From a young age, Pete’s perspective on life was shaped by his upbringing in south-east Asia and after finishing a Bachelor of Commerce and Arts specialising in management and international development, Pete officially joined the Thankyou team in 2012.
Thankyou’s products are stocked by major retailers in Australia, with every product contributing to helping end global poverty. To date, Thankyou has raised over $17 million to impact the lives of people across 22 countries.
As Chief Impact Officer at Thankyou and a Director of the Thankyou Charitable Trust, Pete is constantly studying different theories, organisations and approaches that are effective in tackling extreme poverty. Pete works to ensure Thankyou’s funding amplifies impactful change-makers, who are working towards systemic and sustainable outcomes for vulnerable and low-income communities. Pete’s also passionate about the holistic impact of our business. He has been involved in establishing our Responsible Business Goals and supports our team in minimising the negative impacts of operating a social enterprise model in the fast-moving-consumable-goods industry.
As an experienced leader within the social enterprise and social impact sectors, Pete is passionate to see business philanthropy serve partners and low-income communities with the best possible solutions, which often results in backing solutions which aren’t ‘simplistic’. As a result, he is regularly asked to engage with business, government, charity, and educational audiences regarding Thankyou’s unique impact funding approach.
Grow with Purpose in 2021
How to grow your business in 2021, attract more customers, hold on to star employees, access capital AND give back to your community.
The world has changed.
Access this free series of interviews to learn how improving your environmental and social performance and contributing to a better world is your ticket to growing your business in 2021.
This event was held as part of the National Sustainable Living Festival 2021

Hear from 15 industry leaders
Click on each speaker to see their full professional bio.

Pete Yao
Chief Impact Officer, Thankyou and Director, Thankyou Charitable Trust
Finding opportunity in disruption as a purpose-led business
Corinne Schoch
Head of Programmes, Global Compact Network Australia
Sustainable development goals and the $12 trillion market opportunity for solutions
Gordon Renouf
Chief Executive Officer,
Good On You
Consumer demand for ethical and sustainable products and the growth of conscious consumerism
Fiona Killackey
Founder, My Daily Business Coach, and Author, Passion Purpose Profit
Finding your passion, your purpose, your why in business
Mark Daniels
Executive Director,
Social Traders
Positive impact through social enterprise
Susan Mizrahi
Chief Sustainability Officer,
Australia Post
Working with business and government by meeting sustainability requirements
Nicholas Balgue
Manager Sustainable Business, Sustainability Victoria
Accessing support, grants and solar incentives from state government
Millicent Brearley
Senior R&D Consultant,
Grants & Incentives Specialist, BlueRock Accounting
Grants and tax incentives for sustainability and innovation
Simon O'Connor
CEO, Responsible Investment Association Australasia;
Co-Chair Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative
Accessing capital through responsible investors and sustainable finance
John Purcell
Policy Advisor ESG,
CPA Australia
Crunching the numbers; business case and accounting for sustainability
Robyn Leeson
Vice-Chair, Global Sustainability Standards Board, Global Reporting Initiative
Keeping accountable; communicating your progress to stakeholders
Jimmy Bayssari
Founder & Head of Product & Risk, Project Everest Ventures, Certified B Corp Consultant
Raising your game and your credibility with certification
Susanne Bransgrove
Founder & Director,
LiquidGold Consultants
Building a legacy for your family in business
Greg Griffith
Chief Executive Officer,
Family Business Australia
Building a legacy for your family in business
Mat Card
President & Founder,
Rethink Recycling Coop
Remaking manufacturing; your role in a circular economy
Hosted by
Sara Redmond-Neal
I believe in the power of small business to have mighty impact. After 15 years driving sustainability in corporates and government, I am bringing my expertise to support small businesses - those with the passion, innovation and agility to tackle the world's greatest challenges. See more.