Highlights from the ChangeNOW 2026 Conference
After spending three days at the ChangeNOW 2026 conference at the Grand Palais in Paris (March 30 to April 1, 2026), I left re-energised, inspired, and hopeful about the future of social enterprise and collective action. Attending the event was made possible through the support of the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA) and the Women in Social Enterprise program, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of a global gathering of changemakers, entrepreneurs, activists, investors, and community leaders committed to creating a better future.
I founded Goods 4 Good in 2021 after learning first-hand what a profound change a determined social enterprise could make. Made for Change, my second social enterprise, was launched in March 2026 and is a culmination of my learnings to date based on my work with Social Enterprises and with charities supporting women impacted by domestic violence.
As founder of two social enterprises, I often say that the media tends to show us what is wrong with the world—but it is social entrepreneurs, alongside the charities and communities they support, who show us how we can make it right through business. That sentiment was captured perfectly by speaker Jean-Pierre Goux, who said: “Media shows you what the worst humanity can do. At ChangeNOW, you can see what is the best humanity can do.”
From the opening ceremony, the energy in the room was undeniable. Founders Rose-May Lucotte and Santiago Lefebvre reinforced the urgency and optimism that defined the event with two powerful messages: “We are not here to talk about change, we are here to make it happen” and “Change can happen even when one person believes in it.” Across the three days, I was surrounded by thousands of people actively building solutions in climate action, ethical business, circular economy, mental health, community development, and social innovation. It truly felt like a global community of action.
One of the strongest themes throughout the conference was the shift from awareness to implementation. Conversations were no longer focused solely on identifying problems, but on scaling practical, measurable solutions. There was also a strong emphasis on collaboration—businesses, governments, non-profits, and communities working together rather than in silos. As someone working in the social enterprise space in Australia, it was encouraging to see growing global recognition that purpose-led business models are not niche; they are essential to the future economy.
A personal highlight for me was hearing Satish Kumar speak on environmental and social transition through the lens of spirituality and interconnectedness. His words deeply resonated with me: “Nature is our nationality, the planet is our home and love is our religion.” In a world often driven by division and urgency, it was a powerful reminder that lasting change must also be grounded in humanity, compassion, and collective care.
I return home with new ideas, new connections, and renewed motivation to continue building and championing social enterprise through Goods 4 Good and Made for Change. My advice to others in the sector is simple: keep going. The work can feel challenging, especially when you are trying to balance impact and sustainability, but spaces like ChangeNOW remind us that we are part of something much bigger. Across the world, there are people proving every day that business can be used as a force for good—and that gives me enormous hope for the future.
