Motion (Design) for Change!
We are increasingly facing significant global challenges, including climate change and environmental degradation, conflict, poverty and inequality. I aim to partner with organisations and businesses that are actively working to improve the state of our world and to help those in need.
Here are just some of the projects I have worked on for organisations or initiatives contributing toward change in areas as diverse and important as food waste, research and medicine, investment in clean energy, reducing discrimination and inequality and supporting charities.
LGBTIQA+ Discrimination - SEEK
In Australia, it is against the law to not hire someone because they identify as LGBTIQA+. And yet, workplace discrimination based on a person's sexuality or gender identity is an ongoing issue.
Discrimination can take many forms, including being paid less, singled out for disciplinary action, overlooked for promotion, or even unfairly dismissed.
The Odd Bunch - Woolworths
Around 25 per cent of edible fresh produce is thrown away due to visual imperfection or cosmetic damage every year in Australia.
The Odd Bunch encourages shoppers to buy perfectly fine but "imperfect" looking fruit and vegetables that may otherwise be rejected or thrown away. The initiative also supports farmers by helping them sell more of the fruit and veggies they grow.
Workplace Giving Australia - Not-for-profit
Workplace Giving Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that enables employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax salary to charity. In many cases employers match staff donations, doubling the amount contributed..
In addition to facilitating donations, businesses can also enhance the impact of their workplace giving program by incorporating volunteering, skill-sharing and in-kind support to the community.
Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum
In 2023, Australians voted in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for three phases of reform - Voice, followed by Treaty and Truth.
Responsible Banking - Bank Australia -
Where a bank chooses to invest has a big impact on not only its customers but also the environment and the broader economy. Some banks invest in harmful industries such as new fossil fuel projects or tobacco.
Bank Australia is committed to investing in and supporting industries such as affordable housing, animal welfare, not-for-profits and renewable energy.
Bushfire Prevention - CitiPower
As global warming is increasing the risk of devastating bushfires CitiPower/Powercor have been steadily developing new technology to prevent power-lines from starting bushfires within Victoria.
The preventative measures include creating a database of vegetation surrounding the network by using advanced Lidar mapping and also a smart network switch to cut the power if a line is damaged.
Volunteer Portal - SEEK
SEEK Volunteer is Australia’s single largest source for finding volunteer opportunities. At any one time, around 12,000 community volunteer opportunities are advertised.
SEEK developed a portal service to help companies encourage their staff to take up volunteering (and paid volunteer leave) by linking them with community volunteer opportunities.
Biomedical Science - University of Melbourne
Melbourne University’s School of Biomedical Sciences partners with world-renowned research facilities, including the Doherty Institute which was instrumental in the fight against Covid-19 in Australia.
The School plays a fundamental role in helping us better understand disease, including research into vaccines for HIV and influenza.
Faculty of Medicine - University of Melbourne
The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences is heavily focused on research with a long history of achievement in tackling important health challenges.
Students and teachers have included several Nobel Prize laureates and have contributed to achievements such as developing the bionic ear and eye health research that has halved the rates of blindness in indigenous communities.