Our history
From 2005 Melbourne Business School became increasingly involved in local community issues and activities in the Australian non-profit sector through the interests of our faculty, students and staff.
Our executive education programs (management and leadership) were increasingly sought out by leaders in the non-profit sector. But access was difficult due to limited funding for executive development. Through the provision of some scholarships we found two important outcomes: the learning experiences ‘changed their lives' and enhanced their contributions to their organisations; and they added great value to the learning and appreciation of other students in their cohorts from the private sector.
Melbourne Business School engaged in a series of consultative forums with leaders from across the non-profit sector including welfare, education, arts, health and environment to determine how best we might help to strengthen capacity in their sector.
We witnessed a rapid demand for places in our programs and also a need for specialised attention on ‘leadership for social impact'. To underpin this work we identified a need for Australian research and teaching cases and a dedicated dialogue between academia and the community on issues related to leadership in the non-profit sector and between the business, government and non-profit sectors.
Melbourne Business School, as with and other institutions across the globe, experienced the rapid growth in concern about the direction of many mainstream companies and the need for more sustainable organisations requiring enlightened leadership for our challenging times. At the same time our MBA students developed a very strong Net Impact club which further stimulated activity in this area at the School.
Melbourne Business School had an important role to play in this space.
 | In 2007 Dr Karen Morley, who had spent seven years with Mt Eliza Executive Education, part of Melbourne Business School, established our Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership for Social Impact. |
The Centre was officially launched on Wednesday 27th August 2008, by His Excellency, Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Security of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. At the launch Mr Darvell Hutchinson, Chair of Trustees of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, announced the endowment of the Chair of Leadership for Social Impact. The University of Melbourne Chancellor Ian Renard welcomed the Centre as a wonderful initiative and an important new addition to the University's overall contribution to society. |
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In 2009 Dr Morley moves on from the School. We thank her and acknowledge her important contribution in establishing this Centre.
