The future of jobs is being rewritten—and young people are at the heart of this transformation.
We were invited to speak at the Social Enterprise Jobs Summit.
It was Australia’s first national conference for and about jobs-focused social enterprises. Together, over 300+ passionate leaders and changemakers gathered to learn and share knowledge on about building businesses that create real jobs, foster inclusive economies, and generate meaningful impact.
Our CEO and founder, Nathaniel Diong, joined a dynamic panel discussion alongside social entrpreneurs, Pat Ryan OAM and Mikhara Ramsing to explore a critical question: “What does it look like when young people are agents of change, not just beneficiaries?”
It unpacked how we move beyond tokenism and meaningfully centre youth leadership to build inclusive, future-ready communities. Together, the discussion highlighted three key pillars for action:
1️⃣ Redefining our role as stewards, not gatekeepers.
Adults and institutions must move beyond control—creating space, offering trust, and building the scaffolding for young people to lead authentically on their own terms.
2️⃣ Building platforms that offer real agency.
It’s not enough to invite young people to the table. We need to design systems where they have genuine ownership, freedom to test ideas, and the tools to explore diverse futures.
3️⃣ Recognising the cost of sharing lived experience.
Too often, young people are expected to give their time, energy, and stories without support. We must value, compensate, and engage youth as equal partners—not just volunteers or “future leaders.”
We left the summit inspired and energised to continue our work at Future Minds Network—building practical, empowering pathways for young people to shape the future they deserve.
