Global United Way Boss To Address Australian Corporate Leaders

Brian Gallagher, the President and CEO of United Way Worldwide – described as the world’s largest privately funded Not for Profit organisation – will address Australian business leaders at a national summit on how issues surrounding education, income and health are impacting communities throughout Asia.

Gallagher will speak  at this year’s United Way Corporate Community Impact Summit, hosted by United Way Australia in Sydney.

United Way is hosting the invitation-only summit for Australian Corporate Leaders interested in creating greater community impact in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This Summit will be an opportunity to explore the broader social and economic trends of the region, learn from good practice strategies and network with leading colleagues," CEO of United Way Australia Doug Taylor said.

“ It’s open to corporate leaders working in the Asia-Pacific region or those interested in understanding more about what can be applied domestically in Australia."

Gallagher will discuss social change programs around the world where corporates, Government and Not for Profits have made a big difference by working together – the new  collaborative approach to social change called collective impact.

“The complexity of the 21st century problems requires an integrated approach with Government, business and NGO’s leveraging their individual expertise and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals,” Gallagher said.

“…the corporate world brings enormous value to these collective impact programs – not only through donations and staff volunteer time but through their practical approach to solve specific problems.  This is where the charitable and human service sector benefits hugely from the business brains."

Doug Taylor says that an Australian example of this work 90 Homes for 90 Lives, an initiative focused on creating long term outcomes for people who are homelessness in Woolloomooloo. This work as the result of a collaboration between groups including UBS,Herbert Smith Freehills, the City of Sydney and a number of charity organisations including Bridge Housing, NEAMI  & United Way Australia

"Our corporate partners provided the corporate skills and resources to support our government and community partners who have now housed 75 rough sleepers,” Taylor said.

Global expert Brian Gallagher said, "Australian corporates are well known for their good citizenship, and this is an opportunity to simply outline a new way to look at critical social issues."

Pro Bono Australia is a media partner to the Summit.