Introductions and getting to know each other

Hi everyone, I am Mark Daniels, I have been working at Social Traders since we started 11 years ago. More broadly, I have been heavily involved in running, buying from, advocating for or building new social enterprise systems since 2001. My work is currently centred on Social Traders Marketplace with a particular focus on attracting and servicing buyer members. I am based in Melbourne but am involved in SE nationally. I'm here because its important that the sector is able to set out its own vision and activities to get more functional and to inform government policy. I'm also keen to ensure that social procurement is given attention as well as the other challenges and opportunities for SE. I also think that this process and the people leading it are pretty interesting - so I wanted to be part of this innovative approach.

Hi everyone, Tom here! I'm the co-founder and CEO of StartSomeGood. We're a social impact ecosystem-builder with a mission of connecting innovation to capital for social change. I'm personally very passionate about building a more participatory democracy, which for me is a society where every person has access to the tools, coaching, community and support to be part of creating change. At StartSomeGood we pursue this goal by providing technology tools for community-building and fundraising, through our capacity-building programs and through running impact accelerators on behalf of corporate, foundation and government partners. While our work is not exclusively for social enterprises, they represents a growing portion of all that we do, and we are a passionate social enterprise ourselves. I'm here because I love the sector and am keen to help however I can. Also I wanted to hang out with all you nice people.

Hi everyone, I am Helen and am late to the Social Enterprise space but loving it. After growing up in the community NFP space, I love that SE is a sustainable business model for enterprises to do great work in the world. I have a SE called Spare Harvest, we connect people to exchange what they have spare in their kitchens and gardens. We are on a mission to a social and environmental impact in local communities across Australia. As a resident of the Sunshine Coast and a team member of the first regional chapter of QSEC, I am excited about this project and how it can support the development of SE in regional Queensland and Australia.

Hi all. I'm Jo. I've been involved with social enterprise development for about 25 years and have been researching social enterprise for 23 of those. I am the director of the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne, which is the largest social enterprise research centre in the world. I'm also the Chair of CERES Environment Park in Melbourne, which turns over about $15 million, 95% through its social enterprises each year. As of last week, I'm also on the board of the Westpac Foundation, which has a long-standing commitment to social enterprise development. Happy to help if and where I can, and I'm here because - after 7 years at QUT - I know the Qld SE sector rocks :)

Hello there. I’m Helen and I’m passionate about impact, especially for incarcerated or formally incarcerated people. I’m with WorkRestart, a social enterprise that is operational in SE Qld. We are pushing the boundaries within the prison system and have reduced recidivism significantly. I’m very interested in expanding the social enterprise sector in Australia and was grateful to be a Westpac Social Change Fellow recipient in 2018. Looking forward to working together to achieve some great results.

Hello hello! I'm Sabrina Chakori and right now I'm just very excited to be part of this groups. So great to read all your presentations! Thanks for all what you've done so far in your life in trying to build a inclusive sustainable society!
Shortly, I manage the Brisbane Tool Library, which is an organisation that allows people to borrow stuff. We aim at reducing consumption (and waste). I'm also a PhD student at the University of Queensland, researching zero packaging food systems. As EK and few others in this page, I'm also involved in QSEC. I've been active in many organisations around the world and I simply think that we need a system change, starting from changing the current economic system. I think that we should redesign our society for economic degrowth... happy to chat more about this virtually or in front of a drink. Looking forward to learn from all of you, to share my experience and to achieve some practical changes!

Hey Guys. Taj Pabari here from Fiftysix Creations (www.fiftysix.edu.au). We teach kids about business and entrepreneurship - I'm looking forward to meeting you all. Cheers! Taj.

Hi everyone, I'm Jerome. I run a digital media consultancy called Kernel Projects, which has a bunch of vibrant social enterprises on its client list, and also pays back one of every three billable hours work to pro-bono services for high social impact organisations. I have been involved with the Queensland Social Enterprise Council for four years years, and now sit on the Board as Secretary. Thrilled to be among so many fantastic people and I'm looking forward to the outcomes of this collaborative process for the state sector and beyond.

Hi folks. I’m Rohan. I work with co-operatives and other member-owned businesses. As these organisations are value-maximising by nature, I’m really interested in exploring when they offer the best mechanism to deliver social outcomes. I’m working with Co-operative Bonds and the BCCM on a project to help the philanthropic and impact investor sectors understand opportunities in this area. Really interested to see how these conversations can help enrich the SESP learning process.

Hi All, Ashleigh Campbell here, Director of KickArts Contemporary Arts based in Cairns. We are a 26 year old not-for-profit organisation that started as an arts collective and has grown into a respected arts institution based on social enterprise models. We support artists from Queensland particularly in the Far North Region - Cairns, Cape York and Torres Strait Islands and Gulf of Carpentaria areas to take their artistic practice and small businesses to the next level. We develop and deliver a range of projects with artistic, social and environmental outcomes. I'm glad to be part of this Navigator's group and look forward to hearing from many of you and more about the great work you undertake.
Thanks to Crystal Williams at Queensland Social Enterprise Council for the suggestion and invitation. I look forward to working with you all. Best Ashleigh