Melbourne Edition
8.10.2022 RMIT Storey Hall Melbourne
About the SGSA
The Social Good Summit Australia (SGSA) is a United Nations-affiliated event that connects individuals, corporations, not-for-profits, government, and grassroots organisations to inspire and discuss solutions for the greatest challenges of our times.
Through powerful speeches from inspiring industry leaders, we aim to educate and inspire individuals to take action for social good.
The SGSA brings people like you together to discuss ideas, share stories and inspire everyone to actively make the world a better place.
The SGSA is part of a global network of committed citizens from more than 100 countries that meet every year to unlock the potential of individuals, technology and collaboration to make the world a better place.
This year’s Summit theme RECONNECT. RETHINK. RESTART will focus on the task ahead of us to fulfil the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in creating a better world.
Over the last seven years, the SGSA has inspired many individuals to get involved, get connected and take action.
The SGSA is a non-for-profit run solely by volunteers. We have a great team of friendly, passionate people who work tirelessly to make the summit happen. Our team is made up of mums, dads, working professionals, students and artists who selflessly give off their time, with a shared goal to make a better world by 2030.
Speakers
FEATURED CHANGE MAKERS
01
Founder Climate 200
Simon Holmes à Court/
Founder Climate 200
Simon is the founder of Climate 200, the community crowdfunding initiative with 11,200 donors from all 151 electorates across Australia.
At the 2022 Federal election, Climate 200’s donors levelled the playing field for climate, integrity and gender equity ambitious community independents, helping to elect seven new independents to the Australian Parliament.
Simon began his career as a software engineer in Silicon Valley during the first dotcom wave, then spent more than a decade in precision farm water management.
Simon was a driving force behind the country’s first community-owned wind farm, Hepburn Wind, near Daylesford in Central Victoria.
He is an energy analyst, clean tech investor, climate philanthropist, director of the Smart Energy Council and the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network and writes regularly about the transformation of Australia’s energy sector.
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Kath Koschel/
Founder and CEO Kindness Factory
Kath Koschel is the founder of Kindness Factory, a global not for profit organisation and movement which inspires ordinary people to do extra ordinary things. A former professional cricketer and Iron Man competitor, Kath has defied all medical prognoses by teaching herself to walk on three separate occasions.
Despite facing other serious personal, mental and physical setbacks, her resilience allowed her not only to overcome these challenges, but also see the good in the world when most others couldn’t. In November 2015, she founded Kindness Factory, with a goal of encouraging and inspiring 1 million acts of kindness.
To date, she has raised close to half- a- million dollars for various charity organisations and was the recipient of the 2016 Pride of Australia Medal for showing courage in the face of extreme adversity. In January 2017, Kath was awarded the Young Australian Medal and the people’s choice of Australia award.
02
Kindness Factory
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03
Street Barber
Nasir Sobhani/
THE STREETS BARBER
Nasir Sobhani, also known as ‘The Streets’ Barber,’ has earned his affectionate title spending his time taking to Melbourne’s streets offering free haircuts and shaves to the homeless and less fortunate.
His inspirational story of compassion and generosity has received significant attention globally. Nasir was also one of the five people to be profiled as part of the Kenneth Cole Courageous Class Campaign in New York, celebrating individuals who have overcome obstacles in life to become inspiring
role models.
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Nik & Harry Robinson/
Founders of Good Citizens Eyewear
Good Citizens Eyewear was born over a family dinner discussion about global plastic waste.
Harry and Archie (8 and 6 at the time) were upset about the issue and they hassled Mum
and Dad (Nik) to step up. Together (with no experience), they hatched a plan to help
untrash the planet.
It would take 752 days and thousands of failed attempts to finally launch Good Citizens
Eyewear in April 2020. Good Citizens has one mission - to untrash the planet™ by turning
trash into good.
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04
Dinner discussions
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05
For the next generation
Michael Elias/
Founder & CEO UPPAREL
Michael is the Co Founder and CEO of Upparel, Australia and New Zealand's leading textile recovery, repurposing and recycling organisation.
Driving innovative change for the benefit of the next generation, Upparel is a Certified B Corp, Sustainability Champions of Australia and the partner of choice for retailers, global fashion brands and organisations looking to eradicate textile waste.
Michael is recognised as a Top 50 Leader in ecommerce and the voice for textile waste solutions and circularity in Australasia.
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Laura Thompson &
Sianna Catullo /
Co Founder/ Brand and Marketing Manager of Clothing the Gaps
Laura Thompson (she/her) is a proud Gunditjmara woman, she is the co-founder with Sarah Sheridan and CEO of Clothing The Gaps, an Aboriginal streetwear brand and social enterprise based on Wurundjeri Country, that is known for their political fashion.
You may know Clothing The Gaps for their Free The Flag campaign and fight to free the Aboriginal flag from copyright for over two years.
Laura was raised in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in Fitzroy and has a Master of Public Health. She never imagined she would end up leading a fashion business!
Sianna Catullo (she/her) is a proud Narungga woman and Clothing The Gaps Brand and Marketing Manager.
06
Clothing the Gaps
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07
Rewiring Australia
Kate Minter/
GM Rewiring Australia
Kate Minter is the General Manager of Rewiring Australia, a research advocacy organisation that’s working to make mass and rapid electrification a reality.
Kate’s background is in research and campaigning on pressing social equity issues including women’s safety and the rights of migrant and gig-economy workers.
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Yvonne Kelly/
Founder and CEO Glow UP
"Yvonne Kelly is the CEO & Co-Founder of Glow Up Careers, an award winning Social Enterprise.
Their mission is to "Empower everyone to have the career of their dreams no matter who they are or where they are from".
With a successful international career in recruiting, Yvonne has a passion for inclusion and giving everyone the opportunity to find meaningful work.
08
Empower everyone
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09
Full time human
Yaser Naseri/
Glow up
Yaser is a former refugee who left Iran after the Green Revolution which was heavily suppressed by the Iranian Government.
In 2014 Yaser moved to Australia, he started from scratch studying English and found his way to the University of Sydney.
Yaser is also passionate about sharing his survival story to inspire people and help refugees.
He believes he can raise awareness about adversity and challenges refugees encounter by sharing his story. He talks in high schools, universities, and company events to encourage them to take action and include more refugees in the workforce.
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Deborah Hart/
Co- Founder Climarte
Deborah Hart is a climate and environment focussed creative producer and writer.
Deborah co-founded CLIMARTE (2010) and ClimActs (2013) to harness the creative power of the arts and combine spectacle, humour and direct action to draw attention to the Climate Emergency, and the corruption causing it.
Deborah is the author of Guarding Eden: Champions of Climate Action (Allen & Unwin, 2015) which tells inspiring personal stories showing how and why highly destructive industries that built immense wealth and influence last century are now using that power recklessly to maintain 'business as usual' profiteering, and the inspiring actions ordinary citizens are taking to safeguard nature and humanity’s future.
10
Climarte
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RMIT University Storey Hall
Building 16, 336/348 Swanston St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Storey Hall at RMIT was originally built for the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society in 1887 – and the extensive use of green in the extension’s exterior reflects its Irish heritage.
Over the years, various organisations, including women’s groups, have rented the premises.
During World War I, the building was leased to feminist pacifist organisations, the Women’s Political Organisation and the Women’s Peace Army, and it was the venue for many of Melbourne’s largest anti-conscription public meetings and rallies.
In the 1990s, the historic 1887 building was transformed internally
and with the addition of a striking modern section.
The purple and green on the building represent the colours of the Irish and early feminists who once occupied it.
Testimonials
Pete Ceglinski
CEO Seabin Project
It was both extremely exciting and humbling for Seabin Project to be included amongst some truly amazing people at the 2019 Social Good Summit. We walked away from the event a bit smarter, a lot more positive and with new friends that we are still in contact with or have formed collaborations and partnerships with. Myself and the team at Seabin Project encourage everyone to attend the Social Good Summit 2021, anyone that wants to learn more about making a difference for a better planet and a more prosperous future.
Ronni Kahn-
Founder & CEO OZ Harvest
The Social Good Summit is incredibly important. It's all about people action and being part of a movement to create change.
Jeremy Meltzer -
Founder i=change
It's up to all of us now to be accelerating this rising of consciousness that is enormously important.
© 2022 Social Good Summit Australia