August 7, 2018

iAccelerate 4Impact Conference opens

Conference attracts speakers who have redefined business/community sector

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is today (Tuesday 7 August ) playing host to a range of entrepreneurs and socialpreneurs who are helping to redefine business and social communities across the globe.

The iAccelerate 4Impact Conference will feature 20 leading speakers, five of whom will present Keynote Addresses.

iAccelerate CEO Omar Khalifa said social entrepreneurs needed backers just like any other startup.

“That is why we are focusing on both the good things being done by social entrepreneurs but also what they need to keep driving change.”

The Keynote Speakers are Kate Swaffer who is the Chair, CEO and Co-Founder of Dementia Alliance International; Luke Barbagallo who is Partnerships and Programs Manager with Pollinate Energy; Rob Caslick who is Co-Founder of Two Good Co; Jason Graham-Nye who is Co-Founder and CEO of gDiapers/gNappies/gCycleCircular; and Professor Joe Steensma who is Professor of Practice in Environmental Health and Social Entrepreneurship at Washington University.

There will be three panel sessions running during the day-long conference.

The ‘People Panel’ will explore the ways in which social enterprise and companies alike are focusing on how they are benefiting the people in their community; becoming and being good corporate citizens. The panel will focus specifically on disability, mental health, dementia and the empowerment of people globally.

The ‘Planet Panel’ is focused on social organisations, start-ups and enterprises that have the environment at their core or is a key measure of their success. It will examine how they deliver a positive impact by the elimination of waste, turning waste into usable resources, adequate supply of clean water, energy efficiency and generally contributing to a green market.

The ‘Profit Impact Investment Panel’ will enable conference attendees to learn from experienced financiers and IMPACT investors how they have invested and structured investments that look to more than just financial returns. The focus instead will aim for a blended value approach – a measurable beneficial social or environmental impact alongside financial return – a double or triple bottom line.

"The conference is being staged by iAccelerate which is a startup accelerator and incubator designed to help create successful businesses and jobs in the Illawarra. iAccelerate, is a part of UOW’s Innovation Campus, and offers entrepreneurial education, mentoring, links to global networks and access to seed funding via the $10 million iAccelerate Seed Fund.

 For for further details, including a full list of conference speakers visit https://landing.iaccelerate.com.au/