This is a funder members only event.

When

Thursday 12 September 2024 

12pm - 1.00pm AEST (ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC)

11:30am – 12:30pm ACST (NT, SA)

10am – 11:00am AWST (WA) 

Virtual event only

Zoom link to be shared closer to the time. 

Overview

Creating the conditions for regional and rural social enterprises to thrive

Too often regional and rural social enterprises miss out on the support and connections that their metropolitan counterparts are able to tap into. This session will unpack the reality of what this looks like on the ground and the successes and challenges experienced by regional social enterprises. 

• Renee Martin, Head of Engagement at Sefa, will present us with an overview of the findings from their recent research which shaped the EmpowerHER: Activating Changemakers Program -  supporting early-stage social enterprises achieving outcomes for women in NSW.
• Dr Chad Renando is an expert in incorporating both community and economic development into regional enterprise capacity. Their Ready Communities process is 12 months of activation and engagement developed through their Social Impact in the Regions Conference, held on September 4-6 in Kempsey NSW. We are keen to hear the key takeaways from this Conference from Chad, and to hear how Ready Communities builds strength in regional Australian communities.

Note

• This is a virtual session only.
• Presenters will share their thoughts and views in conversation but will not offer any financial advice.

Audience

This event is intended for the Social Enterprise Funders Group members. 

We welcome other Philanthropy Australia funder members at the 'Active', 'Engaged', 'Impact membership, or New Gen tier to join the funders group. 

If you are already a funder member of Philanthropy Australia, contact programs@philanthropy.org.au to sign up to this funders group or to learn more about the philanthropic work in this area.

Not yet a Philanthropy Australia member? Please email membership@philanthropy.org.au. 

Presenters

Renee Martin - Head of Engagement, Sefa

Renee’s path to Sefa has taken her overseas, around Australia and spanned the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. Through her work at Sefa Renee contributes to developing the impact investing ecosystem by supporting social purpose organisations to be able to access the capability support and capital that they need to achieve their social impact potential, and, in so doing, address structural disadvantage in Australia.

Dr. Chad Renando

Chad has over 30 years’ experience in leadership positions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors in the United States and Australia. Following his role leading an award-winning incubator in 2017, Chad focused on understanding and supporting place-based initiatives to address systemic contributing factors to resilience in rural communities. His passion integrates his roles as a Research Fellow (Innovation Ecosystems) with the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence at the University of Southern Queensland, his work mapping and measuring systems through not for profit Startup Status, and as General Manager with the Global Entrepreneurship Network Australia.

Network co-chairs

Belinda Morrissey - Chief Executive Officer, English Family Foundation

Belinda Morrissey is passionate about how we collectively build forward just, sustainable and inclusive economies. She is the CEO of the English Family Foundation, one of the few Australian foundations with a sole focus on driving transformational change through the growth and development of social entrepreneurs and social businesses.

With deep experience within the Australian social enterprise sector and an extensive leadership background in both corporate and not for profit organisations spanning three continents, Belinda works across sectors to develop systems-based solutions that will mobilize capital and the ecosystems needed to create long term social change both within Australia and globally.

She is the Chair of Social Enterprise Australia, the national peak body for social enterprise in Australia, and is Co-Chair/Founder of the Social Enterprise Funders Network within Philanthropy Australia. In her personal capacity, she is also Chair of ActionAid Australia.

Sally McGeoch - Senior Advisor, Westpac Foundation

Sally is a senior advisor at Westpac Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, independent from Westpac Group. Sally works on the design and delivery of grant and capacity building programs for community organisations and social enterprises that create jobs and employment opportunities for Australians facing complex barriers to work.

Sally has worked at the intersection of philanthropy, business and social enterprise for close to 16 years and is a founding member of The Bread & Butter Project. She is also currently undertaking a practice-based PhD at the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne on the role of cross-sector collaboration in supporting Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE) to scale.