About the curators
Social Enterprise Australia is the steward and coordinator of Understorey. Understorey is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services. Two advisory groups support the design and development of Understorey.
Who is behind Understorey?
Understorey is by the sector, for the sector. It's created by all who choose to take part. It invites and adapts to input and ideas.
Social Enterprise Australia is the steward and coordinator of Understorey.
Understorey is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services.
Social Enterprise Australia
Social Enterprise Australia - that national peak body for social enterprise - is the steward and coordinator of Understorey. It acts in this role as the education and mentoring delivery partner on the Australian Government’s Social Enterprise Development Initiative.
Meet the Social Enterprise Australia team.
Australian Government
Understorey forms part of and is funded under the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), an initiative of the Australian Government, Department of Social Services.
Learning Design Group
The Learning Design Group is a small team of educational experts. They bring deep knowledge in adult education and diverse perspectives. This group is co-designing Understory’s educational framework, ensuring that resources, perspectives, and the overall approach effectively support learning for the whole sector. They also identify knowledge gaps and advise on the commissioning of new resources.
The work of the Learning Design Group is time limited, to co-produce solid foundations for Understorey.
Read more about the Terms of Reference for both Advisory Groups.
Usman Iftikhar
Personal Capacity
Independent
I want to see an inclusive and thriving social enterprise ecosystem in Australia which welcomes social entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and supports them to connect, learn and grow
Dr Sharon Zivkovic
Founder & CEO
Community Capacity Builders
I hope that social enterprise is widely recognised as a business approach that produces social and environmental value, and that the social enterprise sector increases its capacity to innovate and address the world’s most pressing problems.
Libby Ward-Christie
Personal Capacity
Independent
To become recognised as a legitimate business model that preferences people and planet over personal wealth generation.
Ben Pecotich
Design & Innovation Director/Founder
Dynamic4
Social enterprise is a key part of my/Dynamic4's core purpose: to accelerate the transition to more regenerative ways of living and doing business... to help create the conditions for people and communities to be happier. To really be mainstream.
Liz Branigan, PhD, PFHEA
Personal Capacity
Independent
I hope (and believe) social enterprise is recognized, appreciated and taken up as a core way of working, bridging equity gaps and leading sustainable social impact in Australian society.
Advisory Circle
The Advisory Circle is a wider group of social enterprise experts with varied backgrounds and experiences. This group provides dynamic insights into the Sector's needs and challenges. They review information and educational content, help identify knowledge gaps, and suggest new resources.
The work of the Advisory Circle is time limited, to rapidly identify content to host, point to and commission.
Read more about the Terms of Reference for both Advisory Groups.
Tiarne Shutt
Personal Capacity
Independent
My hope for social enterprise in Australia is that it inclusively incorporates First Nations businesses. By providing equitable access to resources and fostering genuine partnerships, we can drive innovation, and economic self-determination
Brianna Kerr
Personal Capacity
Independent
That social enterprise principles become the norm, not the exception; that all businesses are working towards meeting people’s needs within planetary boundaries.
Gavin Heaton
Personal Capacity
Independent
Provide a cohesive voice and resource for the social enterprise sector, locally and internationally
Paul Bird
Personal Capacity
Independent
Social enterprise in Australia is increasingly 'mainstreamed' and engages Australians in not only buying goods and services, but engaging them to take action.
Francesca Pinzone
Personal Capacity
Independent
A thriving and collaborative network of SE's across Australia can create significant impact for our most challenging social issues. Recognition and support is needed for the sector to allow for innovative SE's to scale and grow to meet this need
Gabrielle King
Personal Capacity
Independent
Social enterprise can be a key tool in supporting people disadvantaged as a result of economic and social change. My hope is that we see a growing number of entrepreneurs adopting the model in an ecosystem that is collaborative and supportive.
Jessica Mendoza-Roth
Founder & CEO
Social Impact Hub
I hope social enterprise in Australia becomes much better known and in fact part of mainstream business. Social enterprise should be valued by government as a wonderful employer of disadvantaged Australians and acknowledged by broader society.
Stuart Horrex
Cofounder + CEO
ArtSHINE
Working at the intersection of small business, social enterprise, and creative practice, it's my hope we empower enterprises that sustain financially, socially, and environmentally while fostering a thriving community of creative & social innovators
Adele Stowe-Lindner
Executive Director
Institute of Community Directors Australia
I hope that social enterprise in Australia becomes an increasingly popular framework for businesses and organisations seeking to prioritise people and planet, using creative market-oriented means to sustainably thrive.
Biljana Nikolova, PhD
Personal Capacity
Independent
Social enterprises embody business at its best, combining profit and purpose. I hope to see social enterprises continue to grow so they can help us create a more inclusive, sustainable and compassionate Australia.
Whole of sector
Understorey is by the sector, for the sector. It's created by all who choose to take part. It invites and adapts to input and ideas. All are invited to play a role in guiding Understory’s development and ensuring it remains relevant, accessible, and impactful for the Australian social enterprise sector.
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