Viti Simmons Home Page

Center for Social Impact (CSI) 

Alumni Day - Perth Museum

5th December 2014

What a delight it was to share in the celebration of CSI - 4 years on. As one of the inaugural cohort in the Post Graduate Certificate in Social Impact - UWA Business School. It was wonderful to meet up with some of those from 2011 and others since graduated. Those who organised the event must have been very pleased with the outcome.

Back Row: Rebecca, Heiko, Galen and Devika
Front Row: Viti, Sonia, Louise and Kathryn

Nicola Forrest was the guest speaker and provided an insight into the Minderoo Foundation . In particular, the project linked to early childhood education and the Foundations work with the Challis Early Childhood Centre located at Challis Primary School in Armadale, Perth. I am always inspired when the focus is on creating social change/social impact. Such topics provide a wonderful platform to share the diversity of activity that has emerged or emerging in our State connected to philanthropy in its many forms.

Nicola Forrest -
West Australian of the Year Community Award 

As part of the days celebrations the alumni were offered the opportunity to present on the projects or work that alumni have taken up or being part of since graduating. I had just returned from my trip to Nepal so spoke about my philanthropic work linked to the Hands with Hands Organisation since 2010. In particular, work linked to their Jutpani Microfinance Finance Cooperative. All of those involved with the organisation provide their contribution probono.   

Erin Pope Curtin University student, Kira Kay Co-Founder
Hands with Hands, Viti and Nina Cejinar Social Investment
heading off on the bus from Kathmandu to Microfinance
project in Chitwan District.

The format for presentations was new to all involved and I was fascinated how the eight alumni presented throughout the day with a brief of: 20 slides with a 20 second narrative in between each one. 

Viti and Claire Stokes one of the organisers of the event.

That afternoon alumni were listed into four groups and met with four Not-For-Profit organisations who had submitted an issue that they were grappling with. Members of our group: listened, discussed, questioned, gained further clarity and then provided a way forward for the service group representatives from 'Collaborate WA' to consider. A very beneficial process for all involved.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I look forward to 'communicating' in the New Year.