Former David Jones CEO Paul Zahra appointed Chair-Elect of the Social Traders Board
Paul joins as Social Traders implements its new strategy as the industry body for social enterprise and social performance.
Social Traders has appointed Paul Zahra as Chair-Elect of its Board effective 18 September 2026. Sally Powell will continue as Chair until March 2027 to ensure a planned and seamless leadership transition.
Paul joins as Social Traders implements its new strategy as the industry body for social enterprise and social performance. The strategy aims to build a thriving social enterprise sector at the heart of an economy where social performance is business as usual. Social Traders goal is to catalyse $8 billion in social value for the social enterprise sector by 2035.
Paul is an experienced Chair, non-executive director and adviser. He was CEO of David Jones from 2010 to 2014 and CEO of the Australian Retailers Association from 2020 to 2024.
His current board work centres on giving back. He is a Board Director of Wayside Chapel, where he leads the People and Governance Committee. He is also Vice Chair of KIND Collective, a certified B Corp, and Group Chair of the Mentor List, which develops emerging leaders. He is a Patron of Pride in Diversity.
Paul is a strong advocate for the role business can play in social and economic inclusion. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and studied at Stanford.
Paul Zahra
"I joined the Social Traders Board because I believe business can make a profit and support the most vulnerable in our community at the same time. Social enterprises demonstrate this every day, and Social Traders offers the opportunity to contribute to that impact across the whole sector," Paul said.
"I'm particularly looking forward to supporting Social Traders as it continues to embed social enterprise in our economy, grows corporate and government purchasing from social enterprises, and extends its services to help organisations lift their social performance. I'm grateful to Sally Powell and the Board for their welcome, and I look forward to working with Tara Anderson and the team." Paul said.
Sally joined the Social Traders Board in 2018 and has been Chair since 2022. Reflecting on her time on the Board of Social Traders and as Chair, Sally said,
“Being part of Social Traders has been one of the great privileges of my career. Working with the Board, Tara and the team to steward the organisation through eight years of growth has been a joy.
I've loved my time with Social Traders and supporting the social enterprises, members and partners who make this work possible. I'm delighted to be handing over to Paul, and I'll remain a close friend and ally of Social Traders," Sally said.
Social Traders CEO Tara Anderson thanked Sally for her immense contribution to Social Traders and welcomed Paul to the role.
"It's an exciting time for Social Traders as we deliver our new strategy as Australia's industry body for social enterprise and social performance. Thanks to Sally's exceptional leadership as Chair we are well-placed for our next phase of growth. In FY25, we catalysed our highest single year of spend with social enterprises on record, bringing our eight-year cumulative social spend between corporate and government members and certified social enterprises to more than $1.4 billion.
That's a testament to our members and certified social enterprises, and its impact that supports our vision for a fairer, more equitable Australia. We're fortunate to have Paul step into the role, bringing a unique combination of commercial and impact experience that will help us extend our work across corporate Australia, government and social enterprise."
Paul joins Deputy Chair Fran Thorn and Board members Janet Edwards, Lill Healy, Fergus Kibble, Justin Meade, Susie Pascoe, and Charlotte Petris. Each brings skills and expertise from a different industry. All share a passion for Social Traders' vision – to create a fairer and more equitable Australia.
Our team
About Social Traders
Social Traders is the largest industry body for social enterprise and social performance. Established in 2008, we’ve supported more than 300 organisations to track, measure and improve their social performance. Social Traders is Australia’s social enterprise certifier with over 750 certified social enterprises nationwide.
Social Traders has facilitated more than $1.4 billion in social spend between corporate and government members, and certified social enterprises. The eight-year total cumulative FY18 – FY25 has supported:
- 13,383 jobs for marginalised communities
- 1 million training hours for people facing barriers to employment
- 68,050 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill
- $103 million spent on delivering affordable and accessible community services and
- $16.8 million donated to charity partners
71% of Social Traders corporate and government members increased their year-on-year spend in FY25. And member organisations that purchased from certified social enterprises two years in a row spent 47% more in the second year.
You might also like
Sector News
Best practice
Case Studies
The business partnerships raising the bar on social impact
Meet the three 2026 finalists for Social Impact Partnership of the Year and the people whose lives they're changing.
Sector News
Shared mission, shared growth
What six certified social enterprises built together with Mirvac and Social Traders.
Sector News
Best practice
What is social procurement?
Embed social suppliers into your supply chain to create social impact with your buying power.