continue the Manifesto’s call for transformative change in rural. Through a dedicated network, we can give rural social entrepreneurs a stronger collective voice and unlock new resources and opportunities. Across the broader social enterprise sector, it’s exciting and rewarding to see Social Enterprise in Australia finally gaining the recognition it truly deserves. For those of us who have long advocated for and worked to elevate its profile, this moment has been a long time coming. I’m proud of the active role we’ve played in field building for more than a decade and I’m excited for the momentum we can continue to build through collaboration and unity. I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude to our ACRE Board of Directors, including our interim Chair, Anne Gripper, and newly appointed Chair, Lachlan Baird, for their leadership, dedication and guidance. I would also like to thank the ACRE Executive Management Team and our organisational staff for their hard work, passion and dedication. I would like to recognise the invaluable contributions of fellow ACRE Co-Founder, Clayton Neil, who departed the organisation in October 2023. Clayton’s leadership was instrumental throughout ACRE’s first ten years and his deep knowledge and skills continue to benefit the sector in his role at Merriwa Industries, a local organisation to the north-east and one of the largest social enterprise disability employers in Victoria. I’d also like to express my sincere thanks to our funding partners that have believed in us, trusted us, and invested in our vision. Your support is instrumental in the work we do. Lastly, to the rural communities and organisations that have engaged our services, thank you for your support. Sincerely, Matt Pfahlert Co-Founder and CEO - ACRE Uncle Phil Murray and Matt Pfahlert with a young person at TYPO station, work on crafting a traditional spearhead. ANNUAL REPORT 2024 5
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