Dr Kim Vella used to hate networking - with a passion.
"As soon as I entered the room I'd be descended upon," she said.
"It was a room full of people just wanting to sell, sell, sell."
So Kim invented a different kind of network: one that allows people to give instead.
The Network of Possibility officially launches in Canberra on Wednesday night and is a new initiative designed to bring together community-minded Canberra professionals through a series of formal and informal fundraising events.
The Network's first charity of choice is the Tara Costigan Foundation (TCF), and all proceeds from a silent auction at Wednesday's night's launch will go toward TCF's work to eliminate violence against women and children.
According to Kim, the room on Wednesday night will be filled with lawyers, IT specialists, recruitment consultants. senior public servants and soulpreneurs - women she's met over the years who all felt a need "to contribute to something bigger - and that includes their time, energy and skills".
As the founder of Kim Vella Coaching, she meets daily with Canberra women leaving behind their traditional careers to become social entrepreneurs.
"I work with women who feel their careers are not aligned with their core values and and as a result feel their job is less meaningful than it could be.
"A common theme started to emerge - the women were passionate about Canberra and passionate about making a contribution - so the network is the vehicle to help make that contribution.
"It's also a neutral and supportive space for members to be able share defeats as well as triumphs, seek advice, and find social connection."
Kim's vision for the Network of Possibility includes a 300-strong membership, selecting a different charity annually and expansion into New Zealand. Major events will be held quarterly, with "in-between" events - like an intriguing event called Cheeseburger Ethics - being held more frequently.
For more information on the Network of Possibility, and to purchase tickets to the launch/cocktail reception on Wednesday night visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/network-of-possibility-cocktail-reception-tickets-28279475673
