Young Australians Appointed to FYA Board

Young Australian of the Year 2012, Marita Cheng, has joined the FYA Board. Photo supplied.

Two young Australians have been appointed as the newest members of the Board of the Foundation for Young Australians.

Young Australian of the Year 2012, 23-year-old Marita Cheng, and 22-year-old Young Social Pioneer and founder of Useful, Tim Kenworthy, will join the Board’s newly appointed Chair, Robert Milliner.

FYA, which is a national Not for Profit organisation that empowers young people to shape their education and equips them to create social change, says that the new appointments will ensure that young people’s voices are heard “loud and clear” in the FYA boardroom.

“FYA has an exciting mission focused on enabling young Australians to enhance their future through a wide range of programs covering education, leadership, resilience and social inclusion,” Board chair, Milliner said.

“I am passionate about creating the best possible future for the next generation and see my involvement with FYA as an opportunity to do this.”

Tim Kenworthy, 22, will join Marita as the FYA's newest board members. Photo supplied.

Cheng founded Robogals, an international organisation that introduces young women to engineering and technology, while Kenworthy is the founder and CEO of Useful, a Not for Profit that exists to “make doing good as mainstream as cheeseburgers and breathing”.

“I think the work that FYA does is fantastic at supporting young people’s growth in the areas they’re passionate about,” Cheng said.

“I’m delighted that FYA have asked me to join their Board and I can’t wait to get started.”

FYA chief executive Jan Owen said she was “excited and proud” to have all three individuals on the organisation’s Board.

“The experience, business skills and leadership of Robert Milliner combined with the creativity, passion and drive of two of Australia’s most influential young change makers will help FYA achieve extraordinary things for young people,” Owen said.