Tara Anderson
CEO, Social Traders
Tara is the CEO of Social Traders, with extensive experience in strategy, business development, and innovation across the for-purpose sector in Australia, the UK, and Europe. Tara was a Founding Director of Social Enterprise Australia and holds an MBA, a Master’s in Social Innovation, and a degree in Media and Communications- championing the social enterprise model.
Katrina Brooks
Social Sustainability Manager, Mirvac
Katrina is the Social Sustainability Manager at Mirvac, where she leads community investment and social inclusion initiatives. With over 14 years at Mirvac, she has contributed to their "This Changes Everything" strategy, targeting a $100 million investment in the social sector by 2030. Previously, she worked in fundraising and events in the not-for-profit sector.
Nan Caple
Community Bank National Council
Nan has been part of the community bank network since 2000, when her local bank closed. She helped establish a community-owned franchise of Bendigo Bank, which has since invested $4 million into local prosperity. Nationwide, 200 community companies have contributed over $375 million to Australian communities since 1998.
Tom Dawkins
Co-founder, StartSomeGood & LendForGood
Tom is a social entrepreneur who co-founded StartSomeGood, a platform for social impact projects, and served as its CEO until its acquisition by General Good in 2024. Now Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Tom mentors founders and co-founded LendForGood, a platform connecting social enterprises with impact investors.
Hanna Ebeling
CEO, Sefa
Hanna is the CEO of Sefa, where she helps social purpose organisations develop capital solutions and access impact investment. With a background in traditional banking and venture philanthropy, Hanna's expertise lies in blended finance, community-led enterprises, and housing innovation. She also serves on the boards of Woodville Alliance and Vanguard Laundry.
Alex Hooke
Executive Director of Advocacy and Engagement, Social Traders
Alex leads certification for social enterprises, impact measurement, and relationships with philanthropy and government. He advocates for policy changes and partnerships to grow the social enterprise sector, drawing from his experience founding social enterprises and championing business for good.
Carmen Garcia AM
CEO and Founder, Community Corporate
Carmen is the CEO of Community Corporate, a social enterprise focused on cultural inclusion. She drives partnerships that create employment opportunities for refugees and migrants. In 2024, she received the Member of the Order of Australia and led Community Corporate to win the Social Traders Impact Partnership of the Year Award (SA and WA).
Cheryl Gray
Australian Market Lead, WEConnect International
Representing WEConnect International in Australia and Oceania, Cheryl is dedicated to supporting women-owned businesses to connect and prosper. Based in Brisbane, Cheryl is a proud Quandamooka woman, business owner and also CEO of Women’s Network Australia. She is a former newspaper journalist and has worked in media and pubic relations for over 25 years.
Yvonne Kelly
CEO, Glow Up Careers
Yvonne leads Glow Up Careers, a social enterprise focused on empowering individuals in their career journeys. Recently recognized with the Women Changing the World Award in London, she has 25 years of HR and recruitment experience, championing diversity and inclusion. Glow Up Careers has coached over 1,600 refugees and migrants, transforming hiring practices.
Lawrence Kusz
Founder, Chatstat
Lawrence is the Founder and Managing Director of Chatstat, an AI platform dedicated to protecting youth mental health from online risks like cyberbullying and self-harm. Under his leadership, Chatstat has supported over 28,000 young Australians and recently expanded into government partnerships to address workplace psychosocial hazards. This year, he was named Social Traders Social Enterprise Pioneer of the Year.
Hedayat Osyan
Founder and CEO, CommUnity Construction
Hedayat is a dedicated social entrepreneur and advocate for refugees. He founded CommUnity Construction in 2018 to empower and train refugees, supporting over 91 trainees and completing more than 290 projects. A 2023 Westpac Foundation Social Change Fellow, Hedayat has been recognised with the 2024 Les Murray Award for his impactful work.
Robert Servine
General Manager, Green Connect
Robert is the General Manager at Green Connect, leveraging over 12 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. With a background in managing programs for youth and Aboriginal communities, he advocates for sustainability and social inclusion. His psychology degree and global experiences shape his holistic leadership approach.
Monique Ward
Executive Director, Innovation and Services, Social Traders
Monique is integrating social value into business and government supply chains at Social Traders. With over 20 years of experience, she has transformed procurement teams across 14 Asia-Pacific countries. Monique is passionate about empowering women-owned businesses and building equitable societies through sustainable procurement practices.
Pippa Harrison
Social Impact & Workforce Integration Manager, Webuild
Pippa is the Social Impact & Workforce Integration Manager at Webuild, working on the $5 billion Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project. Passionate about community development, she launched the National Social Impact Framework in 2021, transforming the construction industry’s approach to social responsibility. With nearly 20 years in media, she now leverages her strategic expertise to enhance local business capacity and foster sustainable job opportunities.
Suzanne Grech
Head of Supplier Services, Supply Nation
Suzanne, a proud Gamilaraay woman from Coonabarabran, NSW, has advocated for Indigenous affairs for over 15 years. As Head of Supplier Services, she oversees audit, registration, and certification while fostering collaboration. After launching her own catering business, Suzanne became the first Indigenous Female Supplier Diversity Relationship Manager in corporate Australia, promoting equity and support for First Nations businesses.
Joe Karten
Head of Sustainability and Social Impact, Built
Joe is an industry leader in sustainability with over two decades of international and local experience in creating some of the most sustainable buildings and leads sustainability and social impact at Built. Joe contributes to industry think tanks and stakeholder groups to improve the Australia property industry’s response to the environmental and social challenges we face.
Sara van der Schatte Olivier
Executive Manager, Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships, Westpac
As Executive Manager of Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships at Westpac, Sara leads initiatives to enhance sustainability in the supply chain. Her expertise includes emissions reduction, circularity, supplier diversity, and risk management. Advocating for responsible procurement, she collaborates with suppliers and stakeholders to minimise impacts and drive positive outcomes for people and the planet.
Sally McGeoch
Senior Advisor, Westpac Foundation
Sally manages grant and capacity-building programs for community organisations and social enterprises that create jobs for Australians facing barriers to work. With nearly 17 years of experience in philanthropy and social enterprise, she is a founding member of The Bread & Butter Project and is pursuing a PhD on cross-sector collaboration in Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE) at Swinburne.
Jaison Hoernel
CEO, Good Cycles
Jaison has over 20 years of professional experience in the bicycle industry in Australia and internationally. He successfully established a leading commuter and specialty bicycle retail shop and holds an Executive MBA from RMIT. Jaison has held management roles in Australia and Asia, focusing on developing funding models for public transport projects while championing social equity.
Sharon Morris
Group Regional Head - APAC, World Commerce & Contracting
Sharon is a passionate advocate for shared values and positive change. As Group Regional Head of APAC at World Commerce & Contracting, she leads activities across the Asia-Pacific, supporting sustainable and inclusive contracting. With over 20 years of executive experience, she has advanced procurement expertise while prioritising diversity and inclusion in the sector.