Social Alchemy is an intermediary to maximise opportunity for investment between Australia and Asia.
A largely untapped Australian Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector intermediary and access to opportunities in two-way trade between Australia and Asia exploiting the ‘ripple effect’ from existing and new large scale investment. It is worth noting that $26 billion in investment occurred between Australia and South Korea alone in the previous financial year. This figure is dwarfed by the volume of investment activity between Australia and China during the same period and projected into the foreseeable future.
Social Alchemy provides a carriageway between high-end companies creating investment in infrastructure, financial services and resources, that result in a ‘ripple effect’ across other industries including energy, manufacturing, agriculture, education and tourism that presents an opportunity for a largely unserviced but responsive domestic SME sector where there is a trend of increasingly prominent two-way trade between Australia and countries across Asia.
Beginnings
Matt Jones founded Social Alchemy in 2006 as a for-profit, for-purpose, social business based in Sydney after leaving the Australian Army.
Matt has been described by others as a life activist, a pioneer, an entrepreneur and corporate philosopher. He is respected globally for his skills at building networks, along with his ability to get and analyse information. He is regarded by many as a strategic thinker and pathfinder.
Unconventional
Matt describes the pathway to forming Social Alchemy as ‘unconventional’.
“I took the scenic route” he explains, “and in the process gained a wealth of experience, knowledge and built an impressive global network of thought leaders. Not everything worked, but I can now share my lessons and the benefit of this experience with others.”
Dynamic symbol of change. The interconnecting relationship between three centres of mass, and the white hot energy created between all of them.
The company’s approach is reflected in the logo, which reflects the common intersecting point between the centres of three overlapping circles. It considers the possibility of an ‘alchemic transformation’ based on three assumptions:
- Disruption in inevitable
- Conversations are at the heart of markets. Engagement and dialogue are essential.
- There is always a hidden reality, the ability to unlock potential
There is a solution
Three broad assumptions frame how Social Alchemy regards work:
- As social entrepreneurs, we believe that business can be a positive force for social change.
- As ‘alchemists’, we believe that there is a solution.
- Ethically we believe in leading in the service of a good society.
