SOCIAL ENTERPRISES; UNLOCKING LIFE CHANGING ECONOMIC POWER

It was a privilege to bring together business leaders, advocates & changemakers for Business Sydney’s lunch on Thursday, delivered in partnership with MinterEllison, to explore the vital role social enterprises play in building a stronger, more inclusive economy.

The energy in the room was a powerful reminder that social enterprises are not just changing lives, they are reshaping our economy for the better.

Business Sydney was proud to officially launch its report, Social Enterprises: Unlocking Life Changing Economic Power a powerful piece of work that highlights the real, measurable impact this sector is delivering across our communities. 

A sincere thank you to The Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC,  the NSW Finance Minister for joining us to launch the report and for her ongoing leadership and commitment to initiatives that strengthen both social and economic outcomes across New South Wales.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Keith Rovers and the entire team at MinterEllison for their generous support in hosting this important event and their continued leadership in driving meaningful community impact.

We were also fortunate to hear from an outstanding group of panellists from the sector who brought depth, expertise and lived experience to the discussion:

• Dr Sherman Chan, Chief Economist, Australian Property Institute (who initiated the whole discussion on this important sector with Business Sydney)
• Kylie Flament, CEO, Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA)
• ️Tara Anderson, CEO, Social Traders
• Luke Terry, CEO, White Box Enterprises
• Andrea Comastri, Co-Founder & CEO, Hotel Etico Australia
• Eva Rabanal, CEO, The Bread and Butter Project
• Sally Irwin, Founder & Managing Director, The Freedom Hub
• Amy Low, CEO, The Social Outfit

The both panels where expertly facilitated by David Jones.
Thank you also to Grace Bacon, Partner, RSM Australia for delivering a thoughtful vote of thanks.

Events like this remind us that when government, business and community come together with purpose, the impact can be transformative. Social enterprises are not just part of the conversation, they are central to shaping a more inclusive, resilient and prosperous NSW.

Let’s keep the momentum going and support this important sector in our economy.