As sustainability and social inclusion efforts are buffeted by headwinds, responsible businesses must hold their course. Join us for an engaging panel discussion on how B Corps are navigating today’s challenges, why bold leadership matters more than ever, and how the B Corp movement is upping its game with new standards to drive action on our most urgent social and environmental challenges.
Our expert panel includes:
- Tom Ebbutt, Director of Impact at B Lab UK
- Fiona Nixon, Chief Strategy Officer at Think HQ
- Bernie Wiley, Sustainability Director at Who Gives a Crap
The discussion will be facilitated by Kira Day, Policy and Advocacy Manager at B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, who will guide the conversation around the critical role of business in driving positive change. There will be time for Q&A following the panel discussion.
This will be a hybrid event and will be taking place in person in Naarm/Melbourne with the ability to join virtually for the panel discussion from 3:00 - 4:00pm AEST. Register here to join virtually. Captions will be enabled.
If you are attending in person, light refreshments will be provided during the session. Following the event, from 4:00pm onwards, we’ll be serving drinks and snacks, offering a great opportunity to network with like-minded, purpose-driven organisations. Additionally, Think HQ will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with a special party, welcoming extra guests from 4:30 to 9:00pm. You’re warmly invited to stay and enjoy the festivities for as long as you’d like!
Accessibility: The event venue can be set up for step-free access with a ramp at the entrance. Accessible toilets are available in the neighbouring building on Thistlethwaite Street. If you have any specific accessibility requirements or need assistance, please let us know in the field below.
Parking & Transport: There is metered parking in the surrounding streets. There are a number of public transport options including the 96, 12 & 109 trams all have stops a short walk away.
About the Speakers
Tom Ebbutt
Director of Impact, B Lab UK
Tom is the Director of Impact at B Lab UK, a non-profit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet. He was previously Managing Director of On Purpose, an organisation which works to help people and organisations find their purpose, and then make it a reality.
Prior to joining On Purpose Tom was the Chief Operating Officer of Ambition Institute where he helped grow the organisation from £2m to £18m turnover and from 17 to 200 team members. He has also worked as a Venture Partner at Ark Ventures, supporting the growth of high-impact social purpose organisations.
Tom brings a wealth of experience from across the private, public and third sectors and a deep commitment to driving positive change, and building a new stakeholder economy.
Fiona Nixon
Chief Strategy Officer, Think HQ
Fiona is an experienced leader across the public, not-for-profit financial, and consultancy sectors whose passion lies in shaping strategy and branding to help purpose-driven organisations grow.
She has led two successful B Corp certification processes- one most recently as Chief Strategy Officer at Think HQ - a 100-strong, national award-winning positive change agency that creates integrated communications for today’s Australia.
Previously at Bank Australia, she implemented the bank’s Responsible Banking Policy and multi-million dollar Clean Money campaign, as well as overseeing an ambitious climate strategy with a 2035 net zero target.
At Think HQ she continues to lead the agency’s thinking about how best to use communications and engagement to create positive change for clients and the communities they serve.
Bernie Wiley
Sustainability Director, Who Gives a Crap
Bernie is the Sustainability Director at Who Gives a Crap and is passionate about the environment and what businesses can do to reduce their impact on it. With 20 years’ experience in supply chain operations from the warehouse floor to senior management roles, Bernie has seen some great and some crap sustainability outcomes.
In his current role, Bernie is focused on making immediate and permanent changes that improve the environmental sustainability of Who Gives A Crap and its trading partners. Beyond that, Bernie is looking to influence other businesses to take sustainability seriously while demonstrating to them that they too can be leaders in positive change.
Kira Day
Policy and Advocacy Manager, B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand
Kira joined B Lab in 2020 as Community Manager, and then Impact and Engagement Manager. She has helped redefine the organisation’s approach to supporting a rapidly growing network of diverse B Corps and has guided hundreds of B Corps to engage their employees, boards, and key stakeholders on their impact journeys.
Drawing on her international and local background in social policy and reform, Kira now leads the development of B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand’s policy platform and advocacy strategy to demonstrate the power of business to drive positive impact in our economy and society.
This event is hosted by B Local Melbourne in collaboration with B Corp Think HQ.