Social Outcomes builds the foundations that organisations need to increase their impact. We are a team of senior practitioners specialising in exactly that: theory of change, impact measurement, impact strategy, impact reporting, and outcomes contracting, built over decades of hands on work across the for-purpose, government and philanthropic sectors in Australia and the Pacific.
Since 2014, we have worked with over 150 clients. Every engagement is evidence-based, practical, and built for implementation, not just compliance.
Winner, 2024 Australian Philanthropy Collaboration Award for Impact Measurement.
When undertaking a cost benefit analysis, we partner with Nicki Hutley of Nicki Hutley Economics.
Sandy Blackburn
Founder & Managing Director
Sandy has 15 years international development experience in Southern Africa and 10 years corporate experience in professional services and financial services in Australia before founding Social Outcomes in 2014. She serves on the board of the social enterprise Happy Paws Happy Hearts, is the Deputy Chair of the NAB Foundation’s Investtment Committee, serves on the Advisory board of the Australian Centre for NFP and Philanthropic Studies at QUT and previously served on the board of Hand Heart Pocket, Queensland’s largest philanthropic Foundation, the Australian Advisory Board for the Global Steering Committee on Impact Investing, the Community Services Industry Alliance and the federal government’s Not-For-Profit Reform Council. She has taken an active role in growing the impact investing market and social enterprise sector in Australia and the region.
Sandy was the Head of Social Innovation for Westpac, and was part of the team that built and issued Australia’s first social impact bonds. Sandy also established the Organisational Mentoring Program at Westpac to build the capacity of charities and social enterprises and was involved in strategic grant making through the Westpac Foundation for many years. Sandy established Social Outcomes after co-founding Impact Investing Australia and in 2025, founded Impact Culture Australia.
“The shift to focusing on outcomes is creating all sorts of challenges for a number of sectors, but they are the kind of challenges that will make us all better organisations”
Vanessa Lesnie
Principal Consultant
Vanessa is a social change practitioner and strategist with more than 25 years’ experience across the community, government and corporate sectors in Australia and abroad. Her expertise spans social research, payment by outcome and social impact bond design, theories of change, and impact measurement frameworks. She previously led human rights programs at the Australian Human Rights Commission for 12 years, and worked internationally with Human Rights First on corporate accountability projects across Cambodia and beyond.
Vanessa was a founding Director on Impact Investing Australia’s Board and, until recently, served on the Board of the National Association of Community Legal Centres.
“How can we create more impact? There is no single, or ‘right’, answer to this question, but the more we ask it with genuine curiosity and an intent to act, the better off we will all be.”
Jax Blackwood
Principal Impact Analyst
Jax has 25 years’ experience across the not-for-profit, government and corporate sectors, with particular expertise in payment by outcomes contract design, impact reporting, and narrative writing that secures funding. She has led business development for four major NFP organisations across child and family, housing and homelessness, youth justice, and disability services, with a demonstrated track record of securing high value government and philanthropic funding.
Her earlier career included funding policy and procurement reform with the Victorian Government, and international development work across Southeast Asia. Jax holds a Bachelor of Communication from Griffith University.
“Let’s look deeply at the evidence, rethink, and disrupt the status quo to address inequality and deliver greater social impact”
Kate Temby
Specialist Consultant
Kate is a highly effective senior leader in the not-for-profit and public sector who has held executive responsibility for strategy, governance, legal and compliance, public policy and advocacy, people and culture, safety, and information technology at one of the largest social service providers in NSW. She has also delivered major public policy projects, including at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and the Australian Human Rights Commission, and has broad experience in social policy analysis and reform. Kate has worked across sectors to achieve social impact and inclusion for people experiencing disadvantage in our community.
“Organisations that best support social change understand and clearly articulate the outcomes and impact they seek to deliver; design strategy to deliver on this impact; measure progress and continuously review their impact for community. This intentional approach leads to the greatest impact from efforts to address inequality and disadvantage – and lasting social change.”
Susan Bannigan
Specialist Consultant
Susan is an experienced leader in financial services and social impact, bringing over 30 years of experience in strategy, investment, and transformational change.
As the founding CEO of Westpac Scholars Trust and former CEO of Westpac Foundation, she spearheaded initiatives that have driven economic and social inclusion, including a $200M endowment fund and a ten-year job creation strategy for vulnerable Australians. Susan has extensive governance expertise, serving on multiple boards and finance committees. Her expertise spans social enterprise, impact investment, university engagement and business transformation, with a deep commitment to sustainable social change.
A skilled collaborator, she fosters cross-sector partnerships to create scalable solutions. With a strong foundation in finance (ACA, B.Ec), leadership, and risk management, Susan brings commercial acumen and strategic insight to every initiative. Passionate about social outcomes, she helps organisations design and execute impactful strategies that deliver measurable, lasting benefits to communities.
“Good intentions spark possibility, but it is not enough. When organisations define clear outcomes and measure their impact, they create the conditions for communities to experience meaningful and lasting change.”