a New Zealand philanthropic conference next April.

Philanthropy New Zealand said the New York-based investor will be the opening keynote speaker at its biennial conference in Auckland.

Philanthropy NZ said Rockefeller would talk about his work as an "impact" investor, which he described as being at the intersection between philanthropy and capitalism.

He will also talk about ethical investing and the recent decision by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) to start divesting from some fossil fuels, focusing initially on limiting its exposure to coal and tar sands.

The US$860m RBF is a private family philanthropic foundation set up in 1940 to help advance social change. Rockefeller is an RBF board member and a member of its investment and audit committees.

The Rockefeller family originally made its fortune from oil. Rockefeller describes his role in the fund's move towards sustainable investing as being "an annoying gadfly".

"I have been able to work with others on the board and the investment committee to ask tough questions, and to think about how we can maximise the foundation's total impact," he said in a statement.

Philanthropy New Zealand provides help and leadership for people and organisations interested in philanthropy. Its members include private philanthropists, family, community and corporate foundations, and iwi and community trusts.

"Justin comes from a long and illustrious line of philanthropists, but like many next-generation donors he is putting his own twist on what it means to be a philanthropist in the 21st century," Philanthropy NZ chief executive Liz Gibbs said in a statement.