Meet the speakers

Tara Anderson is a social performance CEO and Director whose global career spans Australia, the UK and Europe. A pragmatic idealist, she blends commercial strategy with deep social impact expertise to help make business for good standard practice. With nearly 20 years’ leadership across charities, social enterprises and industry bodies, she partners with business, government and philanthropy. As CEO of Social Traders, she leads a national team embedding social value in business practice. Tara is also Co‑Founder of The Dragonfly Collective and has contributed to sector strategy through board roles. She holds an MBA and a Masters in Social Innovation.

Dr Lorraine Finlay is the Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, leading work on modern slavery, asylum seekers and refugees, business and human rights, and technology and human rights. She is a lawyer and academic specialising in human rights and public law, holding a PhD in Law from the University of Queensland and a dual Master of Laws from New York University and the National University of Singapore as a Singapura Scholar. Her previous roles include Senior Human Trafficking Specialist with the Australian Mission to ASEAN, academic at Murdoch University, and State Prosecutor with the WA DPP.

Craig Foster AM is a former Socceroo, Crystal Palace Captain and long‑time SBS broadcaster, known for his leadership on and off the field. A prominent human rights advocate, he led the global campaign to free Bahraini refugee Hakeem al‑Araibi, featured in Fighting for Hakeem and the award‑winning documentary The Defenders. Craig helped evacuate Afghan women and girls fleeing the Taliban and co‑led Amnesty’s Game Over campaign. A former Chair of the players’ association, he championed gender equality in football. Craig is an author, filmmaker and anti‑racism advocate, holding a Master of Sport, Bachelor of Laws and an Honorary Doctorate. 

David is Queensland Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership. Elected as the Member for Toowoomba South in 2016, he brings broad experience to Parliament. Raised near Acland, he holds economics and law (honours) degrees from the University of Queensland. David worked with Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Brisbane and the Manpower Group in London before returning to Toowoomba, where he spent a decade in senior roles at Heritage Bank, including General Counsel. A founding director of Vanguard Laundry a large scale social enterprise, he has served on several boards and committees. A father of three, he enjoys piano and cricket.

Erin Hatton serves as Head of Impact for Brisbane 2032, guiding the Social Impact portfolio for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With more than 25 years’ experience throughout Australia, the Pacific and Africa, she has built a career at the intersection of sport, community development and diplomacy. Erin is known for her strategic leadership, collaboration, and commitment to inclusion and celebrating diversity. Her work is fueled by a belief in the power of sport to create meaningful, lasting impact in people’s lives. 

Naima Wilson is a brand, marketing, and communications leader with over 20 years’ experience. She is currently the Marketing & Impact Director for Patagonia in Australia, a company recognised for its mission-led approach, responsible business and environmental activism. In her role, she leads a multidisciplinary team spanning brand storytelling, marketing activation, environmental advocacy, and community building advancing Patagonia’s purpose: We’re in business to save our home planet. 

Angela “Ange” Motherwell is a Social Media and Marketing Creator at Better Merch, a certified social enterprise producing branded merchandise with purpose. As an Indigenous woman with cerebral palsy and a wheelchair user, she brings creativity, lived experience and an important voice to the team. Ange helps share the stories behind Better Merch’s people, products and impact through social media and content creation. She is passionate about representation, inclusion and showcasing what’s possible when workplaces focus on people’s strengths. Through her work, she highlights how everyday business decisions can create meaningful employment and genuine social impact.

Kat Dekker is the co-founder of Give Industries, a social enterprise transforming the way we think about business and giving. With a background in theatre and community engagement, working everywhere from prisons to marginalised communities, Kat never expected to be running a trades company. Today, she leads an organisation that operates like a high-quality electrical contractor but exists solely to raise funds for charity. Under her leadership, Give Industries directs 100% of its profit toward the world’s most effective charities, proving that profit-for-good isn't just a concept, but a powerful, scalable reality. 

Aaron Reid leads procurement‑driven social value, turning policy intent into measurable outcomes without compromising commercial performance. As GM Social Value at Ventia, he helps translate the company’s purpose—making infrastructure work for communities—into practical actions that deliver positive impact. With over 30 years’ experience across the UK and Australia in sustainable procurement, social value measurement, and inclusive workforce and supply‑chain reform, he co‑founded and co‑chairs the Australian Social Value Taskforce, which created the Global TOM System for Australia. He also helped relaunch the Supply Chain Sustainability School. Aaron focuses on moving social value from intent to impact through clear requirements and evidence‑based reporting.

Shannen Cooper is the National Sales Manager for TradeMutt, a Brisbane‑based social enterprise workwear brand known for its bold designs and quirky humour. TradeMutt donates 50% of profits to TIACS, funding free call and text counselling for tradies, truckies, rural workers, and their families. After a decade in the domestic beer industry, Shannen brings commercial acumen, sales strategy, and scrappy improvisation to the social enterprise sector, championing a “hunt as a pack” mindset. He is a proud father of two boys, two elderly dogs, and a guinea pig named Scratchy—all of whom, naturally, wear TradeMutt.

Andrew is the CEO and Co‑founder of Humble Brag, Australia’s new social enterprise shaking up the coffee industry. Humble Brag supplies premium ethical coffee to workplaces, homes, and cafés nationwide, donating 50% of profits to support Indigenous young people and international aid. Andrew is also Managing Director of Co‑Ground, an Australian charity delivering community‑led development in Vanuatu, the Philippines, and Australia for over a decade. With more than 20 years in community development and a decade in social entrepreneurship, he stays grounded through humour, parenting Atlas and Leo, and embracing his love of puns.

Shannon Ruska has shared Aboriginal culture since childhood, guided by his father Eddie Ruska and Elders who instilled a deep connection to story and performance. He began touring with one of Brisbane’s first Indigenous drama groups, discovering his passion for the stage. Shannon later co‑founded the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers, growing the group from local shows to major international events including the G20 Summit and global sporting ceremonies. A visionary storyteller, he created the award‑winning Riverlife Mirrabooka experience and Spirits of the Red Sand. Named Ipswich Australian of the Year in 2003, he continues to teach, inspire and lead as a cultural consultant.

Matt is a globally recognised leader in social entrepreneurship and ecosystem building. He launched his first social enterprise in 1993, working with youth‑at‑risk, and since being named Young Australian of the Year in 1996 has focused on youth entrepreneurship, rural communities and sector development. He co‑founded ACRE in 2012 to drive rural renewal and led the 2016 community buyback of the Old Beechworth Gaol, now a national demonstration site for social enterprise. ACRE has since convened international rural social enterprise initiatives, including the Rural Manifesto. Matt also co‑founded Social Enterprise Australia and established Community Owned Australia in 2026.

Mel is driven by a commitment to catalyse positive impact. She is the Founder and CEO of Humans of Purpose and its Academy, an impact venture working to achieve full social and economic participation for women facing complex employment barriers. A champion of diversity, inclusion and systemic change, she also hosts the Humans of Purpose podcast, featuring global purpose‑driven leaders. Since 2015, Mel has helped convene the Asia‑Pacific impact investing ecosystem through Impact Asia Pacific and The Coterie. She previously founded The Coterie for Renewal and has led social‑purpose organisations as Chief Executive, specialising in systems change, innovation and partnership building 

Anna leads Social Value Portal’s commercial function spanning Sales, Marketing, Consulting, Partnerships and Global Expansion, helping organisations worldwide embed social value into their operations. As Co-Chair of the Australian Social Value Taskforce, she contributed to developing the TOM System for Australia, a framework used across sectors to measure and report social value. She also oversees SVP’s partnership with Social Traders. Based in the UK, Anna brings nine years of experience at SVP and a background in the social justice sector, having worked with charities and social enterprises. Her work strengthens the integration of social value into business practice. 

Coralie is a Graduate of the AICD and has completed Harvard Business studies. A 2017 Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Awards finalist, she also holds degrees from Wollongong University, Sydney University and a Master’s in Management from UTS. Coralie has spent more than 20 years in local government across NSW and Queensland, holding senior executive and general manager roles, and has also served as a Chief Executive in the not‑for‑profit sector in the Northern Territory and NSW. Having lived in major cities as well as rural and remote communities, she now resides with her family near the Hunter Valley vineyards. 

Kristina Ward is the Group Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at ACCIONA ANZ, leading initiatives that advance inclusion, workforce participation and social performance across the organisation. She is passionate about creating opportunities through employment, procurement, and community engagement, with a strong focus on embedding social procurement into business operations. Drawing on experience in adult education, workforce development, and organisational change, Kristina brings a practical approach to creating social value alongside commercial outcomes. A committed advocate for underrepresented groups, she works across ACCIONA to strengthen diversity, support sustainable employment pathways and enhance the company’s positive impact on communities. 

Stella Heesom is CEO and Head of Impact at TechForGood Australia, a certified Social Enterprise, B Corp and Carbon Neutral technology supplier. She leads initiatives that help organisations create measurable social and environmental outcomes through technology procurement. Under her leadership, TechForGood has developed a hybrid impact model combining workforce enablement, digital inclusion, circular economy principles and enterprise procurement to deliver impact at scale. Stella believes organisations can create meaningful change through everyday purchasing decisions, not just dedicated ESG programs. A passionate advocate for social procurement, she works with businesses to generate commercial value, inclusive employment opportunities and lasting benefits for communities and the broader economy. 

Shaheen is an inclusive learning designer, facilitator and co-design practitioner who helps organisations create systems where more people can participate, contribute and thrive. Working across government, health, education and community sectors, she designs learning, engagement and participatory processes that centre lived experience, reduce barriers and strengthen equity. Drawing on learning sciences, human-centred design and participatory practice, she supports capability building, leadership development and community engagement initiatives. As founder of Ta'leem Consulting, Shaheen helps organisations recognise hidden assumptions, redesign exclusionary systems and translate inclusive intentions into practical action that expands participation, belonging and equitable outcomes. 

Mark is the Chief Operating Officer of White Box Enterprises, a leading social enterprise intermediary. A respected leader in Australia’s social enterprise sector, he brings more than 20 years of experience as a buyer from social enterprises, a social enterprise operator, advocate, and service provider. Mark co-founded Social Traders and, as Executive Director for 13 years, led the development of its social enterprise marketplace. He now oversees innovative programs and trials at White Box that support jobs-focused social enterprises, including the Payment by Outcomes Trial, the Social Enterprise Loan Fund (SELF), and the Evolve capacity-building program across Australia today nationwide. 

Tom Allen is the Founder and CEO of Impact Boom and the Business for Good Network (BFGN). As a renowned sector leader, he specialises in co-designing high-impact programs and events, building leadership capability and fostering collaborative ecosystems. Having worked intensively with foundations, governments and 400+ impact-driven enterprises, Tom bridges the gap between strategy and execution. He is a sought-after facilitator, mentor, entrepreneur-in-residence and advisor known for his work on the AMP Foundation Tomorrow Makers Programs, Taronga: Hatch Accelerator Program, leading Australia’s successful bid for the Social Enterprise World Forum 2022 and catalysing growth of the movement. 

Dr Zara Lasater is Executive Officer of the Frankston Social Enterprise & Innovation Hub, a not-for-profit organisation supporting individuals and organisations to launch, grow and scale social enterprises while advancing social innovation across Melbourne’s south east. With experience as a consultant, researcher and not-for-profit manager, she has worked across sectors and countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zara has lectured at the University of Melbourne, RMIT and Swinburne University of Technology on social enterprise, leadership, philanthropy, innovation, entrepreneurship, design, evaluation and public policy. She is deeply committed to place-based approaches and community impact and social change. 

Michael Stuart is the Head of Impact, Data, and Digital at Social Traders, where he has been a key leader for four years. He oversees all data functions, focusing on impact measurement aligned with the organisation’s theory of change. His work enables Social Traders to track and demonstrate social value, supporting strategic decisions and continuous improvement. With extensive experience in data analysis and governance across Australia and the U.K., Michael excels at managing complex data systems and generating meaningful insights. Known for translating data into actionable strategies, he is committed to leveraging data for social good and advancing Social Traders’ mission.