Jonathan Mowll

Jon is a Senior Analyst at the Thirty Percy Foundation, where alongside working on grant-making and forging lasting relationships with grant partners, his focus is on redefining what we mean by ‘investment’, particularly private investment. This translates into developing investment policies and practices which centre the present and future needs of communities and the flourishing of natural ecosystems, rather than the demands of financial capital. He has particular interests in systemic drivers of chronic environmental and social challenges, and the psychology and politics of ‘enough’.  He has written research papers on economic inequality (2019) and supply chains (forthcoming).   Jon has previously worked for a consultancy firm, focusing on integrating environmental and social factors into independent counterparty due diligence for trade finance banks.

Jon holds a First Class degree in History from Christ’s College, Cambridge, as well as the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Jon is a keen cricketer, walker, and photographer, and enjoys spending his free time on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

Work w/ CUSP

Jon’s work with CUSP is focusing on investment management in a post-growth context. The key question at the centre of the research is to what extent the investment industry’s pursuit of returns on capital can be reconciled with a post-growth worldview. This is not simply ‘how to invest in conditions of negative, stable, or low economic growth’. Rather, it will be an attempt to shape a purpose to (private) investment beyond the traditional returns on capital. Some key issues to be unpacked include: (i) the relationship between shareholders and business – where do growth drivers originate?; (ii) whether some asset classes lend themselves to slower growth; (iii) whether different ownership models for business, such as co-operatives or other forms of collective ownership, may be preferable from a post-growth perspective; and (iv) how to reconcile private investment with a desire for public (or common) luxury and private sufficiency.