Monique Russell, Chair of the Board

Monique is the account director for Blend Creative, an Australian Disability Enterprise and a certified social enterprise with Social Traders and SEWF Good Market verified People and Planet First social enterprise. Blend Creative delivers commercial design solutions with a unique business model that provides real work opportunities in a Graphic Design studio for people with disability.

From 2014 to 2017, Monique was involved with the Federation of Catholic School Parent Communities, holding the position of President from 2015 to 2017. As the peak voice for Catholic school parents Monique represented the Federation on working groups with the DECD and within Catholic Education sat on the advisory committee for Students with Disability.

Monique was deputy member on the Board for the South Australian Teachers Board from 2016 – 2019 and has held Board positions with Cardijn College for 4 years and with the South Australian Social Enterprise Council since its foundation in 2020 holding the position of Secretary from 2020 – 2023 and contributing to the South Australian Social Enterprise Expert Political Advisory Group.

James Hutchinson, Secretary

James has extensive business and commercial experience in energy, carbon, and nature, and now channels this experience in the support of a carbon-neutral and nature-positive vision for Australia. Committed to ethical and sustainable business practice, James is actively encouraging and promoting businesses and enterprises that are striving to put people and planet first in their activities.

With over 18 years of corporate experience across Australia, Papua New Guinea and South East Asia, James provides bespoke commercial consulting services for energy, carbon and nature projects in Australia. James holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Chemical Engineering Degree from The University of Adelaide.

Nader Ibrahim, Treasurer

Nader Ibrahim, a proud Egyptian immigrant, moved to Australia in 2009 and co-founded the One Culture Group. With a deep passion for community service and a strong commitment to providing opportunities for disadvantaged groups, Nader has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s mission.

Coming from an underprivileged background, Nader personally experienced the barriers that prevent access to sports and community engagement. This fuelled his desire to create an organization that would provide the opportunities he once lacked. In 2017, alongside his business partner, Nader founded the One Culture Group, a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to making a positive impact in people’s lives through sports, individualized support, and building social connections. One Culture’s programs are inclusive of all ages, cultures, and abilities.

Seven years later, the work continues to grow. The impact has broadened, and the need for inclusive services is greater than ever. Nader’s vision to provide access and create positive change remains at the heart of One Culture’s mission.

Melissa Rayner, Board Member - Membership and Communications

Melissa Rayner is a passionate advocate for social and environmental sustainability, with extensive experience in hospitality and tourism, social enterprise, and community service. She is the founder of The Foodprint Experience, a 5 year social enterprise project operating from 2018-2023. During that time the enterprise was dedicated to creating ethical and sustainable meals using local produce and environmentally conscious systems. The café not only championed sustainable dining but also provided meaningful employment and training opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. The Foodprint Experience became a leading food service provider, recognised by environmentally and socially conscious organisations.

With a diverse background that includes a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and over 20 years of experience in hospitality, tourism, and management, Melissa combines creativity with practical expertise. Her commitment to social impact is further demonstrated through her volunteer work, including two years with St Vincent De Paul’s men’s shelter and 18 months at the SVDP Elizabeth Conference.

Melissa’s passion for zero waste and circular economy strategies continues in her current role with Boomerang Alliance, managing the Plastic Free SA program, where she works to inspire sustainable and circular economy practices in the hospitality industry. In addition to serving on the SASEC Board, she also contributes to local social enterprise The Food Embassy as a committee member and secretary.

Roxane Foulser-Piggott, Board Member

Roxane is passionate about building supportive, interconnected communities within the NFP and social enterprise sectors.

Her journey in volunteerism began as a teenager, working as a gardener in an aged care home. While studying engineering, she supported STEM education in schools. During her career in consulting and finance she volunteered in various roles in the criminal justice system including serving as an independent monitor in a maximum-security prison. Following the loss of her infant son, Frederick, Roxane dedicated her professional life to volunteering, founding FreddyMatch—a platform that connects volunteers with those in need. Since its launch in 2020, she has focused on fostering communities to expand the reach of volunteering to underrepresented cohorts.

Awarded the 2022 Westpac Social Change Fellowship, Roxane champions sector-wide collaboration, believing no single initiative succeeds alone. She is committed to leveraging her experience to strengthen partnerships, helping social enterprises grow together toward a more resilient society.