The Trustees of the Sidney Myer Fund and Directors of The Myer Foundation recently agreed to support Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) for a further five years. They are joined by Paul Ramsay Foundation, Snow Foundation and Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation in a total commitment of $16.4 million to enable SILA to expand its reach and deepen its impact.

SILA provides intensive leadership development for CEOs in the for-purpose sector through a series of cohort-based residential retreats, learning circles, coaching organisational support and a tailored sabbatical. It also includes support for step-up leaders and opportunities for board members to enhance their skills in governance for social impact.

Over the past four years SILA has worked with 96 for-purpose CEOs from all states and territories, enhancing their wellbeing and effectiveness, equipping them with the tools, connections and support to advance social impact, and helping to build a network of system-thinking leaders that can navigate complexity, creating a stronger for-purpose ecosystem. An evaluation by Nous Group shows the program has already achieved strong positive results, with 100% of participants reporting SILA had made a difference in their organisation, and a further 87% of CEOs saying SILA has boosted the capability and culture of their organisations.

TMF/SMF CEO Leonard Vary describes SILA as a powerful demonstration of the value of supporting for-purpose CEOs to learn, network, and refresh.

“We are immensely proud of our commitment to SILA and of the program’s impact on for-purpose leaders. It delivers transformative outcomes and is making an important contribution to the health and the effectiveness of the social sector in this country”.

In 2025 the fifth cohort of for-purpose CEOs, drawn from New South Wales and ACT will participate in the program. Profiles of the successful candidates are available on the SILA website.

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, continuing to provide this world-class opportunity to for-purpose CEOs nationwide.