The Research for Social Impact Seminar Series

The Research for Social Impact Seminar Series brings to life Swinburne University and the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) Swinburne's strategic objectives of building a more equitable and sustainable world through social entrepreneurship and technology, integrating research, education, and practice.

Hosted by CSI Swinburne, the Series aims to provide an engaging, accessible platform to showcase and explore work being undertaken by academics, industry, and higher degree students.

Each of the events in the Series will highlight a topic of importance to the social impact ecosystem and feature individual presentations from academics, industry practitioners and Higher Degree by Research students, followed by a panel discussion and interactive audience Q&A.

Seminar 1: Leadership for Social Impact

Friday 31 March 2023

12:00pm – 1:00pm

In our first event for 2023, we will explore the theme of Leadership for Social Impact.

Leaders within the social impact ecosystem are facing increasingly challenging and complex operating environments, including factors such as economic uncertainty; increased demand for services; workforce management; issues of access and equity; diversity and inclusion; navigating the regulatory landscape; a declining volunteer workforce; and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this event, we will hear from expert speakers from academia and industry whose work speaks directly to some of these challenges and provides insight into the experiences and strategies of leaders as they attempt to maximise the positive social impact of their organisations in widely varied and innovative ways.

Our Speakers

Dr Melissa Wheeler

Dr Melissa Wheeler is a co-founder of the Australian Leadership Index (ALI), which was created to improve leadership capability by tracking how Australians view leaders and reporting the results publicly, in recognition of the growing need for leadership that serves the greater good. ALI is now the largest ever ongoing research study of leadership in Australia across sectors. Melissa holds a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Melbourne and teaches in leadership, change management and business ethics. Melissa is committed to advancing understanding of the greater good through her research in organisational ethics, moral decision-making, and female representation in leadership.

Mel Yates

Mel Yates is the Director, Reporting, Red Tape Reduction & ACNC Corporate Services at the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. He leads the collection of reporting from charities with a focus on reducing unnecessary regulatory obligations and ensures the ACNC has sound corporate governance arrangements. Mel started his career with ACNC in April 2016. Prior to this, Mel worked at the Australian Taxation Office for over a decade across compliance, internal policy, and assurance as well as operational financial management and government tax management roles. After graduating from university, Mel travelled and worked in England in a Social Services finance role. He began his career at a large professional services firm and has worked for the Victorian Government in a finance role.

Susan Pizzati

Susan Pizzati is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology, with her research exploring how leaders are utilising organisational design to improve organisational performance by addressing operational complexity and paradox in not-for-profit organisations. Susan has over a decade of experience working in a range of senior management, executive and board roles in the not-for-profit sector in Australia and now runs a not-for-profit consultancy and leadership coaching practice. She is also the Manager of Industry Engagement and Translation, and a sessional lecturer at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology.

Professor Erin Wilson

Professor Erin Wilson is a leading researcher and thinker in participatory social change. She has a record of accomplishment in the areas of disability and inclusion and, prior to this, Indigenous community management and development. Professor Wilson's research career has focused on research that ‘makes a difference’ through participation of those most affected and high utility of the research products. Working collaboratively with key stakeholders, she has sought to influence policy and practice through strongly embedded projects that directly interface with stakeholder activities and offer immediate translation opportunities into policy and practice. Professor Wilson currently holds the Uniting Chair in Community Services Innovation at the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne.

Q&A

Following individual presentations from our speakers, Dr Graham Dwyer will lead an interactive panel discussion and Q&A, providing an opportunity for audience members, both in person and online, to engage directly with our speakers.

Networking

The event will conclude with light refreshments and an opportunity for informal networking for our in-person guests.

Do not miss this incredible opportunity to learn from and connect with academics, students, and industry representatives with a shared interest in leadership for social impact.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Acknowledgement & Understanding
By registering for this event, you acknowledge and give consent that your email address will be added to the CSI database. In addition, you acknowledge and consent that photos will be taken on the day and your image may be used in future promotion of CSI events. If you do not consent, please let the photographer and event organiser know