Overview
Name: Hanna Ebeling, CFA
Position: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Company: Sefa (Social Enterprise Finance Australia)
Location: Based in Sydney, NSW, AU
LinkedIn Profile: [Hanna Ebeling, CFA - Sefa (Social Enterprise Finance Australia)](https://au.linkedin.com/in/hanna-ebeling-cfa)
Professional Background
Hanna Ebeling leads Sefa, where she has been instrumental in transforming the organization to better support purpose-driven enterprises through innovative capital solutions and capability building. Her leadership spans over four years and involves a team of 16 members focused on creating sustainable impact through social finance.
Career Path and Experience
1. Finance and Banking:
- HSBC: Traditional finance roles, leading to a foundation in corporate banking and financial management.
- Transitioned to impact investment driven by a passion for social good, highlighted by her move to venture philanthropy in the Philippines.
2. Impact Investing:
- CEO at Sefa: Ebeling plays a pivotal role in developing capital solutions for social enterprises. Sefa offers loans between $200,000 to $2 million, bridging the gap between philanthropy and mainstream banking.
- Focus on blended finance, collaboration with foundations, and community-led initiatives.
Board Memberships and Recognitions
- Woodville Alliance: Board Member.
- Vanguard Laundry: Board Member.
- Government and Sector Reference Groups: Contributes to improving collaboration between government, private sector, and philanthropy.
Strategic Initiatives
Sefa's Dual Pillar Approach
1. Capital Provision: Initially focused on deploying traditional finance mechanisms such as property-backed loans. Over the past four years, shifted towards working capital and growth capital, supporting earlier stage enterprises before they reach sustainable break-even points.
2. Capability Building:
- Engagement Team: Developed to provide broader organisational resilience support, covering impact measurement, governance, partnerships, commercial acumen, and investment readiness.
Key Achievements
- Helped evolve Sefa's business model from primarily offering capital to a more integrated approach combining capital and capability.
- Non-property backed loans: Almost half of Sefa’s loan book is now non-property backed, catering to working capital and growth capital needs.
- Growth Capital Allocation: Recently approved a $2 million allocation for lending to earlier stage opportunities, emphasizing stabilizing and improving business operations.
Projects and Initiatives
Notable Projects
- Covidence: A charity using a SaaS platform to provide systematic reviews and best practices for evidence-based decision making in fields such as healthcare and environmental science.
Partnerships
- Reinvigorated partnerships with organizations like Social Traders for certification and investment readiness support.
- Worked closely with SECNA, QSEC, and Social Enterprise Australia to standardize language and support structures within the social enterprise ecosystem.
Public Speaking and Thought Leadership
Ebeling actively shares insights and knowledge through various platforms, including:
- Impact Boom Podcast: Delved into the transformative journey of Sefa and the importance of aligning funding mechanisms with the needs of social enterprises.
- Impact & Leadership Summits: Regular speaker at events such as Social Innovation Summit, sharing strategies on financing and supporting impact-led enterprises.
Personal Insights
- Background and Education: Studied economics at university, blending financial acumen with a passion for social impact.
- Community Involvement: Engages in creating sustainable impact beyond her professional role, emphasizing a hands-on and entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving.
Ebeling’s leadership reflects a combination of strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and a deep-seated commitment to creating social good. As CEO of Sefa, her efforts have significantly influenced the landscape of social finance in Australia.
