Celebrating the achievements of outgoing Board Chair Professor Peter Shergold AC

Professor Peter Shergold AC has been a cornerstone figure of the Centre for Social Impact since its earliest days.

As founding CEO and more recently as outgoing Board Chair, Professor Shergold leaves a profound legacy that will continue to influence our work and mission for years to come. Now, after years of dedicated service, Peter has decided to step down from his role as Board Chair, marking the end of an era at the Centre for Social Impact (CSI).

Professor Shergold joined CSI following a distinguished career in the public service that culminated in the top role of Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet. As founding CEO, he helped lay the pathway for the Centre for Social Impact to build a collaborative network spanning multiple universities, enabling the university partnership to become Australia’s leading provider of social impact research and education.

Reflecting on Professor Shergold’s enduring impact on the Centre for Social Impact since its inception in 2008 , Acting CEO Dr Lyndsey McKee expressed deep gratitude for his pivotal role.

“Professor Shergold remains a linchpin of our organisation's history. Peter’s foresight and leadership have been instrumental in shaping CSI's trajectory,” Dr McKee said.

“His unwavering commitment to advancing social progress within and across sectors has been invaluable. On behalf of the Centre for Social Impact collaboration, I extend our sincere gratitude to Peter and wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

UNSW Chancellor and Chair of CSI’s Sydney Advisory Board, David Gonski AC, said Professor Shergold had been an essential component of setting the Centre for Social Impact on the right course from day one.

“Having Peter on board from the beginning was critical,” Mr Gonski said.

“We needed a great leader who could bring people together behind the vision of the Centre for Social Impact and take practical steps to ensure it would make a real contribution to society."

"Peter has been instrumental in CSI’s success, and I sincerely thank him for his tremendous contribution.”

Professor Shergold has played a central role in shaping the success of the Centre for Social Impact by bringing together the brightest minds from across academia to advance social impact knowledge and practice in Australia and beyond.

He has helped the Centre for Social Impact find its home in the Business Schools of Flinders University, Swinburne University of Technology, UNSW and The University of Western Australia.

“I remember being quite surprised when I first heard of plans for the Centre for Social Impact,” Professor Shergold recalled. “I was also very excited, feeling that this was too big of an opportunity to miss.

“After 20 years in public service, I knew the Centre for Social Impact could be a game-changer in driving the research and specialised education that could help pave a new path to achieving positive outcomes across a range of challenging areas.

“I am immensely proud of how the Centre for Social Impact has developed since its foundation,” Professor Shergold said. “As the challenges facing our society become increasingly complex and interconnected, the collaborative, evidence-driven, and applied work of CSI will only become more crucial.

“Through education, research and engagement, the Centre for Social Impact is empowering leaders, organisations and communities with the tools to become more effective in driving systems-level transformations and creating lasting social impact,” he explained.

In acknowledgment of Professor Shergold's dedication to research and social justice, he was named an Emeritus Professor by UNSW in 2023 . Also to honour his contributions, UNSW established The Professor Peter Shergold Social Impact Fund in late 2023. The fund will enable rigorous research that informs best practice, support leading education programs to build capacity, and drive engagement initiatives to convene and inspire change makers across the social economy.

“It has been an honour to be part of an organisation that brings together academic rigour, cross-university partnerships and community engagement, working with the business community, the for-purpose sector and government.”

As Professor Shergold brings his chapter at the Centre for Social Impact to a close, he is optimistic about the future and delighted to welcome Mr Greg Hutchinson AM as the incoming Board Chair.

“The Centre for Social Impact has successfully positioned itself as a leader of social impact research, education and engagement to ignite social change in Australia. I’m confident that with Greg as Board Chair, CSI will continue to thrive and ignite lasting, positive social change for people and communities.”

Fellow Board member Professor Nick Wailes reflected fondly on his time working with Professor Shergold.

“It’s a rare opportunity to work closely with someone as dedicated and knowledgeable about social change as Peter,” he said. “As a board, we are deeply indebted for the time and skill he has brought to the role of Chair, helping position the Centre for Social Impact for further success and impact in the years to come.”