Social Enterprise Australia

A social enterprise is
a business, for good.

They trade like any other business,
but exist

to make the

world a better place.

specifically

Social Enterprise Australia is the peak body for social
enterprise in Australia. We connect the sector to plan,
act and learn together. We do this to have a shared
national strategy and voice, and to develop new ways
to build social and environmental wellbeing.

Our vision is working together to ensure all people,
places and the planet thrive. Our mission is to foster
a vibrant and connected Australian social enterprise
sector that provides:

Environmental care

People-centred services

Access to decent work

Community-led innovation

Our ambition is for a future where social enterprise
is business as usual.

Our ambition is for a future where social enterprise
is business as usual.

A social enterprise is a business, for good.

They trade like any other business, but exist specifically to make the world a better place.

Social Enterprise Australia is the peak body for social enterprise in Australia. We connect the sector to plan, act and learn together. We do this to have a shared national strategy and voice, and to develop new ways to build social and environmental wellbeing.

Our vision is working together to ensure all people, places and the planet thrive. Our mission is to foster a vibrant and connected Australian social enterprise sector that provides:

Environmental care
People-centred services
Access to decent work
Community-led innovation

Our ambition is for a future where social enterprise is business as usual.

National Strategy

We are working with the social enterprise sector in Australia to develop a national strategy.

Our approach is based on two research reports completed by the Yunus Centre at Griffith University. They can be read here:

Social Enterprise Australia will build momentum and infrastructure for:

Engagement and connection

It will provide pathways for people to engage and co-create around place, mission and sector development. It will connect existing collaborations and activities and facilitate new ones that the sector sees as critical, including cross-sector and global initiatives. These will inform shared direction and action.

Knowledge and learning

It will provide ways to share and learn about social enterprise and evolve to meet the interests and needs of the sector. This will include capturing data and knowledge from the sector and shared evaluation. It will be done to enable real-time understanding of practice and impact and to support decision-making.

Shared direction and action

It will lead a national strategy and work with others to build public will, advance policy, grow markets, and mobilise resources. These functions will be co-owned and shaped by all who support the vision, mission, values and principles of the sector.

A budget to unlock the impact of social enterprise

2023-24 Pre-Budget submission – View it now.

Australia faces social, environmental and economic challenges that demand new responses.

The social enterprise sector can help.

However, social enterprise sits between traditional business and charity, so many fall through the gaps in the supports that exist. It does the job of both without the enablers of either. As a result, it is not realising its potential.

We seek a social enterprise national strategy to change this; one informed and powered by a partnership between the sector and Government.

We see this as being challenge-led, focusing on national priorities where social enterprise can make a big contribution.

Values and Principles

Authenticity: I strive to be honest with myself and with others.

I seek to be transparent and clear in my communications, talk with others not about them, and do what I say I will. I take on difficult conversations, decisions and actions rather than avoid them. I aim to own my mistakes and limitations. I seek to be kind to myself and others.

Creativity: I help create space for imagination and innovation.

I see that the future is not determined and is ours to create. I foster space to dream big, explore, and make mistakes or get it right. I recognise that it’s ok and sometimes good to change my mind and for others to change theirs. I seek to emerge ideas, take action and learn together.

Justice: I seek to enable the full participation of all.

I recognise that some people are excluded and their voices are not heard. I aim to identify and reject discrimination and to value lived experience and self-determination. I seek to be aware of any exclusion or privilege of my own.

Collaboration: I plan, act and learn with others. I will be generous.

I aim to be aware of my ego, assumptions and emotions and to keep in check how they affect me and others. I seek joint responsibility rather than credit. I am upfront about my own interests to identify when they could undermine or help shared goals.

Diversity: I seek out views that are different from my own.

I recognise that there are different ways to participate and create impact. I ask people what they mean, listen with curiosity and seek to understand rather than make assumptions or speak for them. I celebrate the contribution of others and recognise that I always have things to learn.

Our People

Jess Moore, CEO

Jess is passionate about social justice and climate safety, and people working together to create change. Her work has always been in social innovation, in peak organisations, social enterprise and community development. She is 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. 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 movement building, and has led collaborations that changed government policy and decisions.

Christina Chun, COO

Christina works to combat inequality by optimising solutions, and leveraging data and strategic partnerships for continuous improvement and growth. She has built social enterprises that have been recognised by Westpac’s Top 200 Businesses of Tomorrow, Forbes30U30 in Asia, and in Marie Claire’s Glass Ceiling Awards. Christina has been in leadership positions across social enterprise and government, and currently holds advisory positions across the Environmental Music Prize, Consent Labs, and the UNSW Business Advisory Council.

Mikey Leung, Network Lead

Mikey works to catalyse systemic change through impact networks. After being inspired by his time in Bangladesh and discovering Muhammad Yunus’ concept of ‘social business,’ he found himself quite at home in Australia’s social enterprise community after moving here in 2009. Through his ongoing role at Digital Storytellers, he uses the power of storytelling to co-create better narratives for the world. After helping set up the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT in 2019, he then worked to nurture the initial growth of the Alliance of Social Enterprise Networks of Australia.

Belinda Morrissey, Chair

Belinda is CEO at the English Family Foundation, Chair of ActionAid Australia, is on the Advisory Board bringing the Social Enterprise World Forum to Australia and on the Advisory Board of the Social Impact Hub. She has an extensive leadership background in both corporate and not for profit organisations, with a particular focus on philanthropy as catalytic capital to develop the social enterprise sector and drive social change.

Alex Hannant, Director

Alex has extensive experience in sustainable development, social enterprise, and innovation. His current focus is to better understand systems change and the infrastructures needed for regenerative futures. He is Director at Pocketknife, an Executive in Residence at The Centre of Impact Innovation (formerly The Yunus Centre), Griffith University, and Co-Chair of B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Previous roles include Co-Director and Professor of Practice at The Yunus Centre (AUS), CEO of the Ākina Foundation (NZ), Director of Programmes at LEAD International (UK), and Head of Partnerships at the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (UK).

Adrian Appo, Director

Adrian is the First Nations Lead at Yajilarra Trust and holds positions on the Salvation Army Australian Territory Board, Impact Investing Australia Advisory Board, Equity Trustees Indigenous Advisory Committee, and BP Australia Indigenous Advisory Committee. Adrian is a social entrepreneur and Gooreng Gooreng man from South East Queensland with extensive experience in both the First Nations space and establishing ‘green field’ start ups. He was founding CEO at Ganbina and founding Executive Director at First Australians Capital.

Tara Anderson, Director

Tara is the CEO of Social Traders, the national trailblazers in social enterprise procurement. Tara has a background in strategy, marketing, sales, innovation, business development and multi-partner alliances at executive and Board level. Tara has an MBA, Masters in Social Innovation and deep expertise across charities, social enterprises, intermediaries and consultancy in Australia, UK and Europe. She is passionate about the intersection between business and purpose, and is energised by working with talented people who challenge business as usual.

David Brookes, Director

David is a Director at the Social Enterprise Network of Victoria and is the former Managing Director at Social Traders. He was an inaugural Director of the Social Enterprise World Forum. David came into social enterprise from a background in corporate relations, and has extensive senior management experience in the Australian corporate sector, having held roles at Rio Tinto, Toyota and Amcor. He also has economic development and policy experience having worked for a major industry association and in local government.

Matt Pfahlert, Director

Matt is CEO and co-founder at the ACRE: Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Academy Australia. One of Australia’s pioneering social entrepreneurs, Matt is helping to shape regional and rural Australia through entrepreneurship. Motivated by a desire to create prosperous, healthy, thriving communities, Matt led a community buy-back of the Old Beechworth Gaol – an Australian heritage icon. The site is being re-purposed as an exemplar of social enterprise, impact investment and rural rejuvenation through community owned assets.

Alexie Seller, Director

Alexie is Co-CEO of Enterprise Learning Projects and Convener of Impact North. As an internationally recognised social entrepreneur, she is motivated to empower Australia’s remote Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities to thrive in business. Alexie returned to Australian shores in 2019 after co-founding, scaling and handing-over an award-winning organisation, Pollinate Group, which equips women to lead their communities out of poverty and has reached over half a million people in just seven years. Her unique approach to community development is fuelled by her desire to see a more just and equitable world in her lifetime.