Cheryl Kernot will join the Centre for Social Impact as its first Director of Teaching and Learning, the Centre's chief executive, Professor Peter Shergold, has announced.

Based at UNSW, the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) is a new national initiative aimed at driving social innovation by building the capacity of Australia's not-for-profit organisations and strengthening their relationship to the private and government sectors. Its founding partners are the Australian School of Business at UNSW, Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne and the Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment at Swinburne University of Technology.

Ms Kernot, who joins the Centre next week as Associate Professor, will oversee the development of Masters' courses to be offered by all partners in the areas of business social responsibility, not-for-profit management and social investment. She will contribute both to academic teaching and to an extensive range of executive programs in the areas of social entrepreneurship.

Following her distinguished political career, Ms Kernot has spent the last five years working in the UK as a Programme Director at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurs at the Said Business School at Oxford University and as the Director of Learning at the School for Social Entrepreneurs in London. Her specialist role at the Skoll Centre was to assist and mentor start-up social businesses, particularly in the delivery of innovative health services.

Ms Kernot says she is looking forward to playing a leadership role in meeting CSI's "timely and pioneering vision" of deepening and broadening the beneficial social impact of Australia's 'third sector'.

"The Centre is uniquely placed to become Australia's hub in the international movement to champion social business as a force for change," she says. "It will play a key role in making a fairer and more inclusive society by tackling some of society's most entrenched social and environmental challenges, using traditional business tools and strategies to achieve a social bottom line."

Professor Shergold said of the appointment: "I am delighted that Cheryl has accepted this important position at the Centre. Her distinguished experience in teaching social enterprise, pursuing social innovation and framing supportive public policy settings will help ensure CSI meets its bold learning, research and advocacy goals.

"I can think of no-one more able to invigorate the voice and role of the Australian third sector as an equal and dynamic partner alongside the public and private sectors in our important national conversations," he said.

Media Contact: Judy Brookman | 0421 061 251 | j.brookman@unsw.edu.au