iAccelerate 4IMPACT 2018

PURPOSE /

Social entrepreneurs develop, fund and implement solutions that effect real and lasting change to social, cultural, or environmental issues. The iAccelerate 4IMPACT Conference aims to inspire and engage the next generation of social entrepreneurs, inspired to putting their energy and passion into solving a meaningful issue that will contribute to our society and/or to make our environment more sustainable.

OUTCOME /

Activation of a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors passionate about finding unique ways to create sustainable solutions to global, national or local pressing social issues.

WHY / iAccelerate and the University of Wollongong

iAccelerate is a dedicated regional entrepreneurial incubator and accelerator facility with over 60 current resident companies run by the University of Wollongong. It aims to create a new generation of businesses that helps address local and global issues and create opportunities for the region and beyond. 

The University is well placed to play an active role in social enterprise. Its Global Challenges Program is a strategic research initiative that is focused on transformative interdisciplinary research that touches people’s lives and changes worlds.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND/ 

Entrepreneurs, Investors, Government Policy Makers, Researchers, Students, and anyone inspired to make significant and lasting changes for the betterment of society.

THE LOCATION / 

University of Wollongong, iAccelerate Centre, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong. Wollongong is a regional gateway to the Southern NSW coast and well placed with close links to Sydney, Canberra, and to smaller regional communities across a large geographic region. View the venue and parking map here. 

SCHEDULE /

View the current iAccelerate 4IMPACT Schedule here. 

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS /

We have a number of confirmed speakers at the forefront of sustainability and social enterprise including: 

Jason Graham-Nye / Co-founder, CEO, gDiapers | gNappies | gCycleCircular 
Circular Economy & Cradle to Cradle product design pioneer 

Known for his entrepreneurial success and vision, Jason Graham-Nye is a recognised green business leader, and is the co-founder and CEO of gDiapers. Jason has a passion for disruptive innovation in product design, company culture and the venture capital world. Read more

Luke Barbagallo / Partnerships & Programs Manager | Pollinate Energy

Luke Barbagallo is the Partnerships and Programs Manager with Pollinate Energy, an Australian and Indian social enterprise. Luke holds a deep interest in grey and black market economies and businesses, and in particular, the entrepreneurial business owners and operators in this space. Pollinate Energy is neither a grey nor a black market business, but it is incredibly entrepreneurial, and through a network of talented door-to-door salespeople in India Pollinate Energy has impacted over 130,000 with their life changing products. An integral aspect of Pollinate Energy’s work is the Student and Professionals Fellowship Program, which embeds participants within the organisation, utilising their knowledge to build local capacity, run product trials and deliver impact assessments. Read more

Prof Joe Steensma / Academic / Washington University / St Louis
Professor of Practice in Environmental Health and Social Entrepreneurship

Prior to his academic career, Joe was active in business and public affairs. He founded Industrial Solutions Group (ISG), which grew to become one of the premier occupational and environmental health companies in the US. Joe specializes in social entrepreneurism, environmental / occupational health, and biostatistics. He is passionate about sustainability and the role enterprise plays in advancing societies. Read more

Kate Swaffer / Chair, CEO, Co-Founder, Dementia Alliance International 
SA Australian of the Year 2017 / AFR 100 Women of Influence 2016

Kate is Chair, CEO and co-founder of Dementia Alliance International, a global group for people living with dementia. Kate has made a human rights based approach to dementia her focus, to reduce stigma and to improve the care and the quality of life for the estimated 50 million people living with dementia. Kate is changing the way the world views dementia. Read more

CONFIRMED PANEL SPEAKERS /

People Panel

Lorna Moxham / Co-Founder | Recovery Camp / Professor of Mental Health Nursing | University of Wollongong / Challenge Lead: Living Well, Longer | University of Wollongong

Professor Lorna Moxham has a true passion for mental health and her lifework within this often overlooked area has had a real impact on the world. Read more

Roy Rogers / Chief Executive Officer | Flagstaff Group

Roy Rogers is the CEO of the Flagstaff Group a leading Australian social enterprise that employs 240 people with disabilities in authentic sustainable commercial employment that values quality, customers service, employee growth, development & support. Read more

Clayton McDowell / Project Manger / Student Lead, Team UOW Australia | Desert Rose House

Clayton is a PhD student at UOW and is the Project Manager / Student Leader for Team UOW. Clayton’s studies into the thermal comfort of low-income elderly resident’s homes in the Illawarra has driven his desire to make a change in the future of Australian housing. Read more

Errolyn Strang/ Manager/ Ngaramura Aboriginal High School Suspension Centre

Errolyn has over 30 years’ experience in education and is currently the Manager of Ngaramura. Ngaramura is an Aboriginal High School suspension centre which draws from five local High schools in the Illawarra. Read more

Planet Panel

Susie Crick / Chair | Surfrider Foundation Australia

Formerly a competitive professional ice (figure) skater and elite level coach, these days her competitive edge is all about growing the Surfrider programs and bringing Surfrider to the forefront of marine conservation in the Southern Hemisphere. Read more

Karen Raubenheimer / Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) | University of Wollongong

Karen Raubenheimer is contracted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to conduct an assessment together with Dr Nilufer Oral of Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey, on the effectiveness of international and regional governance frameworks to prevent marine plastic litter and microplastics. Read more

Facilitated by: Kylie Flament / Managing Director | Green Connect / Founder | Sustainable Illawarra

Kylie is a passionate, versatile leader in sustainability and healthcare. Known for building strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, finding innovative solutions to critical issues, and for leading and motivating teams to deliver great social and environmental outcomes. Read more

Profit Panel

Pia Winberg / Founder | PhycoHealth

Pia is the founder of iAccelerate resident company PhycoHealth. PhycoHealth takes scientific knowledge to the real world using marine-sourced nutrition to demonstrate that oceans are essential to human wellbeing. Read more

Jason Graham-Nye / Co-founder, CEO | gDiapers | gNappies | gCycleCircular

Known for his entrepreneurial success and vision, Jason Graham-Nye is a recognised green business leader, and is the co-founder and CEO of gDiapers. Jason has a passion for disruptive innovation in product design, company culture and the venture capital world. Read more

Karen Bohm / Founding Partner | Pangaea Impact Investments

Having spent 10 years in the legal profession and then an investor in two highly successful education businesses; Think Education Group & Open Colleges Australia, Karen changed direction in 2015 and joined the world of impact investing. A Founding Partner of Pangaea Impact Investments, Karen focuses on supporting passionate social entrepreneurs who are tackling some of society’s toughest social problems. Read more

Facilitated by: Prof Joe Steensma / Academic | Washington University / St Louis - Professor in Environmental Health and Social Entrepreneurship

Prior to his academic career, Joe was active in business and public affairs. He founded Industrial Solutions Group (ISG), which grew to become one of the premier occupational and environmental health companies in the US. Joe specializes in social entrepreneurism, environmental / occupational health, and biostatistics. He is passionate about sustainability and the role enterprise plays in advancing societies. Read more

With many more speakers to be announced in the coming weeks.