Champions

Ending Modern Slavery. I am a businesswoman who creates opportunities for every Australian to do something to end slavery in Australia and help people who have survived this crime. While people are being exploited in our country I will do what I can to work toward helping them escape the injustice, raise awareness of the issue and I invite others to help fight this crime.

With over 14 years of experience working with survivors of modern slavery, in Australia and Europe, I launched The Freedom Hub in 2014 to specifically work to end slavery in our country, rehabilitate victims of this crime and partner in the fight to end global slavery.

Kate founded WorkLife in 2017 to create for herself the coworking community she so desperately needed to balance her consulting work in Sydney, with her local tree-changing life in Berry NSW. Since then WorkLife has grown to a community of 120 members across two sites- Berry & Coledale- with a 3rd site in Picton opening August 2023.

Endlessly curious, she cares deeply about subjects as diverse as arts, the built environment, NFP governance and sustainability, digital culture, board diversity, building our regional economies, sustainability, saving the media from itself and social ventures.

Marcelle Bernard BPsych, DTM is your go-to guru for transforming individuals and teams into peak performers and successful leaders by eliminating subconscious saboteurs and maximising interpersonal ‘soft’ skills. Marcelle has delivered programs to over 20,000 graduates in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, and Bangkok, and has positively impacted over 500,000 youth graduates in Australia and New Zealand.

As the author of "Stand Up, Speak Up," Marcelle brings fun and a wealth of knowledge in confidence, effective communication, and persuasive public speaking. With decades of experience in human resource management and business operations, she grew her second business to 160 staff and over 400 clients by mastering cognitive biases, psychological sciences, high interpersonal intelligence, cultural intelligence, positive intelligence, emotional responsibility, consensus-based decision-making, collaborative communication, Neurolinguistic Programming, adult and youth education and training, dynamic governance, and inclusive leadership.

Katie is a sought-after strategist in communications and social impact. Having spent many years working with First Nations leaders, organisations and communities, Katie has the skills and experience to develop inclusive strategies that enable lasting relationships built on trust.

While working in Federal Government for more than a decade, Katie gained a good understanding of how the systems and funding work to help achieve community aspirations. She was the Director of Strategy at 33 Creative for 6 years, supporting the team to develop impactful strategies and campaigns.

In 2023 she completed a post graduate certificate in Social Impact with the UNSW Centre for Social Impact and is a freelance strategy consultant.

Vivi is passionate about people, cultures, sports, and teamwork. She believes meaningful change starts within and values active participation in solving problems and uncovering personal power.

I want to help social entrepreneurs build organisations where people are deeply engaged and passionate about their mission but also maintain a healthy balance. The goal is to create workplaces that nurture long-term commitment and well-being. I may start by focusing on my geographic area, or by connecting with social enterprises from less represented groups.re

Nandeeta Maharaj is the founder of Goods 4 Good, an online marketplace dedicated to connecting socially conscious consumers with impact-driven products from Australian social enterprises. With over 20 years of marketing experience, Nandeeta left the corporate world to pursue her passion for creating positive social change through business.

Since launching Goods 4 Good in 2021, Nandeeta has worked to build a vibrant network of social enterprises addressing challenges in areas like poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, mental health, and animal welfare.

Her vision is to create a unified platform that amplifies the efforts of Australia’s 12,000+ social enterprises, making it easier for consumers to discover and support businesses that align with their values. Nandeeta is committed to strengthening the social enterprise ecosystem by fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and building a community of changemakers who use commerce as a force for good. Through Goods 4 Good, she hopes to make ethical shopping accessible, impactful, and inspiring for all Australians.

Driven by an unwavering vision to create lasting social impact, I am dedicated to educating, elevating, and delivering what others overlook. At the heart of my work is economic security, achieved through financial literacy, mindset development, and understanding belief systems.

By seeing what others miss and listening to the unspoken, I facilitate transformative change. My approach builds human connections that spark ripple effects, influencing change from grassroots to government. Rooted in ethics, integrity, and respect, I unlock new possibilities, empowering individuals and communities to realize their potential and create generational impact.

Karen Hedley is passionate about disability rights, inclusion and accessibility, with a particular focus on sharing information via easy-to-read materials. With over 30 years’ in the disability sector, Karen's experience spans a wide range of areas, including policy development, training, and founding The Easy Read Toolbox. She has worked with many government, university and disability sector clients to promote the use of accessible communication.

Karen's work has been recognized through numerous awards and accolades, highlighting her impact on the community and her dedication to making the world a more inclusive place. In addition to her professional achievements, Karen is a woman with disabilities, mother of 3 autistic young people, and actively shares her knowledge with those interested. I’m interested in supporting a mix of people in the ACT and people in the disability or diversity sector.

Rebel Black is a human agronomist and syntropic entrepreneur dedicated to empowering rural, regional, and remote women to develop impactful social enterprises.

As the founder of THE RW Collection, Rebel supports community-minded entrepreneurs in building wealth and leaving lasting legacies. With over 24 years of experience in community development, Rebel has secured approximately $50 million in funding and investment and led transformative initiatives, including the successful 'community exit' of her company to THE Rural Woman Cooperative, which she co-founded. Rebel and her husband also operate a social enterprise in Lightning Ridge, fostering micro businesses in food, accommodation, education, and performance.

Recognised nationally and globally, Rebel has received numerous awards, including NSW Woman of the Year Finalist and Jury’s Choice in the Global Women in Tech Committed to helping women #thrive, #heal, and #evolve, Rebel is building networks that inspire resilience, innovation, and community impact.

Natalie Bramble brings nearly 30 years of experience in community development and organisational capacity building. She has dedicated her working and volunteering roles to guide not-for-profits, charities, and social enterprises and equip them with essential business skills and knowledge to enhance their impact and sustainability. Natalie believes in collaboration and is passionate about helping communities build stronger, sustainable organisations.

As the co-founder of Certified Social Enterprise, NFP Guide, Natalie leads a team that provides resources, training, and consultancy services tailored specifically for the nonprofit sector. NFP Guide focuses on enhancing the governance, funding, and management capabilities of organisations, ensuring they can operate effectively and sustainably. Natalie has been instrumental in developing an online learning library, removing barriers of access to affordable sector learning.

iClick2Learn supports boards, staff and volunteers to govern, fund and manage their organisations. Under her leadership, iClick2Learn has won multiple awards, including recognition at the LearnX Industry Awards for its innovative eLearning solutions. Natalie is also the author of "Win the Grant" a comprehensive guide designed to help organisations navigate the grant application process effectively.

I’m a purpose-driven marketing professional, curious thinker, and impact advocate passionate about fostering meaningful connections and amplifying positive change. With a strong foundation in B2B marketing, event management, and client service delivery, I’ve built my career on driving results through thoughtful strategy, proactive problem-solving, and a people-first approach. Whether managing marketing initiatives or leading pro-bono projects, I’m energised by the chance to align business objectives with meaningful impact.

As a Champion for the Women in Social Enterprise Program, I’m dedicated to strengthening networks in the social enterprise sector, with a focus on fostering collaboration and connection for women-led enterprises across NSW and ACT.

I’m inspired by the opportunity to collaborate, amplify impact, and help shape a future where business and meaningful outcomes go hand in hand. My interests lie at the intersection of social enterprise, mental health, and holistic wellbeing. I envision creating a network that connects social enterprises working in these areas, encouraging knowledge-sharing and collaboration to amplify their collective impact and enhance community resilience.

Bianca is passionate about sustainability, circular economy, and building community! She loves bringing people together through fun, engaging workshops and events that spark environmental awareness and inspire practical, achievable action.

Bianca hosts SECNAs Business for Good Lunch in Newcastle every quarter, where she helps to bring people across the region together to connect and grow the community of individuals doing business for good!

Bianca recently co-founded The Full Circle Collective, a circular economy retail and community hub in the heart of Newcastle, and is actively building a social enterprise network of passionate individuals dedicated to driving meaningful change and creating a powerful ripple effect within their community.

Renai Mouton is an Indigenous business leader with over 20 years of professional experience, including more than 12 years in Indigenous economic development and social impact.

She is the CEO of First Nations Worthwhile Ventures, supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs, and Director/Senior Consultant of Renai Mouton Consulting, focused on Indigenous business and economic development nationally and internationally.

Brook McCarthy is a veteran business coach and marketing mentor with more than 20+ years experience, and a background in Public Relations. Brook first worked with social enterprises in Cambodia in 2001, when working as a tour leader for Intrepid Travel. In a war-ravaged country such as Cambodia with significant social, economic, and political issues, social enterprises simply made sense.

Brook started her business in 2008, firstly as a digital marketing agency, and one of her first clients was the Centre for Social Impact, where she set up their marketing. With 13 years' experience in business coaching, training and facilitation, Brook has helped countless people and organisations to start and grow businesses and social enterprises, leading with their values.

Jemma is an author, speaker and social entrepreneur. She operates the Nowra Community Food Store, which offers free and low-cost groceries to anyone doing it tough on the South Coast and is passionate about addressing food insecurity.