52 Leaders in Volunteer Project

Australian business leaders, company executives, journalists and social media experts have been recruited to lend their skills for a day to a charity through a new program from giving platform, Goodcompany.

Goodcompany’s 52 Leaders Campaign will see an expert volunteer able to choose a skilled role with a charity each week from July.

CEO of Goodcompany, Ash Rosshandler said he hopes the initiative will grow awareness and engagement in Skilled Volunteering over the next 12 months.

“Today Goodcompany helps match volunteers from Optus, Flight Centre, CGU, ISS World, ANZ and many other progressive companies to over 1300 charities,” he said.

Leaders who have already enrolled for the 52 Leaders program include IT entrepreneur, David Gold, CEO CareerOne Karen Lawson, CEO Atlassian,Mike Cannon-Brookes , the Co-founder of  Bounce, Ant Morell, along with the CEO M&C Saatchi, Bob Talbot, the CEO Aria,Dan Rosen, award winning Journalist Michael Short and Oscar Award Winner Eva Orner.

“Last year we matched around 2000 staff. This year we want to double the impact to match over 4000 staff to meaningful volunteer opportunities,”  Rosshandler said.

“When a CEO volunteers to help paint a fence or pack Christmas hampers, his value to the charity is about $17 an hour. But when he or she provides a day’s worth of mentoring or training or strategic reviews, then their worth to the charity is more like $1000 an hour and their sense of purpose and self-worth and satisfaction is also much greater.    

“To be in the mix to win one of Australia’s 52 business leaders for a day, all charities need to do is register and post a role. There is also an opportunity to send a personal message to plead your case.

“Charities are always asking us how they can get a foot in the door of Australia’s best companies. We believe that the best way to do this is to allow these companies to first get a foot into their door. And by opening the door to skilled volunteers the benefits will flow both ways."

Pro Bono Australia’s Skilled Volunteer service VolunteerMatch also helps people across Australia match their skills from industries such as IT, hospitality, design, accounting, law and sales to a relevant volunteer role.

And CPA Australia, in partnership with Pro Bono Australia, is now offering qualified CPA Australia members the opportunity to add value to the community through the Mentor the Treasurer program.