Queensland Social Enterprise Council

What Queensland Social Enterprise Council does

Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) is the officially recognized peak body for social enterprise and purpose-led business in Queensland, Australia. Operating as an independent not-for-profit headquartered in Teneriffe, Brisbane, QSEC represents, supports, and advocates for 716 social enterprises across the state, which collectively generate over $2 billion in aggregated sector revenue and contribute approximately 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs to the Queensland economy. The organization delivers value through a tiered membership program (ranging from $50 individual memberships to $750 annual fees for enterprises with turnover exceeding $15M), supplemented by event revenue, government support, and foundation grants.

QSEC's core service portfolio centers on advocacy and sector development, anchored by the Social Enterprise Finder (a public searchable directory), the People and Planet First verification framework (administered via partnership with Good Market), the annual Queensland Social Enterprise Awards, quarterly Regional Huddles and Industry Roundtables, the member-only Resource Hub, and ecosystem support for the Queensland Government's Impact Revenue Investments Program. Technology infrastructure is conventional, relying on a WordPress-based website, Humanitix for event ticketing, and Jotform for membership applications. There is no proprietary AI or machine learning capability; the organization's differentiation rests on its officially conferred peak body status and the network effects of its member ecosystem.

QSEC's go-to-market operates through a hybrid sales-led, event-driven, and community-led motion, acquiring members via direct sales, the Queensland Social Enterprise Awards, Regional Huddles, and peer-to-peer referrals. Strategic partnerships extend QSEC's reach into procurement (Local Buy, Givable), research (QUT, Griffith University), funding (Westpac Foundation, English Family Foundation), and legal services (MinterEllison). The organization is governed by a five-person board chaired by Kate Taylor (QUT) and led by CEO Adele Laughton, supported by a five-person operational team covering membership, events, operations, and member development.

Name

Queensland Social Enterprise Council

Legal name

Queensland Social Enterprise Council

Website

https://qsec.org.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) is the officially recognized peak body representing 716 social enterprises across Queensland, Australia, delivering tiered membership services, sector advocacy, verification (People and Planet First), procurement pathways, and events to support purpose-led businesses statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Enterprise Sector Advocacy / Industry Peak Body Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Social enterprise advocacy
• Membership peak body
• Verification services
• Social procurement
• Sector development

Headquarters

HQ city

Teneriffe

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: QSEC generates primary revenue through tiered annual membership fees scaled based on organization turnover. Tiers range from $75/year (Early Stage <$150K turnover) to $750/year (Tier 2 >$15M turnover), plus $50/year individual memberships and free youth memberships.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from major events including Queensland Social Enterprise Awards, with discounted tickets offered to members and full-price tickets for non-members.
3. Queensland Government Support: QSEC acknowledges Queensland Government as a key supporter as the peak body representing social enterprise sector. Government funding supports sector development initiatives and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) is a not-for-profit peak body and membership association representing, supporting and advocating for social enterprises and purpose-led businesses in Queensland. It delivers tiered membership subscriptions, sector verification (People and Planet First via Good Market), a public Social Enterprise Finder directory, quarterly Regional Huddles and Industry Roundtables, the annual Queensland Social Enterprise Awards, Impact Sprints/Brews, a member-only Resource Hub, and ecosystem support for the Queensland Government's Impact Revenue Investments program.

Product overview

QSEC is Queensland's peak body for social enterprise and purpose-led business, offering a membership-based service portfolio centered on advocacy, sector development, and ecosystem support. The core offerings include: tiered Membership Programs (Social Enterprise, Associate, Individual, and Youth tiers) providing access to advocacy, social procurement pathways, verification, networking events (Regional Huddles, Impact Brews, Impact Sprints), Industry Roundtables, webinars, the QSEC Resource Hub (member-only platform), and the Queensland Social Enterprise Awards. Supporting infrastructure includes the Social Enterprise Finder (public directory) and People and Planet First Verification (via Good Market partnership). QSEC also facilitates access to the Queensland Government's Impact Revenue Investments Program. Together, these products form an integrated ecosystem supporting social enterprise growth, visibility, procurement, capability building, and policy advocacy across Queensland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• QSEC Membership Program Tiered annual subscription membership for Queensland social enterprises (six turnover-based tiers), Associate organisations, Individuals ($50/yr), and Youth founders under 21 (free). Members gain access to advocacy, social procurement pathways, People and Planet First verification support, the Social Enterprise Finder directory, events (Regional Huddles, Industry Roundtables, Awards, Impact Sprints, Impact Brews), the QSEC Resource Hub, Business Health Check and Executive Mentoring, plus voting rights at AGMs.
• People and Planet First Verification Verification service for social enterprises against five minimum standards to prevent greenwashing and social washing, administered through the Good Market platform. QSEC assists members with verification applications; successfully verified enterprises are listed in the QSEC Social Enterprise Finder and the Queensland Social Enterprise Register.
• Social Enterprise Finder (Member Directory) Public, searchable directory of QSEC member social enterprises that enables government, councils and private sector buyers to discover verified suppliers by region, goods/services, and impact area. Functions as the discoverability layer connecting verified Queensland social enterprises with procurement opportunities.
• Queensland Social Enterprise Awards Annual awards program and ticketed Gala Dinner event hosted by QSEC with Queensland Government support, recognising Queensland social enterprises and changemakers driving positive social, cultural and environmental impact. Open to members at discounted tickets and to non-members at full price.
• QSEC Regional Huddles Quarterly forums (typically four per year per region: two in-person and two online) held across all Queensland regions that bring QSEC members together for peer discussion, knowledge sharing and region-specific advocacy. Provided as part of QSEC membership.
• QSEC Industry Roundtables Quarterly online roundtables (14 sessions per quarter) facilitating engagement, support and advocacy across key industries and functional roles within Queensland's social enterprise sector. Provided to QSEC members.
• QSEC Resource Hub Member-only online platform that provides QSEC members with tools, evidence-based insights, sector data, research, policy resources, and program materials for advocacy, funding submissions, and capability building.
• Impact Sprints Annual regional workshops and learning experiences providing QSEC members with capacity-building, impact-focused training. Members receive two invitations to attend.
• Impact Brews Member-only networking sessions combining peer-to-peer learning, guest speaker presentations and facilitated discussion for social enterprise community connection.
• QSEC Stories Video storytelling platform on the QSEC website showcasing the people, passion and purpose behind Queensland social enterprises and changemakers redefining success.
• Impact Revenue Investments Program (Ecosystem Support) QSEC's ecosystem support service for participants in the Queensland Government's Impact Revenue Investments program, which provides up to $200,000 over two years to eligible social enterprises. Includes peer-to-peer learning and feedback channels to government.
• Business Health Check Free business health assessment tool bundled with membership, providing access to expert mentors for growth, upskilling and gap analysis sessions tailored to social enterprises.
• Executive Mentoring Sessions One-on-one mentoring sessions (30 minutes to 1 hour) with the QSEC Executive, tailored to member enterprise size and complexity. Bundled within QSEC membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 716 social enterprises represented across Queensland
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Queensland GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueensland Government is a key supporter of QSEC as the state's peak body for social enterprise. Government support includes funding for sector development, recognition in policy frameworks, and partnership on initiatives like the Impact Revenue Investments program. QSEC acknowledges Queensland Government support for the social enterprise sector.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQUT collaborates with QSEC through its Centre for Future Enterprise, serving as a conduit between academia and industry to advance purpose-led business research and adoption. QUT's Health and Social Impact team engages with QSEC through board leadership (Kate Taylor as Chair of QSEC Board).
• Westpac FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestpac Foundation supports the social enterprise ecosystem in Queensland through funding and fellowship programs, partnering with QSEC on initiatives that strengthen social impact organizations.
• Brisbane Economic Development AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting economic development initiatives that include social enterprise development in Brisbane region.
• English Family FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting social enterprise ecosystem development and impact-focused initiatives in Queensland.
• MinterEllisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal firm providing pro bono or discounted services to support social enterprise sector development and QSEC initiatives.
• People and Planet FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal verification system developed by and for the new economy movement. QSEC assists members with verification applications. Sets five clear minimum standards for social enterprise verification to prevent greenwashing and social washing.
• Good MarketcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform partner for People and Planet First verification process. QSEC directs members to Good Market for verification applications.
• Local BuycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership making it easier to buy from social enterprises in Queensland. Local Buy provides procurement pathways for verified social enterprises through government supply chains.
• GivablecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership supporting procurement from social enterprises by connecting buyers with verified social enterprises in Queensland.
• Social Enterprise World ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational forum connecting social enterprise ecosystems globally. QSEC participates to connect Queensland sector with global best practices.
• Griffith UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership supporting social enterprise ecosystem development across Queensland regions. Collaborates on regional engagement and sector research.
• Brisbane City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partnership supporting social enterprise development in Brisbane through economic development initiatives.
• Queensland Small Business CommissionerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting small business and social enterprise growth through policy engagement and sector recognition.
• Office of the Queensland Chief EntrepreneurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment initiative supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, working with QSEC on ecosystem development.
• Social Impact HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncubator and support organization for social enterprises and impact-driven businesses in Queensland.
• The HatcheryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness incubation support connecting with QSEC for ecosystem development and member support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Social Enterprise UK: UK national membership body for social enterprises offering certification, policy advocacy, buyer-match services, and sector events; a well-established international analogue to QSEC's peak-body model.
• Social Traders: Australia's national social enterprise peak body operating a certification, member, and procurement platform; most directly comparable as another Australian social enterprise membership/advocacy organization with verification and buyer-matching offerings.
• Buy Social Canada: Canadian social enterprise membership and procurement-matching organization; comparable in providing directory, certification, and buyer/supplier connection services similar to QSEC's Social Enterprise Finder.

Regional players

• Social Enterprise Scotland: Scotland's membership and advocacy body for social enterprises with regional convening power; comparable to QSEC's state-level peak-body role but operating in a different jurisdiction.
• Buy Social USA: US-based social procurement directory and certification program supporting social enterprise sales to institutional buyers; shares QSEC's verification-and-procurement orientation but operates across the United States rather than Queensland.

Broad incumbents

• Yunus Centre: Advisory and research center promoting social business globally with academic and policy ties; comparable in sector advocacy and standards work though operating more as a thought-leadership body than a membership association.
• Impact Hub Network: Global network of Impact Hub locations providing coworking, incubation, and programming for impact-driven entrepreneurs; comparable in convening and supporting social enterprises but with a broader entrepreneurial focus.
• Social Enterprise Australia: National peak body for social enterprise in Australia, providing advocacy, sector development, and policy engagement — overlaps with QSEC's mandate but at the federal level rather than Queensland.

Emerging players

• The Hatchery: Australian incubator supporting purpose-led businesses; overlaps with QSEC on capability-building for early-stage social enterprises and competes for the same Queensland founder audience.
• Social Impact Hub: Queensland-based incubator and support organization for impact-driven businesses; overlaps with QSEC's ecosystem-development mandate and competes for the same member and partner audience in Queensland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/QSocEnt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qsocent
• Instagraminstagram.com/qsocent_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Queensland Social Enterprise Council