Rod began his career in equities with PaineWebber, Lehman Brothers and Paribas. He co-founded Catalyst Fund Management & Research in 1997, a venture capital and research firm (www.catfund.com). Catalyst exists to help social businesses succeed. Catalyst Fund 1, to be launched in January 2008, will invest in profitable UK-based businesses in “ethical consumerism”, health, education, alternative energy and the environment. In addition, Catalyst engages in research on these sectors which will be published through the information portal, socialinvestments.com, in March 2008. Catalyst also provides a wide variety of consultancy and advisory services to social businesses and social enterprises, predominantly in the UK. In addition, Catalyst hosts an annual autumn conference for social business CEOs and selected investors and sponsors the “Catalyst in” series of trips to study and learn from social enterprises and businesses around the world. Catalyst’s professionals also maintain the Social Business Blog and regularly lecture and participate in third party produced reports on social business and social enterprise, with a focus on the business and enterprise side. Rod currently sits on the Board of the UK Social Investment Forum, AXA Investment Managers and the Ethical Property Company, is non-executive Chairman of The Green Thing and a former Chairman of Justgiving.com and Shelter.