Giving Back - Why Wait?

Creating powerful lives rooted in our communities and contributing in society

Wednesday 15 August 2007

“Giving back” is a common term in professional Australia, but does it imply waiting until we have “made it” before we contribute in society, or even suggest that we have taken?

Another big and very insightful Catalyst event. Catalyst facilitator, Michael Hann, entered into dialogue with a range of special Guest Participants about how they have constituted their lives around profound participation in their communities that generates real power for them in other parts of their lives. With the audience seated in a large horseshoe opening out onto Sydney Harbour, we explored what enabled these people to move beyond the notion of waiting to “give back” and get engaged in society now.

Our special Guest Participants included:

• Michael Traill – Founder and CEO of Social Ventures Australia and ex-Executive Director of Macquarie Direct Investment at Macquarie Bank
• Lalita Ari – Founder and director of Oasis Africa and account manager at IBM.
• Andy Small – social contribution mentor and ex-CEO, Zurich Financial Services
• Melanie Hogan – Director of “Kanyini” and ex corporate professional
• Dr Timothy Sharp – Founder of The Happiness Institute
• Lynn Ralph – Managing Director of Cameron Ralph, ex-Deputy Chair of ASIC and ex-Chair of the AMP Foundation
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• Michael Wilson – CEO of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and ex-management consultant
• Liz Skelton of The Sydney Leadership Program at The Benevolent Society
• Catherine Fox – Deputy Editor of AFR Boss magazine, interviewer of corporate and not-for-profit leaders

As part of this exploration, we also learnt about the work of Social Ventures Australia and The Benevolent Society, two of Australia’s innovative social entrepreneur nurturing not-for-profits.

www.socialventures.com.au ,www.bensoc.org.au

Venue: WatersEdge, Walsh Bay

Member's Prize by: Dumbofeather Magazine

Click on the thumbnails to view the photos from the event.