Pete Zwiers

• Senior strategic role contributing to the expansion of Kids Under Cover's existing homelessness prevention programs and advocacy through driving innovations and new projects to reach more at-risk youth from cohorts at risk
• Responsible for identifying current and emerging issues in the homelessness sector, providing strategic advice to the CEO and Senior Management Team on strategy, planning, stakeholder engagement, and key priorities for special projects
• Contributed to policy frameworks, project evaluation, and research, focusing on social impact, funding feasibility, and community housing initiatives

Achievements

• Obtained $3.2m in funding through the Homes Victoria Big Housing Build to deliver two Village 21 accommodation projects for First Nations young people at risk of homelessness
• Researched and delivered a mobile rapid response accommodation solution for young people at immediate risk of homelessness
• Acting CEO May 2023
• Led evaluation of all Kids Under Cover programs and impact
• Kids Under Cover

• Leadership role working to prevent youth homelessness, responsible for delivery and management of accommodation and scholarships programs to young people at risk and their households
• Responsibilities included government and sector advocacy, funding compliance for government and philanthropy, strategy development, risk, budget development and acquittal, managing a team and implementing innovations

Achievements

• Secured over $8m from Victorian and South Australian state government, and Aboriginal Housing Victoria funding grants
• Established multiple agreements with Department of Justice and Community Safety to deliver programs to entirely new cohorts of young people at risk of homelessness
• Delivered over 110 studios and 500 scholarships to young people in need during 2020FY
• Managed launch and implementation of the Short Stay Studio Program, addressing the shortage of crisis accommodation for young people
• Successfully worked with government, council, CSO and build partners to deliver Village 21, an innovative accommodation option for young people exiting Out of Home Care at 18
• Expanded Studio and Scholarship programs to South Australia, obtaining multi-year government funding
• Managed an expanding team to oversee 650 studio assets, housing almost 1,000 young people every night

• Developed, implemented and managed the School Breakfast Clubs program through a four year $13.7m Victorian Government funding agreement, in partnership with the Department of Education
• Feeding 25,000 students daily in 500 disadvantaged primary schools across the state to address hunger, ensuring better social and educational outcomes

Achievements

• Recruiting and leading an effective team to successfully roll out the program to 500 Victorian primary schools within extremely tight timelines
• Building and implementing the program budget with surplus
• Establishing and documenting logistical guidelines, systems and processes
• Negotiating with national suppliers to secure desired product
• Developing marketing strategy to obtain support for the program and build the profile of Foodbank Victoria amongst the wider community
• Sourcing and ongoing management of volunteers statewide
• Regular financial and activity reporting to provide insight to the Department of Education, Victorian Government and Foodbank Victoria board
• Development of a comprehensive longitudinal monitoring and evaluation study in partnership with Victoria University, to deliver findings on the wellbeing impacts and effectiveness of the program for stakeholders

• Reporting to the CEO, this role encompassed a range of duties associated with the relationship management of licensees, major retailers and not for profit stakeholders
• Portfolio included top 20 key licensee accounts as well as specialising in the categories of coffee and cotton
• Achievements
• Managed key accounts including large Fairtrade licensees and major retailers resulting in gain on fee income from $1.87m to $2.19m
• Developed and delivered consumer facing campaigns involving a coalition of community organisations, such as a Ghanaian female cocoa farmer tour of Australia, connecting a range of stakeholders (school, corporate, grassroots and media) to the story of Fairtrade on a face to face level
• Worked with a global team to develop and then deliver a new mass balance chain of custody model for Fairtrade commodities into the Australian market
• Involved working as a gateway to on-board brands, manufacturers and producer groups to the system and then electronically trace purchases and movement of cotton through the entire supply chain
• Worked in partnership with licensees to deliver annual retail campaigns involving Coles, Woolworths and independent supermarkets in order to drive consumer awareness and convert to purchase
• Organised commercial partner tours of Fairtrade coffee cooperatives in PNG resulting in uplift of commitment from licensees to sourcing Fairtrade coffee within the Asia Pacific region and improved sales and technical knowledge for the farming cooperatives

• Joined Fairtrade as part of a small team, accountable for 200 Fairtrade licensees, suppliers and stakeholders

Achievements

• Created and maintained relationships with Fairtrade licensees through a high level service offer – supporting promotional plans, partnerships in key events, providing consumer insights into the ethical purchasing behaviours and product development
• Developed customised producer profiles linked to licensee investment to clearly communicate and demonstrate financial, environmental and social benefits of Fairtrade impact at origin, to licensees and consumers
• Delivered tailored presentations on Fairtrade to licensees, workplaces and communities for the purpose of growing awareness, understanding of the system and benefits to producers
• Planning and execution of Fairtrade participation in a range of events including Melbourne International Coffee Exhibition, Fair@Square and Aroma Festival in Sydney
• Development and execution of annual campaigns such as the Fairtrade Awards and Fair Trade Fortnight
• Successfully managed operational activities such as database management, creation of industry newsletter and input into social media execution

• Responsible for supporting all aspects of several social enterprise operations to provide employment opportunities and training for people with disabilities, mental illness and the long term unemployed

Achievements

• Successful delivery of Catering All Abilities, an Australian Government program run through the Innovation Fund, designed to train long term unemployed in hospitality skill sets
• Supervised, developed and trained paid and unpaid staff and volunteers across several enterprises
• Managed the Supported Wage System through the Job Access and FOFMS portals for the Wesley Trolley Service
• Project managed a new enterprise website and contributions to grant submissions
• Positive and versatile contribution in enterprise planning, performance and improvement

• Responsible for the commercial development and ongoing management of the Foundation's various activities and social enterprises while leading a small open team

Achievements

• Developed and delivered Melbourne's first weekly farmers market, collaborating with over 150 small business owners to build a successful market from scratch
• Developed and delivered the Bleeding Heart hub of social enterprise in Brisbane that included an indigenous art gallery, café and function centre