Behind the Impact: Chelsea, Impact & Advisory Manager

Can you tell us a little bit about your role on the team and what your day-to-day responsibilities entail?

Although I am fairly new to the team, my days are already bright, buzzing and full of diverse experiences. From deep-diving into the pain points or ideas our social enterprise clients bring, to coaching brave founders through the Backing the Bold program, and weaving the work of Sefa through my community networks. 

I’m thrilled to join a team with such an embodied practice in reconciliation and First Nations engagement. I am humbly taking on the responsibility to coordinate our internal First Nations Working Group, and I look forward to the collective learning and experiences that will come from this work. 

As a Queensland-based team member, I’m also connecting with a wide range of social enterprises across the state and attending community and sector network events. It’s been brilliant to have the team genuinely value and integrate my background in community development and the not-for-profit sector into the work. 

No two days are the same, but it’s an energising and curiosity-driven way to work. 

What's your go-to productivity hack when you need to power through a big project or deadline?

I have certain soundtracks and songs that get me in a flow state when I need to go into deep focus or conjure energy to go the extra mile. One of my all-time favourite tracks is Optimist by Zoe Keating, a contemporary cello player and composer.  

Also, brain breaks are a big part of my work routine when doing heavy mental lifting. A short 10 min walk in the sunshine and fresh air, and away from the screen, always provides me with an energy boost. I have a bunch of other brain break hacks, but nothing beats a quick loop around the block or a walking meeting in the sunshine.  

If you could switch jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?

Well, the CEO of course! Hanna’s lens and daily reality must be so vivid and far-reaching. It would be fascinating to see what passes her eyes in a single day. What a powerhouse!  

After meeting Myrna, Renee and Hanna during my recruitment – I quickly developed deep respect for the Sefa leadership team and the depth of experience, knowledge and passion they all bring to the table.  

What's the most interesting thing you've learned or accomplished in your role so far?

So much - and it’s only been three months, which makes this a hard question. Learned, accomplished – too early to say … so I’d need to add experienced to that list. 

I’ve experienced a real sense of genuine curiosity, quiet confidence and embodied integrity across many elements of Sefa’s work, along with strong connection and respect when working with the team. 

What’s been most interesting is recognising the depth of skills and perspective I bring and learning how to best place and apply that within Sefa’s way of working. It’s been a process of refining how my experience across not-for-profit, social justice, community development and social enterprise can most effectively contribute within the team and advisory context. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in this field, and how did you get started in your current role?

I’ve spent most of my career working across social justice and purpose-driven sectors. I started in systemic advocacy alongside migrant and refugee background communities and, shaped by both that work and my own lived experiences, I’ve always been driven to do good but in enterprising ways. 

About 10 years ago, I left a job I loved because I knew in my bones there was a better way to do the work. That led me to start a profit-for-purpose business, which taught me a great deal. Combined with my experience across social services and the not-for-profit sector, it’s given me a clear view of where systems break down and how those impacts are often felt most by specific communities due to the layered nature historical and structural factors. 

As a creative and systems thinker, I tend to see both problems and possibilities at the same time. I bring a lot of energy when working in complex or uncertain environments, and I’m comfortable navigating the grey areas that come with that. Over time, I’ve developed a broad, interdisciplinary toolkit that allows me to work across innovation, systems thinking and cultural change. 

It wasn’t linear, but it was an intentional path, so looking back, it makes sense that I’ve arrived in the social impact space, and specifically in work that brings together capital and capability to support more effective, sustainable change. 

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your team or industry right now?

The pace of sector changes and the critical nature and point of the poly-crisis the world is facing. Just the norm!  

At a deeper level, one of the biggest challenges is cultural. How do we shift from ‘I’ to ‘we’ across systems, plan and grow with a genuinely multigenerational lens, and move our economic models from consumption toward more regenerative approaches? 

For our team, working at the forefront of emerging solutions brings both opportunity and responsibility. The challenge is to sustain this work in a way that supports each other and the communities we work alongside, while staying grounded in a practical, solutions-focused mindset. The problems we’re tackling aren’t small, but with a collective approach, meaningful progress is possible. 

What do you enjoy most about your job, and what advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a similar career path?

The people, the passion, the potential for change. My advice to anyone wanting to do this work – get out of your comfort zone! Go meet and learn from people different to you. Work in sectors and projects that expand your thinking, skills and networks.  

We need to move from seeing things as separate to understanding how deeply interconnected everything and everyone is. Widen your experience, deepen your community connections, and learn to think about your thinking - always.