Jess is passionate about social and environmental wellbeing, and people working together to create change. Her work has always been in social innovation, in peak organisations, social enterprise and people-centred services. She was a Director at the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT. She was CEO at Community Resources, one of Australia’s largest jobs focussed social enterprises, employing over 650 people. Prior to this, she led social enterprise Green Connect through startup and scaleup. Jess came into social enterprise from a background in public policy, advocacy and community development, and has led collaborations that changed government policy and decisions.

Christina is dedicated to combating inequality by optimising solutions, and leveraging data and strategic partnerships for continuous improvement and growth. She has successfully founded and built social enterprises that have gained recognition from Westpac’s Top 200 Businesses of Tomorrow, Forbes 30u30 (Asia), and Marie Claire’s Glass Ceiling Awards. With deep leadership experience within the social enterprise sector and government, Christina harnesses her passion for systems thinking and meaningful change to drive sustainable impact. More recently, she chaired the boards of the Environmental Music Prize, Consent Labs, and the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT.

Sherryl is energised by impact ecosystems that shift and share power differently; ones that lift marginalised voices and perspectives in self-determined, empowering ways, and centre equity and wellbeing for people, place and the planet. Her background is in human rights and community development. She has extensive experience working with communities, government, non-government organisations and the United Nations in inter-agency coordination and community partnership roles. Sherryl led SCARF Refugee Support before taking up diversity and inclusion strategy development roles with various government agencies and as an independent consultant.

Donna leads the Griffith’s Centre for System Innovation’s (GSCI) evaluation and learning support at Social Enterprise Australia. Donna is an independent consultant, Industry Fellow at GCSI and Research Fellow at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne. She has extensive experience in sustainable development and markets, working with organisations to design and implement impact strategies, evaluations and learning practices related to enterprise development, inclusive businesses, accelerator and investment readiness programs, impact investment, and business and investment environment reforms. She is motivated by collaborative action-learning and systems-change efforts that improve strategy and practice and contribute to better outcomes for people and planet.

Caragh is passionate about caring for people and the planet and sharing skills and knowledge. Her goal is to contribute to the positive change of social enterprises by helping the people who help change the world. She is a finance, training and system implementation specialist working in community development and social enterprise. She was Finance Officer at Community Resources. She has also worked to support Tender Funerals, refugee and Latin American community organisations, and neighbourhood centres. She holds qualifications in bookkeeping, accounting and small business management, and is currently studying training and assessment.

Samara is a social impact practitioner, academic researcher, writer and advocate who cares deeply about justice, with a focus on race and gender. Over the past decade, Samara has led and collaborated with people and organisations to build social and economic inclusion, advocate for policy and practice change, and support community-led innovation. Samara currently holds a research position at the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University. Previously she led operations at the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA), and worked at STREAT and the Refugee Council of Australia. Samara has a Masters in International Development and Development Economics.

Raylee has a strong commitment to the environment and social justice and works within and to change systems to better care for people and the planet. She is an experienced senior legal counsel, risk and governance professional, director and company secretary. Raylee has supported social enterprises and held senior roles in a range of industries – including financial and community services, aged care, education and local government – in Australia, Ireland and the UK. Raylee holds degrees in Commerce and Law, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and has completed studies in International Social Justice. She is a graduate of AICD’s company director course, a director of All Sustainable Futures, Girls Coordinator for Scarborough Boardriders Club, a volunteer for Red Cross and holds an unrestricted NSW legal practising certificate.