Hello from our CEO • June 2024
As the dropping temperatures bring chilly days to Sydney, our team stays warmly wrapped in Sefa-branded hoodies. Over the last few months, we've been reflecting on our origins and what our 13-year-old constitutional objectives mean in present times. We're excited to share our Impact Narrative, which will guide Sefa's and Sefa Partnerships' priorities over the coming year and beyond. Stay tuned over the coming weeks for more details. Our next horizon also includes more insights on our gender lens work and how we are best placed to contribute to social impact.
Much of our capability building work has centred on supporting organisations at critical inflection points in their journey. Together with partners in the sector, we have developed the Five Stages of Social Enterprise Development. My colleague Lise Genzo, one of our Engagement Managers, represented Sefa’s experience as part of the sector working group, she brings the framework to life through a Sefa lens by unpacking the right type of support at the right time. This helps organisations on their mission to make a difference. Our quarterly impact story goes deeper into this theme of ‘working on a social business’: earlier this year, Green Fox Studios collaborated with us to develop a comprehensive two-year business plan and a strategy extending to 2030.
At Sefa, we continue to engage in conversations about capital, reflecting on the evolution of the Sefa Loan Fund and how we want to stretch our ability to assist with access to capital into the next horizon of our Impact Narrative. This is why I am excited to be part of a panel at the upcoming Social Impact Summit on “Redefining Capital: Innovative Approaches for Social Transformation.” Please see below for details on how you can join me.
Crafting our gender identity has been a central focus over the past year. Delivering the EmpowerHER program in NSW has enriched our strategic thinking with invaluable practitioner insights, and we look forward to sharing these insights in the coming weeks. Sefa is grateful to have gender champion Gabrielle King, one of our Engagement Managers, on our team. Our “Behind the Impact” series spotlights her leadership in this crucial area of work.
As we navigate the winter chill, I'm continually inspired by the dedication and passion of our team, partners, and the communities we serve. Together, we are pushing boundaries, redefining capital, and making meaningful strides in social impact. I look forward to the continued journey of reflection and innovation with all of you.
With warm wishes for a productive and impactful winter,
Hanna