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We’re co-designing a diverse and impactful program for Social Impact Summit 2026.
Interested in speaking? Got a case study you’ll think others will want to hear about? We’re always keen to speak with social impact leaders creating partnerships and impact across sectors.
Get in touch and explore our fantastic 2026 lineup below to see what an amazing event Social Impact Summit is.
Inspiring unimagined possibilities through leadership development, systems and personal transformation is underpinned by Renu’s 38 years of business, leadership and academic experience. Renu is a highly skilled executive coach and workshop facilitator working across all industry sectors globally and in Australia through her consulting practice Burr Consulting. Her passion is to hold space for leadership with greater social impact and is the proud mother of three daughters who also work in areas for social good.
She has a doctorate from and was a faculty member at the University of Western Australia’s Business School from 1991-2023. Currently Renu is part of the Extended Faculty for the Presencing Institute’s Ecosystem Leadership Asia-Pacific Program and has been on the faculty of the IDEAS Asia-Pacific Leadership Program offered in partnership by UID and MIT’s Sloan School of Management’s Global Executive Development Programs.
Described as an “investigative humourist”, Dan is one of Australia’s most prolific comedy voices, known for work across TV, radio, film and live performance. His career spans programs including Hungry Beast, Insiders, Can of Worms and Tonightly, and he has hosted sold‑out shows at the Sydney Opera House and long‑running seasons on ABC Radio National.
Alongside comedy, Dan brings deep experience as a journalist and satirist working at the intersection of media, politics and culture. He has covered US elections, served as senior satire producer at AJ+, and was Executive Producer of Satire for Fusion/Gizmodo Media Group in the United States.
Dan is also the host of the podcast and live show A Rational Fear, which brings together journalists, comedians, industry leaders and politicians to use comedy to explore big issues including climate change, press freedom and the internet.
Recognised as an Obama Foundation Leader Asia Pacific and a Bertha Foundation Fellow, Dan brings a sharp eye, deep curiosity and an ability to hold complex conversations with warmth, edge and clarity. Exactly what this year’s Summit calls for.
Professor Dix is an Underground Disaster investigator and an internationally recognized expert in fire and life safety and underground collapses. He is active on all continents: a member of the British Institute of Investigators, a member of the specialist Underground Works Chambers, a member of the Victorian Bar, and is a visiting Professor of Engineering (tunnels) at Tokyo City University. He is currently the President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association – the peak advisory body to the United Nations on all matters underground.
Professor Dix’s unwavering bravery, steady hand, and expertise in handling critical situations has catapulted him into the biggest feel-good story of 2023, the rescue of 41 miners in the Silkyara-Bardot Tunnel collapse in India. Described as ‘the tunnel guy’ who does anything and everything that is complex with tunnels, Professor Dix was contacted by the Chief Engineer of India and the Secretary for the Prime Minister of India asking for his help.
He is convinced that the underground offers a range of adaptive and resilient solutions to most of the perils facing humanity today.
Paula Cowan is a strategic communicator, project manager and capability builder with experience in government, education and community sectors.
She leads the firm’s operations, oversees client engagements and works with senior executives across a range of sectors.
An expert in change management, communications and organisational transformation, she helped establish and maintain the Redesign Network for NSW Health.
Paula has an eye for efficiency and effectiveness, a good sense of what motivates people to perform, and an ability to translate all that into useful policy and processes. She puts all this to good use developing teams and an organisation that support clients’ strategic vision.
Martin Loosemore is Distinguished Professor of Construction Management at University of Technology Sydney. He is a Visiting Professor at The University of Loughborough UK, an Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. He has been an adviser to numerous Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries into the construction industry and is internationally renowned for his work in the areas of construction industry reform, social value, corporate social responsibility, productivity and innovation in construction.
He is one of the world’s most highly cited researchers in the field of social procurement, founded an international community of practice in this field and has been consistently ranked within the world’s top 2% most influential scientists.
Aaron Reid GM Social Value at Ventia leads procurement-driven social value, turning policy intent into measurable, enforceable outcomes without compromising commercial or delivery performance.
Aaron has over 30 years’ experience across the UK and Australia in sustainable procurement, social value measurement, and inclusive workforce and supply-chain reform. He co-founded and co-chairs the Australian Social Value Taskforce, which developed the Global TOM System for Australia, used to define, compare, and manage social value in procurement.
Aaron also played a pivotal role in the relaunch of the Supply Chain Sustainability School a collaboration to create free sustainability learning materials for non sustainability professionals. The schools helps buyers translate their requirements for suppliers to build capability to compete and win more work in the future.
His work focuses on moving social value from intent to impact through clear contract requirements, robust measurement, and evidence-first reporting.
Aaron believes in the need for radical collaboration because there is no one organisation or government who can solve the challenges of sustainability alone and there’s nothing to be gained by competing on issues such as climate resilience, social equity or ethical supply chains.
Paul is an Associate Professor of Accounting in the Monash Business School and the Director of the Mutual Value Impact Lab. Paul is a global expert in performance measurement and evaluation in member-owned and purpose-led organisations including cooperative and mutual enterprises (CMEs) and social enterprises. Paul has published in top academic accounting journals and is a leading researcher in industry-focused research programs at the Monash Business School.
Paul has brought in over A$1 million in grant income from industry partners for research projects. One of his research projects with industry partner, the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has resulted in the development of a performance measurement framework, the Mutual Value Measurement (MVM) framework, which has been commercialised and taken up by CMEs in Australia, UK and the US. Paul’s research has received global and Australian awards. Paul has worked in senior roles in industry (banking, insurance and consulting) prior to moving to academia.
Hanna Ebeling is CEO at Sefa, working with purpose-driven organisations on capital solutions and capability uplift to suit their needs, helping these organisations build organisational resilience and access finance from a range of impact investors. From traditional banking with HSBC to venture philanthropy in the Philippines, Hanna brings a global practice lens to Sefa.
Her passions include blended finance in partnership with foundations, community-led enterprises, and ground-breaking housing models. 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 for-purpose collaboration between government, philanthropy and the private sector.
Tara is the CEO of Social Traders, a leading industry body for social enterprise and social performance established since 2008. Social Traders certify and support social enterprises to increase trade revenue while also supporting businesses to deliver and report on social performance, the “S” in ESG. Tara has international experience across social enterprise, charities, social innovation and for-purpose intermediaries in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Her career has spanned strategy, business development, innovation, marketing, social impact and cross-sector collaboration at executive and Board level. She holds an MBA and Masters in Social Innovation. She’s passionate about seeing more businesses embed purpose – to create a more equitable and sustainable world, for all of us.
Currently Australian Unity’s Head of Social Impact & Strategy Manager, Siobhan joined the company in 2013 with various roles across Wealth, Banking and Group Operations.
Siobhan leads the continued development of Australian Unity’s social impact work, including the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index and our wellbeing outcomes measurement framework (the Community & Social Value Framework). The framework applies a financial value to the social impact created by the company and is used by Australian Unity to report its social impact, shape strategic and investment decisions and as a tool to advocate for their Members, Customers and the community.
Recently Australian Unity used this reporting to secure one of the world’s first Wellbeing focused Sustainability-Linked Loans with Westpac, demonstrating commitment to increasing and becoming more efficient in efforts to create positive community return and systemic change.
Adele Stowe-Lindner is Executive Director of Institute of Community Directors Australia, which delivers leadership and governance support to over 370,000 people in the for-purpose sector, annually, across Australia.
Adele has worked over two decades across homelessness, refugee support and educational equity in London and Melbourne. She holds a Master’s in Community Work from the University of London and a Master’s in Leadership from Deakin University. Adele’s career centres on scaling for-purpose organisations for innovation and impact and she currently enjoys serving on three community sector boards.
Steve Williams is a Program Manager at CQUniversity’s Social Impact Lab, co-leading collaborative, multi-disciplinary place-based projects across regional Queensland. Steve has a career spanning 25 years of experience in social design, community development, youth work, and social enterprises.
He is a co-founder of the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) and has been responsible for developing national award winning social enterprises.
Steve specialises in working with communities using trauma informed social design as a method, with current work spanning working with neurodivergent nursing students, renewable energy engagement, and the evaluation of a men’s behaviour change program.
A long-time yoga practitioner and teacher, Steve brings a grounded, relational approach to facilitation that honours people participating in the way that is right for them.
Sara Brown is a Program Manager at CQUniversity’s Social Impact Lab, working with communities to bring their ideas to life through social design.
With a background in public relations across regional and remote communities, Sara made a purposeful career shift to community-centred work — driven by a commitment to elevating the voices of those too often left unheard. She channels her understanding of place and people into meaningful, community-led outcomes.
Sara works across the full spectrum of social design, with a particular passion for co-design as a method of genuine community partnership. Her experience spans non-profit program management, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement — ensuring that the people most affected by decisions are meaningfully involved in shaping them.
Based in Cairns, Sara believes in the transformative potential that emerges when communities are given the space and support to shape their own futures.
Bronwen Clark is a nationally respected policy strategist and advocate with a career dedicated to amplifying the voices of communities often left out of the policy spotlight. As Chief Executive of the National Growth Areas Alliance, she leads advocacy for Australia’s outer suburban councils — the fastest-growing regions in the nation — influencing national debates on housing, infrastructure and economic equity. Previously, Bronwen was Managing Director of Thriving Regions, a consultancy delivering strategic planning and public affairs support across rural and regional Australia. Earlier in her career, she represented Australia at the United Nations and World Trade Organisation in Geneva, working at the intersection of international trade and economic growth for developing countries. Known for her clarity, conviction and collaborative style, Bronwen brings real-world insight to conversations about how to make government policy more effective, inclusive and future-ready.
Nova is a youth participant in the Q-SEED Project. They are a young person living in Townsville and has added valuable insights to the co-design process. Nova will be sharing their experience as a youth co-designer in this project.
Alime is a youth participant in the Q-SEED Project. She is a young person living in Townsville and has added valuable insights to the co-design process. Alime will be sharing her experience as a youth co-designer in this project.
Beth’s 30-year career across commercial and education sectors honed her expertise in transforming business processes, scaling operations, and ensuring financial sustainability. With a background as a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), she has driven impactful change and performance through senior leadership roles.
GPEx CEO since 2025, Beth continues to lead through a financial accountability lens with a focus on having effective systems, processes, and people in place to achieve sustainable and measurable growth.
Beth successfully led finance and business operations during a period of significant growth at South Australian miner, Murray Zircon; and at TAFE SA, she oversaw complex financial and operational frameworks, including shifting thousands of students and staff to learn and work from home during Covid.
For the past decade Beth and her husband have also run a mixed livestock hobby farm where she enjoys transitioning ex-racehorses into equestrian pursuits.
Leanne combines her clinical expertise and business acumen to drive effective healthcare initiatives and Shared Care models.
With more than four decades’ experience as a Registered Nurse and Midwife, a Master of Business Administration and a Diploma in Accounting, Leanne’s expertise spans patient journey mapping, organisational governance, change management, service design, financial management, project execution, digital health and strategic planning.
Committed to delivering top-tier patient care while supporting healthcare professionals, Leanne has overseen notable grants and healthcare programs, including the SA Statewide GP Obstetric Shared Care Program, the SA GP ADHD Shared Care Program, and the GP Palliative Shared Care Program.
As a midwife, Leanne delivered more than 3,500 babies across Adelaide’s northern suburbs. She had to stop when she began delivering babies of babies she had delivered!
I’m Laurie Michel, Business Development Operations & Partnerships Lead at Creating Chances, where I work at the intersection of partnerships, funding and systems to help scale the organisation’s impact and long-term growth. Having lived and worked across Australia, the UK, France, Norway, the US and Mauritius, I’ve always been drawn to environments where different cultures, perspectives and stories come together. Moving into social impact work in Australia felt like a natural next step: bringing together my background in stakeholder engagement, strategy and operations with something I deeply care about. I hold a Master’s in Business Development and an MBA in Management & Leadership.
Outside work, you’ll usually find me ocean swimming, trail running, cross-country skiing or planning my next multi-day adventure.
Jo established Strategic Grants in 2009 and later launched GEMS – now Australia and New Zealand’s largest online grant-seeking management platform. She leads a team of 35, dedicated to building the capacity of for-purpose organisations to secure funding to achieve their missions.
With a background in business, marketing, IT and fundraising, Jo is a sought-after presenter at philanthropy and fundraising conferences, known for her engaging training style and strategic facilitation.
Jo is also a Founder of Women & Change, a Brisbane Women’s giving circle, Founding Fifty Member of River North Community Foundation and a member of 100 Women. Jo also sits on the Board of The Project Rockit Foundation.
Assmaah Helal works in sport for social change and youth development across Australia and the Asia-Pacific, specialising in designing robust, transformative pathways that improve wellbeing, education, and employment outcomes for young people.
As COO of Creating Chances, she leads their operations and strategy, ensuring their work is practical, sustainable, and aligned with their values. Her focus is on connecting strategy with day-to-day delivery, developing strong teams, and building systems that help them do good work well.
Driven by social justice, Assmaah brings a background in youth work, program design, and community engagement. Over the years, she has co-created local and international initiatives that enable young people (especially women and girls) to access opportunities, build skills, and lead change in their communities.
Kara Bombell is the co-founder of EthicAI, an Australian consultancy helping small and purpose-led organisations implement AI ethically, sustainably, and with real commercial impact. With 20+ years of experience in enterprise operations, business strategy, and creative technology, she brings a systems-thinking lens to streamlining businesses and scaling innovation without compromising culture.
Kara has built a reputation for designing practical models that align AI integration with long-term value, psychosocial safety, and equitable outcomes. Her work spans automation, workforce design, data readiness, and ethical frameworks for machine learning and generative AI.
A vocal critic of performative ethics in tech, Kara advocates for honest, bold change. She believes technology should amplify human potential—not replace it—and that progress must be measured by its ability to build a fairer, more inclusive society.
At her core, Kara is a mum of 2, an astronomy nerd, and deeply driven by a sense of moral ambition and a belief in better futures.
Royden is a big picture thinker who believes we all have a role to play in shaping a better, fairer world.
As Head of Advisory, Royden is exceptionally skilled at bringing together people, data and insights to drive better decision making and unlock meaningful impact in communities.
Royden holds a Masters Degree in public health and spends his free time planning his next cycling adventure across some of the most remote and spectacular countryside in Australia.