Socially responsible investment industry leaders will focus considerable attention on the global financial crisis at the upcoming 19th annual SRI in the Rockies Conference.

A record 720 participants are expected to attend the conference, which will run from October 26 to 28, in Whistler, B.C.

Several of the scheduled conference sessions will feature experts discussing how socially conscious investors can help to reshape the future of the global financial system around the principles of transparency, fairness, good governance, and long-term thinking, including:

> a CEO roundtable on industry trends;

> a banking sector panel focused on sustainable global finance;

> an expert panel on the sub-prime mortgage situation;

> a discussion about how wise management of environmental, social, and governance issues can reduce risk and position companies to excel over the long term; and

> a special session that will focus specifically on the global financial crisis.

“This is a unique opportunity for SRI leaders to strategize on integrating the principles of socially and environmentally responsible investing — such as responsible corporate governance — into the nation’s financial infrastructure moving forward,” says Lisa Woll, CEO of the Social Investment Forum (SIF).

The conference is a collaboration between First Affirmative Financial Network and the SIF.

“The financial crisis has put a spotlight on some of the worst practices on Wall Street, many of which socially conscious investors have worked to remedy over the years,” says George Gay, CEO of First Affirmative Financial Network and a director of the SIF. “We believe that a more socially responsible approach to investing can — and should — play a role in helping to transform the investing world.”

The conference will take place against the backdrop of an industry that continues to expand rapidly. According to the SIF’s “2007 Trends Report,” nearly one out of every nine dollars under professional management in the U.S. in 2007 was involved in SRI. From 2005-2007, SRI assets increased more than 18% while the broader universe of professionally managed assets expanded less than 3%.