$16 million investment to grow Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA)

A philanthropic investment of $16.4 million will expand Australia’s foremost professional development program in the social sector and boost the capability of those leaders and organisations who are working to help tackle the country’s entrenched social and environmental challenges.

Developed and delivered by the Centre for Social Impact, in partnership with five of the nation’s leading philanthropic foundations, the new phase of Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) will double the program’s reach to support a further 120 for-purpose CEOs and their organisations. The philanthropic partners are: The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund, the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, the Paul Ramsay Foundation and Snow Foundation.

Rated world-class and based on global best practice in executive education, the SILA program provides personalised leadership development and capacity building to help CEOs and their organisations meet growing challenges, demand for services, and address systemic barriers that prevent people from thriving.

Carolyn Curtis, former CEO of the Australian Centre for Social Innovation, appeared on the ‘Investing in leadership: Growing civil society’s capacity in a time of crisis’ panel at the Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025. Carolyn is an alumna of the SILA program.

She said: “SILA is a wonderful opportunity for philanthropy to really back the CEOs that are at the forefront of many of the challenges we face as a society.

“After these next cohorts, we’re talking about an incredibly large number of chief executives that have been through SILA who have had those opportunities to stop, reflect, evolve, connect with themselves and grow – what a profound gift to the sector,” she said.

The substantial funding commitment will enable SILA to deepen its impact and continue to cultivate a powerful network of leaders driving positive change across the nation, while addressing the stark disparity in leadership development funding between the corporate and for-purpose sectors.

The funding builds on the $10.4 million previously committed to SILA, which enabled 120 for-purpose CEOs from all states and territories to undertake the program from 2021, and brings the total ten-year commitment to $26.8 million.

External evaluation shows the program has already achieved strong positive results, with 100% of participants reporting SILA had made a positive difference in their organisation, and 87% of CEOs saying SILA has boosted the capability and culture of their organisations.

Since its inception, the program has enhanced the wellbeing and effectiveness of for-purpose leaders, equipping them with the tools, connections and support to advance social impact, and helped build a network of system-thinking leaders that can navigate complexity, creating a stronger for-purpose ecosystem. SILA also strengthens organisations by developing other senior leaders and supporting board directors, while also directing nearly one-third of funding back to the organisations as an untied capacity-building resource.

Paul Ramsay Foundation CEO and SILA Program Lead, UNSW Sydney Professor Kristy Muir said the increased investment would underpin the evolution of the SILA experience, including through deeper support for CEOs’ organisations, extending the in-person learning for participants, and expanding ways in which SILA alumni can maintain their connections and drive collaboration. “Investing in strong, visionary leadership while providing support to organisations is fundamental to addressing Australia’s most pressing social challenges and backing the incredible work that is being done alongside communities around the country,” she said.

“This is the investment that the for-purpose sector needs. SILA has built a cohort of leaders who are not only highly skilled but also deeply connected and committed to creating lasting change. This new investment is a testament to our confidence in the program’s profound impact and our collective dedication to strengthening the social sector.”

Centre for Social Impact CEO Arminé Nalbandian highlighted the program’s success to date and future aspirations.

“SILA has consistently delivered transformative outcomes, cultivating empathetic, strategic, and impactful leaders across the sector,” Ms Nalbandian said.

“As SILA continues to evolve, we’re not just investing in individual leaders and organisations but in the collective strength of Australia’s for-purpose sector. This renewed commitment ensures that our leaders are equipped to navigate complexity, foster innovation and drive systemic change for the communities they serve.”

Alongside the announcement of this funding milestone, SILA introduced the CEOs joining Cohort 5 (NSW and ACT). These 24 CEOs complete the original national rollout of SILA (phase one) and represent the second group of leaders from NSW and ACT to join the program.

Applications for Cohort 6, for Victorian and Tasmanian CEOs, will open in early 2026. The program will be rolled out across all remaining states through to 2031, providing this world-class opportunity to for-purpose CEOs nationwide. Find out when the SILA program will be delivered in your state.

Main photo: Carolyn Curtis speaking at the Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025