Registered Office
The Benevolent Society
PO Box 171 Paddington NSW 2021
Paddington NSW 2021 Donations 1800 819 633 ABN 95 084 695 045
8
December 2009
Media Release
Twenty six new leaders join a movement for social change
Twenty six outstanding leaders from across the not-for-profit, government and corporate sectors in New South
Wales have just joined the ranks of The Benevolent Society’s Social Leadership Australia alumni, bringing to 382
the number of graduates from the innovative Sydney Leadership Program since its establishment eleven years
ago.
“Sydney Leadership Program alumni are at the vanguard of change in Australian leadership culture, exercising
leadership in innovative, creative ways around complex social issues in government, corporate and community life,”
Head of Social Leadership Australia, Robbie Macpherson said.
“There are now literally hundreds of stories to tell of this program’s power to create lasting positive impacts on a
personal, organisational and social level. From new corporate social responsibility programs, to innovative cross-
sector projects for youth-at-risk; from new ways of working to bring about change within large organisations, to
small but impactful projects in the community, Sydney Leadership alumni are making a difference in Australian
working and community life everywhere,” Mr Macpherson said.
With its motto of ‘Challenge yourself. Change your world,’ the award-winning Sydney Leadership Program was
conceived as part of a bold vision by Australia’s oldest charity to create a network of new leaders with the capacity,
skills and determination to create lasting social change. Each year up to 30 talented and motivated individuals are
selected to participate in a unique, year-long experiential learning program, which is based on a Harvard model that
challenges conventional paradigms of leadership.
The program involves senior decision-makers from all types and sizes of organisations in diverse sectors – from
banking, property and mining to education, health and human services – from major corporations to struggling not-
for-profits – who come together to examine their own values and purpose, and to develop and practice their
leadership skills in diverse social environments. In its eleven year history the program has developed a strong track
record as a forum for both social leadership development and extensive network building.
For the City of Sydney’s Youth Development Worker and Director of Gamarada, Aboriginal Men’s Healing and Life
Skills Program, David Beaumont, the most valuable thing about the Sydney Leadership Program was “the
opportunity I have had to work and grow with like minded people from various sectors within our society.”
“The connections I have made and the experiences I have gained are invaluable,” Mr Beaumont said. “They will be
with me for the rest of my life and continue to help shape the new way I think and operate.”
For BHP Billiton’s Change & Communications Lead, Sharon Ryan, the most valuable thing was “having 20 years of
experience in change completely blown away.”
“If you are serious about leadership and community,” she said, “then this program is a ‘must do’ in your lifetime.”
Sara Nicols, Service Development Manager at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia said, “Sydney Leadership changed my
life! It has changed my way of interacting with community and recognising the contribution and the absolute
influence we can all make in changing the disparity in the world. Some of us will do it on a global scale, others on
the ground, but we all – regardless of what our professional background – want a different world to live in.”
“The 2009 Sydney Leadership Program graduates bring a wealth of wisdom, insight and energy back to their
communities and workplaces. We congratulate them and wish them well,” said Robbie Macpherson.
Sydney Leadership is one of a suite of programs and consultancy services offered by Social Leadership Australia
to develop leaders to drive social change.
Full list of 2009 Sydney Leadership Program graduates overleaf.
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Rachael Vincent 02 9339 9318
2
Registered Office
The Benevolent Society
PO Box 171 Paddington NSW 2021
Paddington NSW 2021 Donations 1800 819 633 ABN 95 084 695 045
The 2009 Sydney Leadership Program graduates are:
Anna Ainsworth
Community Development Coordinator, Eden
Gardens & Garden Centres
Director, Eden Foundation; Fr Chris Riley's
Youth Off The Streets
David Beaumont
Youth Development Worker, City of Sydney
Council
Director, ‘Gamarada', Aboriginal Men's
Healing & life Skills Program
Frier Bentley
Principal, Consulting Bentley
Raul Caceres Castillo
Project Manager, Social Innovation Camp,
Australian Social Innovation Exchange
Gabrielle Curtin
Group General Manager People Services
Qantas Airways Limited
Steve Farrell
Business Manager, Centrelink
Shelley Fredericks
Director, Client Services, Students & Contact
Centre, Department of Immigration and
Citizenship
Jacqueline Harrison
Regional Programs Manager, Hunter &
Central Coast, The Benevolent Society
Peter Horsley
Project Coordinator, The Spastic Centre
Norma Ingram
Lecturer, Eora TAFE
Chairperson, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care
Program, Redfern
Annie Le Cavalier
Communications Officer, Vibewire Youth
Media and Arts Inc.
Sarah Maddison
Senior Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts &
Social Sciences, University of New South
Wales
Jim Martin
Mt Druitt Customer Service Centre Manager,
Centrelink
Jo Metzke
Manager, Group Learning & Development,
Human Resources, Stockland Corporation
Pty Ltd
Larry Musolino
Statewide Services Development Manager,
The Cancer Council NSW
Sara Nicols
Service Development Manager, Spinal Cord
Injuries Australia
Richard Potok
Director, The Aurora Project
Charles Prouse
CEO, National Aboriginal Sporting Chance
Academy
Michael Regan
Partnership Manager, The Smith Family
Sharon Ryan
Change & Communications Lead, BHP
Billiton, Energy Coal
Phillippe Savidis
Senior Solicitor, NTSCORP Limited
Deb Shaw
Online Communications Manager,
The Aurora Project
Simon Sheikh
National Director, GetUp! Action for Australia
Melissa Smith
Development Manager, International,
University of Technology, Sydney
Kris Vine
Grow Well Project Coordinator, Regional
Remote Health Section, Anyinginyi Health
Aboriginal Corporation (Tennant Creek, NT)
Christopher Zinn
Media Spokesman, Choice Magazine
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Rachael Vincent 02 9339 9318
More about Social Leadership Australia at:
NEWS 
