Jess Colgan

All Things Equal is a social enterprise that bridges the gap between people with disability and the wider community, by creating award based employment for people with disability in our dynamic hospitality settings. In just two years we have employed 28 people with disability and paid over $450,000 in award based wages. And we're just getting started. Step inside the All Things Equal cafe and you are welcomed with a buzz - an energy, a vibrancy that nourishes your soul. There is coffee, yes. Delicious food, tick. Smiles all around, of course. But the electricity comes from a community that band together and say, this is where we belong.

GingerSnap is a patisserie celebrating the limitless potential of people with disability. We create plant based desserts that spark moments of joy. Co-created by siblings, Brett & Jess, we share our deep lived experience with disability, and over 20 years of professional experience in hospitality, to elevate the stories of people with disability in our community. We sell plant-based desserts for your home or business. Currently an online store, operating from our commercial space in West End, West Melbourne, we take pre-orders via our website for events, pick up and delivery, and run pop-up stores and markets. Contact us for your next special occasion. www.gingersnap.com.au hello@gingersnap.com.au

Remarkable accelerates startups making a difference for people with disability. 1 in 5 Australians, and 1.3 billion people globally, live with a disability. The rapidly accelerating rate of technological innovation has tremendous potential to reduce barriers for people with disability and become a powerful driver of inclusion. But despite advances in technology, social reform & impact investment, they continue to face significant barriers to participation in everyday life. Remarkable harnesses technology to build social and economic inclusion of people with disability. They accelerate disability-tech startups through our 14-week accelerator program. And initiate innovation through events like Remarkable Design-athon. As a mentor Remarkable Accelerator program, I support entrepreneurs with strategy, financial capability and impact investment strategies.

In 2023 I'm working directly with Sophie Li, founder of Sign How, a global sign language dictionary hosting, built by deaf people for deaf people.

Carinya Society provides adult training and support services to advance the independence, dignity, worth and human rights of people with disabilities. Running over 70 day programs for more than 110 participants, Carinya also offer Community Respite Care and Specialist Disability Accommodation Services. Carinya Society is a special place for adults with disabilities, where they receive care and support to fulfil their hopes and dreams.

At Maven, we amplify the positive impact of social change leaders. We are a nimble social impact agency with big capabilities in strategy, finance and impact. Our strategic, supportive and hands on approach to social enterprise will ensure that together, we design commercially clever solutions that set you up for long term impact. We know it’s not easy, but we love a challenge. In fact, we’re excited by it. Taking our lived experience with people with disabilities, we are particularly focused on building leadership, entrepreneurship and employment in the disability sector. More info on these big projects coming soon! If you’re looking for someone you can talk to like a trusted friend, an advisor or someone you can have a laugh with, you’ve come to the right place. Check out some other leaders who love talking with us - Free to Feed, Ally Assist, Carinya Society, Remarkable Tech, Financially Empowered, Project Rockit, KidsCo and STUFF.

Y is a social impact consultancy. We believe that the key to the world’s greatest challenges lies in the convergence of best-practice business & effective social impact. As chartered accountants, financial acumen, business planning & strategy underpin all that we do. But we are more than just accountants. We have significant experience partnering directly with business owners to understand the intricacies of their business, their operations, their people and their industries to create value, financial return and the greatest potential to deliver positive social impact. Y is both our name & a symbol. It is a constant reminder to connect with our purpose and ask why - why is our work important & how does it create value for enterprise & our world.

ygap is an international organisation that creates positive change by making entrepreneurship more inclusive. ygap believes that business can be a force for good, and that entrepreneurship is key to solving the most challenging social and environmental problems facing our world today. But for this to happen, the world’s diversity must be represented in creating these solutions and the systems that enable them to succeed. ygap exists to increase the capacity and agency of entrepreneurs to run successful businesses, and reduce the barriers that inhibit access and inclusion within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a mentor of the YGAP first gens program, I provided one to one mentoring with social entrepreneurs and workshop facilitation regarding strategy, financial management, investment and impact measurement.

TCI is a hospitality for purpose & finance consultancy, specialising in privately owned business and social enterprise. Key Projects Social Impact Planning for private & corporate business Development & implementation of management reporting systems Management of bank covenants, finance sourcing & insurance Financial modelling for new ventures Analysis of existing business models to determine ongoing viability of operations Partnering with social enterprise to increase financial sustainability & maximise social impact

food&desire is a premium hospitality group at the forefront of boutique catering and event management in Melbourne. This role reports immediately to the directors, with responsibilities including: Management of the account preparation process, end of year taxation requirements and lodgement of payroll tax, BAS, FBT and workcover Management of banking relationships, including new property financing, business refinancing, covenants, swap agreements and three way forecasting Project management & new venture forecasting Management of relationships with external tax advisors, including business owners’ personal matters Development and implementation of a business wide Enterprise Agreement, in consultation with external Legal advisors Customisation and implementation of business operating systems (rostering, payroll, accounting & event management) Liquor licensing for new & existing venues and special events Management of lease terms & conditions and catering agreements, together with reporting requirements to associated parties Consultation with external legal advisors on new entities, joint venture & loan agreements

Fordham is a mid tier chartered accounting firm, specialising in taxation and business planning for privately owned businesses. This team specialised in the motor dealer industry. Responsibilities include: Preparation of Management Financial Statements and Income Tax Returns for trading entities under various structures including companies, trusts, partnerships and self managed superannuation funds Identifying Tax Compliance issues within ownership groups and identifying opportunities to produce superior tax effective outcomes (tax planning) Business analysis and benchmarking, profit improvement reports and “what if” analysis Calculation and compilation of industry benchmarks based on analysis of key market player performance, in consultation with team directors Lead point of contact for internal teams, and clients, on Fringe Benefits Tax issues and internally developed FBT software

Fordham Group - a specialist part of Perpetual Ltd - is a business advisory and chartered accounting firm, supporting private business owners with accounting, business advisory and financial advice services, designed to make their business - and their life - better.