Social Impact
In The Regions

Kerry Grace is the conference founder and producer

Kerry Grace is known for her authentic approach and ability to get things done in communities.

A passionate regional Australian she learned from a very young age that many skills are required to enable the social change she is passionate about, the most important one being the ability to build trust.

Like many entrepreneurs Kerry is multi-skilled and while her skills may broadly be defined as community and economic development, writing and community advisory, through her decades in the workforce she has honed a unique mix of practical skills, connections, deep understanding and abilities which make her a sought after person for facilitation, MC and community advisory services.

Kerry works with clients at every level of government, not for profits, Aboriginal Corporations and Corporates.

At the heart of her work she thoroughly believes in healthy and sustainable regional communities. The methodologies surrounding the delivery of this goal vary.

Kerry's first book, Spiralling Up will be launched at this year's SIITR.

www.kerrygrace.com.au

Werner blends leadership development, data, strategy and design to strengthen social impact across rural, regional and remote communities, always asking deeper questions to understand what drives change, and the values underpinning it. With a PhD in Psychology and an academic foundation in human behaviour, he brings a sharp, curious mind to the work of systems change.

At the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Werner leads impact strategy, designing tools and systems that centre community voices and measure what matters. He has contributed to initiatives ranging from impact evaluation, sense-making, program facilitation, community resilience, First Nations partnerships and participatory governance.

Grounded in principles of transformational leadership and adaptive thinking, Werner’s work champions changemaking that is collaborative, values-led and community-driven. He believes leadership is most powerful when it enables others, especially in the face of complexity and inequality.

Werner serves on the RDA Hume Committee and is a Board Director at Merriwa Industries in Wangaratta, a social enterprise that creates meaningful employment for people with a disability. His approach is anchored in place, guided by purpose, and fuelled by curiosity. He draws strength from the power of nature, spending time hiking, exploring Country, travel, and being with his family.

Sarah Norris is a social impact leader who has worked with numerous regional communities across Australia to support stronger, more connected places. Now based in the Snowy Mountains of NSW, she leads Social Impact & Community at Snowy Hydro.

Bio coming soon...

Jason Wallace is the CEO of the Stand Like Stone Foundation and a long‑time Limestone Coast community leader with more than 20 years’ experience working in regional South Australia. His career spans journalism, community services and philanthropy, with a strong focus on social impact, inclusion and place‑based decision‑making.

Jason began his career as a regional journalist, later becoming editor of The Border Watch, where he developed a deep understanding of regional issues and the power of storytelling to build empathy and galvanise change. His commitment to strengthening communities deepened during seven years in communications and community engagement roles with ac.care, working to support people experiencing homelessness, young people in care and vulnerable families. He also coordinated the Limestone Coast Support Homeless People Luncheon in 2023 and 2025, raising around $130,000 at each event to boost local impact.

In his current role at Stand Like Stone, Jason leads one of Australia’s strongest regional community foundations, stewarding a growing endowment to fund long‑term, locally led solutions.

Jason’s background in collaboration and amplifying regional voices mirrors the conference’s focus on connection, capacity and collective action across diverse regional stakeholders.

Raised on a small family dairy farm in western Victoria and now deeply embedded in the Limestone Coast, Jason brings lived regional experience, strategic leadership and a passion for community‑led change to the SIITR Advisory Committee.

Mijica Lus is a Canberra-based community advocate with a strong focus on regional engagement across the ACT and surrounding areas. She has worked with organisations including the Australian Red Cross, Multicultural Hub, Sir David Martin Foundation, the University of Canberra, and the Y Australia, supporting regional young people and diverse communities. Her work centres on amplifying local voices, strengthening community connections, and delivering place-based outcomes that reflect the unique needs of regional populations.

Gail is a strategic leader in community development with extensive experience designing and delivering place-based initiatives that strengthen communities and reduce harm. As State Program Manager of the NSW CDAT Program, she leads a statewide network focused on alcohol and other drug prevention and harm minimisation, working at the intersection of government, community services and local stakeholders.

Gail is known for her ability to bring people together to develop practical, evidence-informed solutions to complex social challenges. Her strengths lie in building strategic approaches that are grounded in local insight, fostering meaningful partnerships, and supporting communities to translate ideas into sustainable action.

As a member of the Social Impact in the Regions Advisory Working Group, Gail contributes to shaping collaborative approaches that amplify regional voices and strengthen impact across sectors. Her work extends to partnering with organisations and communities to design and embed strategic, evidence-informed approaches that deliver meaningful and sustainable social outcomes.

Bio coming soon...