What better way to celebrate Indigenous Business Month than hearing stories of flourishing 100% Indigenous owned and women-led businesses from the Kimberley?

In our latest blog, meet Ali and Mitch Torres. Ali and Mitch are sisters and draw their heritage from the Saltwater to the River and Desert Country of the West Kimberley. This unstoppable duo are proud owners of ‘Mijinalii’ - a candle, soap and body products business that uses native ingredients and centres around the 6 seasons of the Kimberley. Learn how the sisters worked with Kimberley Jiyigas and MMBC to build their business and source capital opportunities.

Inspired by the recent UN World Humanitarian Day, in our latest blog, we speak to Helen Sherpa and Mimu Raghubanshi (Nepal Country Coordinator at Good Return) - financial capability experts working on-the-ground in Nepal.

We learn how financial capability training played a vital role during the pandemic, assisting portering families in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal to adapt to changing livelihoods and learn new business skills in the face of emergency.

‘I believe my values align well with that of Good Return’s values, specifically making a positive difference, empowering women, alleviating poverty and service to others’ - Leata Alaimoana-Roberts.

In our latest blog update we get to know Leata Alaimoana-Roberts, Non-Executive Director at Good Return and Impact Investment Manager with Pacific Trade Invest Australia.

In our latest blog, we reflect on how local women-led savings groups in the Solomon Islands are flourishing with extra financial literacy training and support through Good Return’s CAFE (Consumer Awareness and Financial Empowerment) programs in partnership with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI).

A common thread throughout the Good Return team is a commitment to social justice. This could not be truer in the case of Olin Thakur, Good Return’s Programme Manager for the CAFE (Consumer Awareness and Financial Empowerment) Initiative.

Good Return's passionate Programs Team are located across the Asia-Pacific, but perhaps none are more remote than Maree Cutler-Naroba. Manager of our Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs program, Maree works from Kununuura, a township in the Kimberley Region 1000km from the nearest city.

‘According to the ILO, if we bridge the gaps for rural women and allow them to formally participate in the agricultural economy the global GDP could be increased by US $5.8 trillion’.
Good Return’s latest blog explores the often over-looked role that women play in value chains around the world and how Good Return and partners are working to address economic exclusion at every stage of the value chain.

‘As an entrepreneur myself and having worked in Cambodia, I have witnessed the way small businesses can help communities and economies thrive if they are properly supported through financial inclusion’.
In our latest blog update we take the opportunity to get to know one of Good Return’s fantastic Non-Executive Directors, Helene Ang.

We are extremely grateful to have received an important on-the-ground update from Geogina Paongo, Tonga Program Coordinator at Good Return. Geogina has witnessed first hand how financial training, savings and money management skills are essential for women to recover from disasters in the context of disaster recovery and preparedness.

One of the core themes for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreaktheBias. Biases can be both conscious and unconscious and Good Return works to break down both within the financial sector, so women can succeed in business.

Meet Dr Sara Saeed Khurram, who is featured in our podcast series on gender lens investing. Dr Sara overcame to starting up a business to successfully launch a telemedicine smartphone application for low income patients.

In September 2021 Good Return partnered with the Good Business Foundation to increase access to local financial services and build investor readiness of SMEs in our region, with a focus on women-led SMEs. In our latest blog update, we take the opportunity to get to know Peter McMullin AM, Chair and Co-Founder of the Good Business Foundation.

Video and photos will be an important part of Good Return’s new reporting project in Cambodia and Indonesia.

The innovation and resilience of entrepreneurs is proving to be key to driving Fiji’s come-back from a pandemic-induced economic crisis.

The Maganda Makers Business Club continues to go from strength to strength, empowering women across the Kimberley and supporting new business ideas.

With the closure of garment factories across Cambodia during the pandemic, garment workers have struggled to maintain and protect their livelihoods. Good Return recently trained representatives from the garment workers trade union in our financial literacy curriculum, so that they can then go on and build savings and finance management skills with their members.

A new generation of young Fijian women like Payal Paddy are breaking down gender barriers to build their own businesses. They’ll be doing this with the support of a new partnership between Good Return and the Market Development Facility, an Australian Government initiative implemented by Palladium. The partners have a mission to develop sustainable and accessible financial products for women-led MSMEs in Fiji.

Ms. Meas Sarom is an entrepreneur at heart - always seeking further opportunities to build her business and create opportunities for her community around her. Thanks to the partnership between Cambodian microfinance institution Chamroeun and Good Return’s Impact Investment fund, women like Meas can access finance and technical support to build a sustainable business model and drive a women-led local economy.

Our new inclusive banking award will reward FSPs in the Asia-Pacific for their commitment to meeting the needs of their community of customers.

Good Return and The Good Business Foundation announce a three year partnership to reduce inequality, by investing in an inclusive recovery across the Asia Pacific.