Backing the Bold – Philanthropy and finance aligning to unlock social enterprise growth
The social enterprise sector has recently endorsed its new national strategy, placing a clear emphasis on the priority of creating the conditions for growth. But what does this look like in practice—and how can philanthropy play a catalytic role?
Join us for a compelling discussion on how a critical gap in access to capability-building and appropriate capital sparked the creation of an innovative partnership between Sefa and Hand Heart Pocket. “Backing the Bold” brings together tailored capability support and flexible loan finance, equipping social enterprises to strengthen their foundations, accelerate growth, and expand their impact.
Hear directly from Sara Parrott, CEO of Hand Heart Pocket, and Hanna Ebeling, CEO of Sefa, as they unpack the vision, design, and early insights from this pioneering initiative. You'll also gain a practitioner's perspective from a Backing the Bold participant who will share their firsthand experience of participating in the program.
This session offers a unique opportunity to explore how collaborative, fit-for-purpose funding models can better meet the evolving needs of the social enterprise sector—and what it will take to scale them.
Please come prepared to join in the conversation, connect with your fellow funders, and discuss and reflect on the session together.
Online event
Details will be provided after the registration is submitted.
Date and time
Monday 1 June 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST (ACT, NSW, QLD, TAS, VIC)
11:30am - 12:30pm ACST (NT, SA)
10:00am - 14:00am AWST (WA)
Audience
This session is for Philanthropy Australia Social Enterprise Funders Network members. We welcome other funder members at the Engage (individual/organisation) or Impact membership tier who are interested in funding social enterprises.
If you are already a funder member of Philanthropy Australia, register through this page or reach out programs@philanthropy.org.au to sign up to this funders network.
Not yet a Philanthropy Australia member? Please email membership@philanthropy.org.au.
Note
Presenters will share their thoughts and views in conversation but will not offer any financial advice.
Speakers
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Sara Parrott, Chief Executive Officer, Hand Heart Pocket
Sara has significant experience in grant-making, social impact measurement, not-for-profit management, corporate responsibility and stakeholder relations. She was previously the Head of Corporate Responsibility at an Australian finance, insurance, and banking corporation based in Brisbane and has been the National Manager of a corporate foundation. Sara has held executive management positions in both not-for-profits and publicly listed companies and has also served on several not-for-profit boards and steering committees. She has formal qualifications in business management and marketing.
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Hanna Ebeling, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Social Enterprise Finance Australia (Sefa)
Hanna has done far too much to cram into this bio — perhaps it’s her German efficiency. From traditional banking with HSBC to impact investment in the Philippines, Hanna brings a global practice lens to Sefa as Chief Executive Officer. She is on the board of disability service provider Woodville Alliance and social enterprise Vanguard Laundry, and as a member of government and sector reference groups contributes to improving collaboration between government, private sector and philanthropy.
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At home you’ll find Hanna preparing dehydrated meals for her next bushwalk or (long-term) planning her first overseas adventure with her newly acquired Australian passport. Hanna lives and works on unceded Gadigal land.
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Peer Network Chair
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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.
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Anita Hopkins, CEO, Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation
Anita is a highly experienced philanthropic executive, having worked with private, corporate and community foundations, as well as individual donors. She has led a number of philanthropic entities, including the Portland House Foundation and the Jack Brockhoff Foundation, and has been the inaugural CEO of the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation since 2022. She holds an MBA (Monash), post graduate qualifications in women’s studies and public policy, and is currently completing a Masters of Social Impact (CSI, Swinburne).
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Peer Network Lead
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Brianna Kerr, Director, Knowledge and Practice, Philanthropy Australia
Brianna (Bri) Kerr is a social entrepreneur, academic, facilitator and consultant, with a decade of experience turning insight into action, knowledge into practice.
After an array of early career experiences in international development – spanning work in Papua New Guinea, India, Malawi and Indonesia – Bri co-founded social enterprise Kua – an organisation dedicated to improving the livelihoods of smallholder coffee farmers in Uganda.
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When Kua was acquired by Commonfolk, Bri stepped into the higher education space – developing and delivering social impact and sustainability courses at the Centre for Social Impact UNSW and Monash Business School.
In recent years, Bri has consulted for a range of for-purpose organisations, both independently and in partnership with Pale Blue. Notably, in 2025, she managed the She Gives National Research Project – the largest mixed-methods study into women’s giving ever undertaken in Australia.
Bri holds a Bachelor of Arts from UNSW (Distinction) and a Master of Human Rights from the University of Sydney, where she studied as a distinguished Westpac Future Leaders Scholar.
Alongside her role at Philanthropy Australia, Bri is the doting Founder of Five Bucks and an eager Non-Executive Director of Think Forward.
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