26 New Leaders Join A Movement For Social Change

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8th December 2009, 06:35pm - Views: 1069





People Feature The Benevolent Society - Social Leadership Australia 1 image



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 


People Feature The Benevolent Society - Social Leadership Australia 2 image



2

Registered Office


The Benevolent Society

           PO Box 171 Paddington NSW 2021

Level 1, 188 Oxford Street                            T 02 9339 8000  •  F 02 9360 2319                                      www.bensoc.org.au

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:








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