21 September, 2016 – Allan English, Founder and Chair of ASX listed Silver Chef and the English Family Foundation, and an Opportunity International Australia Council Member, will share his belief with delegates of the Philanthropy Australia National Conference 2016 that social enterprises and impact investing can build pathways out of poverty.

Opportunity Chief Executive Officer Robert Dunn agrees, saying: “When companies and investors put the creation of social value at the centre of their business, they can achieve economic success whilst simultaneously making a social contribution.

“Allan English is a corporate leader who has put social purpose at the core of his business. Silver Chef and the English Family Foundation aim is to free 1.5 million people from poverty by 2020 and they are well on their way to achieving this remarkable social impact,” he added.

According to Allan English: “Silver Chef strives to conduct itself in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in Australia and around the world.

“We believe part of the measure of our success is based on our contribution to building a fairer, more equitable society.

“We put a particular focus on supporting organisations and initiatives that help to improve the lives of the economically and socially disadvantaged and we are committed to building a business which is focussed on both sustainable global benefits and economic profitability.

“Having a shared social purpose inspires our employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders to use the power of our business to help alleviate poverty.

“Silver Chef employees and members of the English Family Foundation are greatly looking forward to travelling to India with Opportunity later this year to experience first-hand the impacts of our contributions on the lives of the families we serve,” he stated.

Robert Dunn said: “Opportunity is excited to be participating in the Philanthropy Australia National Conference 2016. Please come and visit us.”

ENDS

About Allan English

Allan English is the Founder and Executive Chairman of ASX-listed, and B-Corp accredited, Silver Chef Limited which was founded in 1986. In 2000, as a volunteer, he established the Queensland office for Opportunity International Australia. In 2010, he created the English Family Foundation to support local and overseas social entrepreneurs tackling some of the more challenging issues facing our society.

Allan currently serves as a Council member of Philanthropy Australia and on the Advisory Board for QUT's The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies and the Philanthropy Australia Council. He is a former recipient of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and was recognised in 2012 by Queensland’s Community Foundation as Philanthropist of the Year. In 2014, he won the inaugural Philanthropy Australia’s Philanthropy Leader award.

Media contact

Marie Kelly-Davies
Media and Communications Manager
Opportunity International Australia
02 9270 3332; 0408 256 381
mkelly-davies@opportunity.org