geralt | pixabay.com/photo - 550763/ Social Entrepreneurship has become a global phenomenon and is a major source of social change and social innovation. It is a significant part of the economies of many countries and forms 8.7% of the broader entrepreneurial activity in Australia. This Public Forum brings together all those with an interest in social enterprise including social entrepreneurs, non-governmental agencies, policy makers, academics, students and funders. The key focus of the Forum will be to explore the potential and to chart a new direction towards developing social entrepreneurship in Far North Queensland. Free event but please register at events.jcu.edu.au/SocialEntreForum Keynote speaker Cheryl Kernot plus short presentations by social entrepreneurs, and group work on building a social entrepreneurship network in FNQ Cheryl Kernot is one of the National Trust's 100 National Living Treasures. She was a member of the Australian Senate representing Queensland for the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 1997, and was the fifth leader of the Australian Democrats from 1993 to 1997. Recently, she worked in the UK as the program director for the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurs at the Said Business School at Oxford University and later, as the director of learning at the School for Social Entrepreneurs in London. After six years in these roles in the UK, she moved back to Australia. Cheryl is currently the Social Business Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact. Her role at CSI involves providing thought leadership on social business, social enterprise and social procurement. She writes regularly on these topics, speaks at events throughout Australia and advises emerging talent and organizations. Social enterprises/social entrepreneurs that would like to be profiled at this event, please contact Forum Convener Dr. Narayan Gopalkrishnan at [email protected].