ABOUT US

Neighbourhood Economics is a collaboration between Give Where You Live Foundation and The Difference incubator to design new models of place-based economic development.

As two separate organisations we recognised that we had a shared desire to revolutionise localised economic development. Both organisations have a commitment to – and experience in – economic development as a tool to addressing structural inequality, and we both see it as a fundamental missing piece of many place-based initiatives. We also recognise that each organisation has strengths that are complementary and when brought together are stronger than acting independently.

Give Where You Live Foundation

GWYL is a place-based community foundation that exists to build a better, fairer society across the G21 region. We have been on a journey to learn, create, and design for the economic wellbeing of the region with a focus on Norlane and Corio. This has led to several initiatives, including GROW and The Paddock. GROW aimed to tackle the single most consistent and regular feature of place-based disadvantage – long term joblessness – through social procurement. It’s had great success creating hundreds of jobs, framed and influenced the Victorian Government’s social procurement policy, and raised the conversation about place-based disadvantage across the region.

The foundation also purchased an urban farm, The Paddock, with the aim of creating a place of regional connection and housing a disability program. It aims to explore places of connection, what community owned assets can look like, and different business models that prioritise sharing value creation and ownership differently. Neighbourhood Economics is the next step of bringing these and other initiatives and ideas together to understand what it takes to shift the economic wellbeing of a postcode.

The Difference incubator

TDi has spent the past ten years building capability in entrepreneurial ecosystems and supply chains across multiple industries. About 70% of our work has been with Indigenous entrepreneurs – in Australia and The Pacific – and the systems they operate within. This work is often focused in place, with local leaders and aggregators creating business, opportunities, and pathways to market.

Our role is as a midwife to business owners, to new ideas, and to different ways of doing economic development that plant the seeds for a better future, a fairer future, a regenerative future, and an economically shared future.

In our work at TDi, we found we were continually bumping into the inequalities that exist throughout the economic system, particularly issues related to gender, race, and geography. This is driving the next stage of the TDi strategy to ask deeper questions about economies in place. The big question we are asking is ‘What is the role of business and finance in addressing structural inequality?’. Seeding Neighbourhood Economics with GWYL is a response to this.

As CEOs of their respective organisations, Annie and Bill bring together over [x] years of experience in economic development and social justice initiatives, and innovation.

Bill Mithen, Co-CEO

Bill is a visionary leader with a wealth of experience in driving social change.

His areas of expertise span leadership, management, governance, social innovation, strategic planning, business development, and policy, making him a powerhouse in the philanthropic sector.

Bill’s career is marked by significant roles in equity management within various SMEs, senior executive positions in a multinational corporation, and leadership in an international humanitarian development organization. This diverse background has equipped him with a unique perspective on merging business acumen with social innovation to create impactful outcomes.

As CEO of GWYL, Bill leverages his extensive knowledge and strategic insight to foster programs that drive meaningful social change.

 

e. bill@givewhereyoulive.org.au | ph. +61 419 302 650

ANNIE SMITS, CO-CEO

Annie is dedicated to tackling social justice issues with innovative solutions.

As CEO of TDi, Annie has been pivotal in leading complex projects across Australia and the Pacific. She possesses a wealth of commercial expertise alongside extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector, having managed a medium-sized NFP focused on place-based community development and social enterprise.

Annie’s greatest strength lies in her ability to bridge two worlds seamlessly. She can deeply engage with community contexts while also making significant impacts at the boardroom level.

Annie’s dedication to initiatives that genuinely improve economic conditions for those traditionally excluded from the economic system underscores her strong leadership and commitment to social change.

 

e. annie@givewhereyoulive.org.au | ph. +61 412 574 700