C127/08
A new partnership between Curtin Business School (CBS) and The Oaktree Foundation will enhance the student experience by providing students with volunteering opportunities to help fight poverty.
The initiative will provide new and dynamic ways for CBS to continue to drive its focus on innovation and a global outlook, while maintaining a tradition of exploring the ethical and social responsibilities of business.
Professor Duncan Bentley, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Business School said that he welcomes this new partnership and says it will go a long way towards Curtin’s commitment to enhancing students university experience through first hand opportunities.
“This partnership will provide Curtin students with the opportunity to further develop their business skills, offer volunteering opportunities and provide a greater sense of purpose outside their academic studies,” Professor Bentley said.
“Oaktree initiatives will assist CBS in developing the next generation of forward-thinking leaders and entrepreneurs. Capturing their attention in this area is a strong investment for the future.”
David Toovey, Chief Executive Officer of The Oaktree Foundation, travelled to Perth to formally announce the partnership at an event held recently at Curtin’s Bentley Campus.
“Oaktree and Curtin Business School share a number of synergies and values, the most significant of which is our common goal to empower young people through education,” Mr Toovey said.
“Through funding and supporting Oaktree, CBS will be empowering young people in Western Australia by expanding their skills and knowledge of global issues.
“Volunteers can use their skills in areas such as marketing, public relations, design, legal and finance or as young entrepreneurs committed to developing Oaktree’s corporate strategy. They can work in partnership to provide youth and children in the developing world with access to quality education.”
The Oaktree Foundation is Australia’s first entirely youth run aid and development organisation. They are driven by young people under the age of 26 who believe that education is the key to making lasting change.
Over the last four years, Oaktree raised more than $1 million for development projects and improved the livelihoods for more than 40,000 young people in the developing world by providing educational opportunities in South Africa, Ghana, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, India and the Philippines.
In 2006, Oaktree volunteers made history by organising the biggest ever youth-run concert in Australia. The Make Poverty History Concert featured international mega bands, was attended my more than 15,000 people and another 1.5 million people read about the concert through print media.
Note to editor: David Toovey, Australia’s youngest CEO, is available for interviews on Friday 2 May.
Contacts: Monique Billstein; Public Relations; Curtin; 08 9266 3353; 0401 103 018; M.Billstein@curtin.edu.au
CRICOS provider code: 00301J
Background Information – David Toovey
At the tender age of 18, David Toovey is the new CEO of the Oaktree Foundation, and Australia’s youngest CEO. When he was 13, David travelled to Papua New Guinea, living with a family in a remote village, where he witnessed the effects of a lack of education and health care on those living in extreme poverty. On returning, David worked with the likes of the Red Cross and United Nations Youth Association. David has been trained by Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore as a Climate Ambassador, which has equipped him to give Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ presentation to schools and community groups. David believes we can end extreme poverty in our lifetime and aims to take the Oaktree Foundation to continued success in achieving this goal. Come along to hear David’s story and share his vision.
