Graeme Wise

Graeme Wise is the Chairman of The Adidem Group, which comprises The Body Shop, Children’s Centre, The Big Cheese catering, D’fine Creative, Sensaura Day Spa, Affirm Press Publishing, Recluse Home Automation, and the Wise Foundation.

Graeme is the Founder and Patron of The Big Issue street newspaper, Chairman of Monash Institute of Medical Research Advisory Board, and past director of Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Prahran Mission and Philanthropy Australia.

Graeme’s business philosophies revolve around the humanising of business, which extends to ensuring that each business has a responsibility to put back into the society in which it operates.

The social projects The Adidem Group and companies operate revolve around principles of self-help and building business skills that will provide ongoing generation of economic opportunities.

Favourite Shoes - Tan leather brogues made by Yanko (Spain)

Person whose shoes I would most like to shine - Nelson Mandela.. the man is an inspiration for his humility and humanity.

Alex McDonald

Alex McDonald is Executive Director of the Wise Foundation and Director of The Body Shop Australia. Alex is active in assisting the development of social & micro business within Australian and the South Pacific.

He is past director and chief executive of The Big Issue Australia and is currently working on the development and management of a range of social businesses within Australia. He is co-author of a social enterprise manual for young people and regularly assists NGO agencies and organisations consider social business identification and development.

Alex is passionate about assisting individuals and communities identify opportunities for long term economic self sufficiency through innovation in business.

Favourite Shoes - My farm boots

Person whose shoes I would most like to shine - Astro Boy! Any boots that can make someone fly and shoot bullets definitely need to be well Buffed.

Peter Ball

Peter Ball recently joined the Wise Foundation to manage the development, launch and expansion of Buffed. Following a career in investment, banking and finance Peter has dedicated the last few years to using his skills and experience to explore how commercial practise and capital markets can assist in addressing systemic social issues.

Peter most recently worked with Foresters Community Finance Ltd focusing on the capacity building of nonprofit organisations, community asset development strategies and mobilising appropriate finance for the social sector.

Peter was a founding member of Social Investment Australia (SIA) Ltd and held the role of Property and Fund Manager. SIA is the first entity to hold an Australian Financial Services License focused on delivering both economic and social returns to investors.

Peter’s firm belief is that the creation of impact investment ventures, scalable social business models and the appropriate infrastructure to support these fields will generate significant and lasting social outcomes in our communities.

Favourite Shoes - RM Williams Craftsman Boots... is there a more iconic and quality Australian shoe?

Person whose shoes I would most like to shine - Jeff Skoll... founded the Skoll Foundation to drive large scale change by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs and innovators who help serve the worlds most pressing problems (he also founded eBay!)

Kate Kay

After seven years at the helm of her luxury leather care and shoe shine business in the heart of the cosmopolitan Melbourne CBD, Kate joined the Buffed team.

As a result of a midnight epiphany that Kate had, her business Shine Shoe Shine was launched in 2005.

Kate also created a successful shoe shine for events element to her business, working with premium brands such as ANZ, BT Financial, American Express, Fairfax Digital, Crown, Hermes-Paris and Ben and Jerry’s.

Kate will be utilising her wealth of experience ‘at the coalface’ to support and guide the Buffed Franchisees across Australia.

Favourite shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo black ankle boot

Person whose shoes I would most like to shine: Karen Berg - She has dedicated her existence to improving the lives of others and creating peace, a true inspiration to women and humanity.

Ameily Siow

Ameily Siow is Buffed's Communications and PR coordinator. She oversees all internal communications, publishing, social media promotion and media enquiries for Buffed.

Ameily has previously worked with various organisations including the Queensland Arts Council, The University of Queensland and Bleeding Heart.

Favourite Shoes - My glaringly bright yellow wellingtons with blue whales!

Person whose shoes I would most like to shine - My maternal grandfather's shoes. He passed away shortly after I was born and was a great man and teacher.