Fellow Spotlight: Kate McKenzie

How are On Purpose Fellows transforming the economy? This month we're excited to shine a light on Kate McKenzie from our October 2015 Associate Programme cohort and the transformative impact she's making with community businesses.

"I was part of the October 2015 cohort, so my cohort and I are coming up for a big On Purpose anniversary next year!

I came to the Associate Programme to find an impactful alternative to my previous career in publishing, and the programme helped me do just that, giving me the opportunity to work with a charity as it started a new social enterprise brand, and investigating how a social enterprise model could address the challenge of modern slavery. I haven’t looked back, and have worked since with Hubbub on environment projects, and have had the joy of co-leading the Associate Programme.

I now work with Power to Change, a think-do tank that supports community businesses (social enterprises that work in their local area). My current focus is supporting community-led action on our high streets, investing in projects and organisations that show what is possible when a community has power to direct change. With the evidence of what works (and what doesn’t work) when you put communities in control, we develop policy and call for the power, backing and resources that community businesses need to thrive.

I’m always up for a conversation with the On Purpose community, so feel free to be in touch on LinkedIn."