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Monday, 4 January 2010

UWA Business School
The Centre for Social Impact WA - thought leader in social investment and sustainable communities - is a joint venture between the national Centre for Social Impact and The University of Western Australia Business School. The CSI is headquartered at The University of New South Wales, with sister centres at The University of Melbourne and Swinburne University of Technology. Each centre around the country has unique strengths and collectively the mission is supporting and strengthening the social enterprises of today and the social entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Through top class teaching and world class research, the aim is to position Australia as one of the world's best at delivering community benefit and generating social innovation.

It will also ensure that teaching, research and facilitation contributes to public debate and builds cross-sectoral alliances that drive social innovation and entrepreneurship.  From 2011, the Business School will offer a graduate program in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the initiative was an important contribution to building a civil society and developing the next generation of business and community leaders.

"The Centre for Social Impact has established itself as a powerful voice in teaching, research and public engagement in generating social innovation. Western Australia is in an enviable position to lead a social innovation agenda," Professor Robson said.

CSI Chair Dr Michael Chaney (AO) said he was delighted that the UWA Business School was becoming a part of the Centre for Social Impact partnership.  "The outstanding economic opportunities available to Western Australia presents a great chance for business, community and government to work together on the resolution of some of our more difficult social challenges," he said.

"Business Schools have a special responsibility to educate students in decision-making for the long-term which takes into account social, environmental, economic and commercial impacts," said Tracey Horton, Dean of the UWA Business School.

"The UWA Business School was the first Australian Business School to have an ethics and society unit as a compulsory part of the curriculum.  We aim to enrich our students with the knowledge and broader perspectives they will need to navigate an increasingly connected world, and to work closely and collaboratively with local communities," Professor Horton said.

The CSI (WA) will be guided by an advisory council chaired by UWA Chancellor and chairman of NAB and Woodside, Dr Michael Chaney AO.

The UWA Business School Centre for Social Impact is fortunate to have distinguished alumni and leading members of the WA Corporate Community on its Advisory Council.

Members include Michael Chaney (Chair), Chancellor, The University of Western Australia; Sue Ash , WACOSS; Carl Binning , BHP Billiton; Wayne Bergmann , Kimberley Land Council ;  Joe Calleja , The Richmond Fellowship of WA; Ronald F Chalmers , Disability Services Commission; Peter Conran , Department of Premier & Cabinet; Jeffery P Dowling , Ernst & Young; Annie Fogarty , Fogarty Foundation; Vanessa Guthrie , Woodside Energy Ltd; Chris Hall , Uniting Care West; Lloyd S Perron, Perron Group of Companies; Anne Russell-Brown, St John of God Healthcare Inc.; Chris Ryder , Corrs Chambers Westgarth; Jan Stewart , Lotterywest; and Deidre Willmott, Office of the Premier.

Resourcing the community benefit sector and social investors. The Centre for Social Impact is part of The University of Western Australia's and the Business School's commitment to strengthen the civil society through helping build the capacity of the Community Benefit sector (sometimes called the ‘third sector'). This sector is the ‘unsung hero' of the Australian economy. Not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises face unique leadership and management challenges. They need to maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, create ongoing partnerships with businesses committed to corporate responsibility, to transform philanthropy into social investment. Their ambitions always outstrip resources.

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