Join us for our online series Conversation Circles: Universal Impact

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #8 Decent Work and Inclusive Economies for social enterprise

The pandemic has changed everything and nothing. The perennial challenges of inequality, homelessness, marginalisation, intergenerational injustice and the spectre of ecological catastrophe - they all remain. The underlying causes have not budged, they have gotten worse, as leaders and markets flail or exacerbate systemic problems.

The push to achieve the UN agreed SDGs by 2030 will require leadership in all parts of our community.

Social enterprise is ahead of the curve with business innovation locked into creating a just, inclusive and sustainable future.

Now is the time for social enterprises to consolidate our strength and lead the charge to achieving SDGs by 2030.

The SDGs provide common frames for us to identify, communicate and measure our impact.

SDG8 - Decent Work and Inclusive economies

This third in a series of virtual events will explore the SDGs - in particular SDG8 - with:

Sally Quinn, CEO & Co-Founder of Green Collect
Leanne Hill, Manager of Social Procurement Policy at the Victorian Government's Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
Sophie Arnold, Executive Manager of the United Nations Association of Australia
Hosted by Nick Verginis, CEO of Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) and member of Catalyst 2030.

This virtual event is shared through the Alliance of Social Enterprise Networks Australia (ASENA) and welcomes social enterprise from across the country to join the conversation circle.

What is a Conversation Circle?

Conversation Circles are not webinars, they are a chance to hear from expert, then to discuss the issues and challenges with your peers.

Conversation Circles aim to:

Create an opportunity for practitioner-led dialog, collaboration and problem-solving.
Build a shared understanding of the features of a fair, inclusive and sustainable economy.
Identify opportunities for social enterprise to shape the new economy today.

These events are structured by a brief introductory section, where the panel introduce the topic, before smaller break-out rooms enable attendees to deepen their learning and connection. The events conclude with shared learnings with the full meeting group.

More about our speakers

Sally Quinn, CEO & Co-Founder of Green Collect

Sally Quinn is CEO and co-founder of Green Collect, and over the last 16 years has led the enterprise as a dynamic business and inclusive workplace. As a leading provider of resource recovery services across Melbourne, Green Collect demonstrates innovation and best practice in the sustainability industry. Sally has guided the enterprise through the phases of start-up, growth and now scale, leading it to become a sustainable and impactful social enterprise. At the heart of Sally’s work is a dedication to creating meaningful and supportive work for people who have been excluded from the labour market due to homelessness, mental health diagnoses and refugee experiences.

Prior to this, Sally’s 16 years in the homelessness and community development sectors shaped her desire to work outside existing systems and to be part of creating new solutions through social enterprise. Being partner to Green Collect co-founder, Darren Andrews, and parenting 4 kids along the way, means that life is always very full!

Leanne Hill - Manager of Social Procurement Policy at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

Leanne Hill is currently the Manager of Social Procurement Policy at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. She is a Procurement Professional that has worked globally (North and South America, and the UK) across a range of industries including water, banking, oil, pharmaceutical and insurance. She has led procurement teams, policy, frameworks, and future directions.

She has helped position the Victorian Water Industry as an early adopter of the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework which is building a fair and inclusive and sustainable Victoria through procurement. Now working to provide policy advice and support to suppliers and the whole of Victorian Government Department and Agencies.

Leanne is passionate about social procurement and diversity being a lever to create a legacy.

In the Water Industry she led a collaborative response to policy and regulatory advancements, taking a holistic view about the role of procurement in progressing social outcomes and worked to drive transparency of human right violations in the supply chain.

She is the 2019 Victorian Winner for the Telstra Business Women’s awards in the category of Public Sector and Academia for her work promoting awareness on social and sustainable procurement. Recently, she has been selected as a Telstra Award Judge providing insights and understanding of social value in business operations.