Best practice to next practice; the changing dynamics of leadership

Friday, 21 June 2013 03:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Change is inevitable and to suit the needs of a world that is in constant flux, the boundaries and demands of leadership must persistently adapt to keep up. This is exemplified in today’s young leaders who are pushing the boundaries of leadership, changing what it means and experimenting with bold and innovative approaches to tackling major challenges. Setting the stage for the thought leadership session on day two of the CIMA Business Leaders Summit (BLS) 2013, Oaktree Foundation Australia CEO Viv Benjamin will discuss practical leadership, taking the audience beyond theory and into action that makes a difference. As a 23-year-old

who has already made dramatic changes for the better in the world around her, Benjamin believes that a significant impact on the future of an organisation, a nation and humanity as a whole can be achieved. From major international challenges such as global poverty, to the daily internal challenges of organisational leadership, Viv Benjamin will explore lessons from some of the world’s leading young social pioneers at BLS 2013, embracing its challenge to ‘Get real!’ Benjamin is passionate about leading social change for the betterment of humanity. Her work has taken her across the Asia-Pacific region, from the city slums of India and Bangladesh, the mountainous villages of East Timor and Nepal, to the poorest communities of PNG and Cambodia. As CEO of the Oaktree Foundation, Viv Benjamin leads a multi-million-dollar non-profit company. Oaktree works to alleviate global poverty by funding quality education and vocational training in some of the poorest communities in Cambodia, East Timor, PNG and beyond. She is also co-chair of the ‘Make Poverty History’ coalition, leading a national partnership of over 60 major NGOs. Benjamin helped create the original Make Poverty History Concert in 2006, headlined by Bono from U2 and Pearl Jam, and many subsequent national campaigns engaging millions of citizens. Her initiatives helped achieve a landmark government commitment to increase overseas aid to 0.5% of Gross National Income, raising billions of dollars to save and improve the lives of millions of people around the world. As a result, Oaktree was recognised by the United Nations with an international award for innovative leadership in the movement to end global poverty. Benjamin founded and directed End Child Slavery, which helped convince major chocolate corporation Cadbury to switch their Dairy Milk chocolate to 100% fair-trade certified cocoa, which single-handedly quadrupled the global demand for fair-trade cocoa, and ensures a fair wage for poor cocoa farmers around the world. Since 2008, Benjamin has served as a company Director on the Boards of both the Oaktree Foundation and Mustard Leadership Australia. Benjamin was previously the National Head of Advocacy for TEAR Australia, a leading development agency. As a young emerging leader, Benjamin has appeared in many national media interviews, and is a sought-after public speaker. The CIMA Business Leaders Summit 2013, scheduled for 1 and 2 July at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, is partnered by Sri Lanka Telecom (strategic partner), Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (principal sponsor), HSBC (official banker), Sri Lankan Airlines (official airline), Cinnamon Grand Colombo (official hotel), ThakralOne and Lankem (co-sponsors), Wijeya Newspapers (exclusive print media partner) and LBR and LBO (official digital media partners). For more information on the conference and how to participate, contact Indika Perera on 0112 503880 ext 220, or email [email protected].