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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 shaped by the social enterprise sector, for the sector.
coordinates and maintains Understorey, with funding from the Australian Government's Department of Social Services. Advisory and Reference Groups, alongside people and organisations across the sector, help shape its development.
Social Enterprise Australia
Social Enterprise Australia is the national peak body for social enterprise and the steward and coordinator of Understorey. Our role is to maintain the platform, bring together trusted resources, gather input and help Understorey evolve in response to sector needs.
We deliver this work as the Education and Mentoring Coordinator for the Australian Government's Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI).
Meet the Social Enterprise Australia team.
Australian Government
Understorey is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Social Services through the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), which has been extended to June 2027.
SEDI supports social enterprises through capability-building grants, education and mentoring to help grow their impact.
Learning Design Group
The Learning Design Group brought together education experts with experience in adult learning and diverse perspectives.
The group helped design Understorey's approach to learning, ensuring resources and content would meet the needs of people across the social enterprise sector. It also identified gaps in existing resources and advised on what new materials could be developed.
Its work was time-limited, helping establish the foundations for Understorey.
Read more about the Terms of Reference for both Advisory Groups.
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
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.
Dr Liz Branigan, PhD, PFHEA
Director, Knowledge and Practice
Philanthropy Australia
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 brought together social enterprise experts with different backgrounds and experiences.
The group shared insights into the sector's needs and challenges, reviewed educational content, identified gaps in knowledge and suggested new resources.
Its work was time-limited, helping identify which resources Understorey should host, link to or commission.
Read more about the Terms of Reference for both Advisory Groups.
Brianna Kerr
Founder
Five Bucks
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
Provide a cohesive voice and resource for the social enterprise sector, locally and internationally
Paul Bird
Personal Capacity
Social enterprise in Australia is increasingly 'mainstreamed' and engages Australians in not only buying goods and services, but engaging them to take action.
Gabrielle King
Personal Capacity
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
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 shaped by the sector, for the sector. Everyone is welcome to contribute knowledge resources and ideas, to help it grow and improve.
By sharing what you know and what you need, you help keep Understorey relevant, accessible and useful for the whole Australian social enterprise ecosystem.
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We’d love to hear from you!
Understorey is shaped by the people and organisations across Australia. Have suggestions, ideas or resources to share? Get in touch and help us make Understorey more useful, relevant and accessible for everyone.
Get in touch