Social enterprise is a hot topic at the moment, but what really is a social enterprise? Are all businesses capable and responsible for creating positive social impact further to the defined model of creating jobs?

Come along, network and listen to the panel debate whether businesses should have both economic and social goals.

On the panel we have:

Marvin Fox

Marvin has a background in International Business, marketing, advertising and promotions. He has worked with QUT’s Business School facilitating social entrepreneurship programs and Enactus which is a student association at QUT that runs social enterprise projects. In 2019 Marvin supported the Enactus students to win the national championships in Sydney, then took them to represent Australia at the Enactus World Cup in Silicon Valley, USA. Currently, Marvin is the Program Facilitator at QUT Entrepreneurship, delivering a range of programs to empower students to develop their enterprise skills.

Ruth Knight

Ruth Knight is a researcher and lecturer at QUT. She has worked with young people and community organisations for over 30 years, to develop projects and initiatives making social change. Her interest in social enterprise started when she was looking for more innovative ways that government, business and nonprofits could make sustainable social impact. She then trained as a business coach, and now teaches social enterprise at QUT and conducts research to build the evidence base for social enterprises. Her goal is create great places to live and work.

Leanne Butterworth

Leanne is on a mission to create happy and healthy workforces and communities - and save lives - by empowering leaders with empathy skills that make everyone feel heard, valued and visible. Based in Brisbane, she is mum to Rowan and Zara, has a degree in Applied Science and a Graduate Certificate in Business. She has developed and runs her own social enterprise, is a tutor at QUT teaching Social Enterprise, and works with the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC).

Ebony Fowler

Ebony works with organisations in the non-profit and for-profit sectors to co-design purpose-driven strategies that embed and scale impact. She is one of Blab AANZ ’s first B Consultants, and supports businesses striving to be better for people and planet to become Certified BCorps. She is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper & come July will be Vice Curator of the Brisbane Hub. Ebony’s approach to change-making is informed by her training as an architectural designer. She finds meaning in bridging the gap between leaders, the decisions they make, and the people & places most impacted.

Wayne Denning

15 years ago, proud Birri Gubba and Guugu Yimidhirr man, Wayne Denning saw an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of his fellow Indigenous Australians. After more than a decade of working on landmark government policies in Native Title and Land Rights, Wayne’s vision put storytelling and creativity front and centre with the goal of changing hearts and minds on a grand scale. Carbon Creative was born. From the mainstream to the marginalised, Wayne’s vision has evolved further to empower and motivate behaviour change en masse. When he’s not leading the charge at the agency as Carbon Creative’s Managing Director, Wayne keeps busy as the Deputy Chair of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) as well as doing keynotes for like-minded organisations.

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Tickets: $10

JCI Brisbane is very excited to be partnering with QUTs Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) to deliver this event.