Meet our new ED of Social Impact Initiatives 

We are thrilled to announce Biljana Nikolova as our new Executive Director of Social Impact Initiatives here at SVA. 

Biljana Nikolova will head up the Social Impact Initiatives (SII) division which, as the innovation engine of SVA, plays a pivotal role in leading the charge against ‘too hard’.  

Biljana says she’s excited about the opportunity to bring together SVA’s expertise to create unique and functional solutions that not only solve problems but can be deployed to create impact at scale. 

SII is home to teams specialising in impact investing, commissioning for outcomes, employment, early years, and education initiatives. Biljana emphasises the importance of this multidisciplinary approach. “Our deep expertise allows us to truly understand the problems we’re tackling and apply creative thinking to deliver impactful solutions,” says Biljana.

SVA CEO James Toomey says he’s delighted about Biljana’s appointment as this role perfectly aligns with Biljana’s passion for driving systemic change and delivering outcomes for communities in need.  

“As well as that passion, Biljana has deep and relevant expertise to be able to support and lead the talented SII team to continue to achieve its impactful work across their respective projects.” 

Biljana is committed to leveraging SVA’s networks and reputation to create long lasting outcomes. 

“I see enormous potential in identifying gaps in the impact investing space and designing innovative structures that bring together private capital, philanthropy, and government to support the system change that’s urgently needed.”

She also highlighted SVA’s legacy in impact investing, including the formation of Synergis and pioneering social impact bonds: 

“These structures are unique, innovative, and inspirational. I’d love to see us build more of them in the future.”  

Biljana’s shift into leadership occurred around 10 years ago, after spending time in highly technical and specialised roles as a corporate finance advisor and private equity executive.  

Biljana has held various senior executive roles and prior to joining SVA she was the General Manager of Government, Education, Community (GEC) at NAB, during which time she led the establishment of NAB’s Indigenous Business. 

She was also an honorary fellow and lecturer of Corporate Finance at Macquarie University, Master of Applied Finance. 

For the last 18 months, Biljana has been leading SVA’s impact investing team’s work in capital advisory, early years, First Nations and housing with a strong focus on women’s housing. 

“I’ve become quite passionate about finding solutions to housing for women over 55 – the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in Australia,” says Biljana. 

“We’ve come up with a holistic housing solution for these women which provides safe and long-term living spaces that support wellbeing and is funded via an innovative financial structure of the kind that SVA is known for.”  

Part of the project which is being piloted in WA is producing an end-to-end replication manual to help other organisations scale similar models.

Biljana is clearly not averse to taking on new challenges. Three years ago she pursued her passion for karate and now heads to the dojo a few nights a week and has already gained her blue belt. 

“It’s a great mix of physical and mental workout,” she says. 

Biljana holds a PhD in Finance from the University of New South Wales specialising in emerging markets and Harvard Business School Executive Education in Best Practice Private Equity and Venture Capital investing. 

She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Western Sydney University’s External Advisory Committee and, most recently, has joined the board of the Women’s Housing Corporation.