ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Olivia, founder of Impact Practice. I'm a social impact consultant based in Melbourne, working with social enterprises, government, businesses and funders across Australia.
I've spent 25 years working across sectors - social enterprises, government, corporates and startups - in roles spanning general management, strategy, business development, consulting, capability building, social procurement and diversity, equity and inclusion. I've worked in Melbourne and London, across industries including retail, fashion, design, transport, construction and superannuation.
What connects all of it is a focus on helping organisations find the balance between doing good and doing well. I hold an MBA (First Class Honours) from Melbourne Business School, which gave me the business foundations I've been applying in the for-purpose and public sectors for the past 17 years.
I listen properly, give honest advice, and make sure things actually get done. My approach is practical and grounded - I focus on what will really work for the people involved, not just what looks good on paper. I believe in leading with empathy, listening closely and creating spaces where people can collaborate, trust each other and get things done.
I live in the Dandenong Ranges, and the move here in 2021 genuinely changed how I work. Being surrounded by nature has brought a groundedness and calm to my approach that I didn't have when I was in the city. It's also why I offer Walk and Talk sessions in the forest - sometimes the best thinking happens away from a desk.
Learn more about my sector specific enterprise:
-
I spent nearly three years inside the Victorian Government, working for the Department of Transport and Planning and the Level Crossing Removal Project. I led the team responsible for social procurement, inclusive employment and the Women in Transport Mentoring Program.
I understand the compliance landscape - Victoria's Social Procurement Framework, the Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan, and the layers of legislation, policy and reporting that sit behind government programs. Through my consulting work at Social Traders, I led social enterprise and social procurement projects for Banyule Council and Knox Council, and continue to work with Banyule Council through Impact Practice.
-
I spent 10 years in the corporate sector in high-pressure buying roles at large retailers in Australia and the UK, including River Island, Sportsgirl, Sussan and Jeanswest. Through my experience at the Level Crossing Removal Project, I worked closely with major transport and construction companies including Metro Trains, John Holland, Laing O'Rourke, McConnell Dowell, Fulton Hogan and Acciona on social procurement and inclusive employment.
I've also sat as an observer on the board of Women in Super, a national advocacy group working to achieve fairer retirement outcomes for Australian women.
-
I led the transformation of Australian Red Cross's $22 million national op-shop network, taking the business from loss-making to surplus in four years through a combination of revenue growth initiatives and cost reduction.
At Social Traders, I consulted to over 70 social enterprises on growth, operations, procurement readiness and business model sustainability. Some of the organisations I worked with include the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Big Issue, Ability Works, Good Cycles, HoMie and Clickability.
I managed Australia's first social enterprise startup accelerator, ST Crunch, working with over 30 startups. I also spent two years at The Social Studio in a strategic role focused on growing the social enterprise arms of the organisation.
