Mark Watt believes that together we can make a real difference.

The story of Marks life is a testament to his sheer love for others, and determination to break to the cycle for disadvantaged and at-risk youth.

Mark Watt is passionate about assisting young people reach their full potential through opportunities and relationships. He has worked with Australian youth for over 30 years through establishing White Lion and his involvement in Youth Justice at correctional centres. Last year Mark launched Social Engine which is a unique and multi-faceted social enterprise whose focus is on offering diverse employment opportunities to ‘at-risk’ young people aged 18-25. They currently operate 4 business - 2 cafes,  a packaging warehouse and a coffee van.

Mark is also the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia, this opportunity allows him to continue to work with others to have a positive impact and assist in changing the lives of Australia's youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia provides long-term, one-to-one mentoring to help change the course of vulnerable young people's lives. So that they have the opportunity to unlock their potential, creating a brighter future for themselves and their community.

Marks passion and dedication are infectious; I hope that this inspires many others to get behind our youth and offer whatever support we can. Get on board with You(th) Are Not Alone - Youth Loneliness Solutions Summit Friday the 28th of August https://bit.ly/ylss28aug 

Connect with Mark: 

https://www.socialengine.org.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwatt1/

https://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/

The Field Trip sees a world where all young people embrace their unique powers to lead our communities. This vision will be achieved by turning learners into leaders, providing young people with extraordinary adventures and empowering them to use their unique extraordinary powers to lead their communities.

Because the world will be a better place if they do.

Paul's life journey is diverse, star studded and amazing in so many ways. He is a Guide for the internationally renowned ABCDE community development learning sites program. Paul has been an in-house writer for Channel Seven and Home and Away, as well as for Hollywood production companies. Paul is an expert facilitator and has had vast experience working with and supporting not for profits, companies and enterprises to develop their business plans, organisational culture and professional development programs and strategies for growth.

I left this call wide eyed and bushy tailed about the possibilities of how we can work with our young people - I hope it does this for you too!

Connect with Paul:

https://www.thefieldtrip.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kooperman-91268532/

https://www.facebook.com/thefieldtrip2016/ 

Jules is an advocate for female founders and wants to put the spotlight on the extraordinary things women are doing in business.

Jules is the host of a TV show called She's The Boss and has a podcast called She's The Boss Chats, she's also the founder of Handle Your Own PR, a DIY PR platform and she's built a community of kick-arse female founders on the back of the pandemic! 

Everything about Jules is bright, bubbly and FUN, energy which she shares abundantly to everyone around her. If you are a female either in or aspiring to be in business then I highly recommend joining in on She's The Boss Free Friday Lunch. https://www.shestheboss.com.au/lunch No agenda just a great way to meet and connect with other women.

Here the juicy details on Jules next adventure - I cannot wait to see this powerhouses venture! You Rock Jules!!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesbrooke/

https://www.shestheboss.com.au/

https://www.handleyourownpr.com.au/

Gareth Benson is the leadership voice in the Future of Work and for the Future of Education. His goal is to create opportunities for One Million Australians in empowering the future of work by 2022. A qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria Gareth is a keynote professional speaker and Higher Education lecturer. He has delivered keynotes and lectures at conferences and Universities around Australia.

Gareth advocates for the Future of Education including on behalf of international students and employability outcomes that ensures that no one is left behind. He is passionate about how education will shape the future of work and actively works with students and entrepreneurs in sharing skills and information about preparing for the new working world - The GIG economy.

Through all of his extensive and varied working life Gareth has found that finding and working on your purpose path is where the real Gold of life is. Having personally been coached by Gareth to help me with my purpose I can honestly share how powerful the experience was for me. 

Connect with Gareth through the links below and if you happen to hear this before the 11th of August I highly recommend attending his Digital Entrepreneur Summit - https://growwithhemievents.com/webinar-registration-408090661596153884433?fbclid=IwAR3qL6Tmws-PWPhL0vykspTQQj3MIXn-J_YYPc8UmCc9zz0oOSaLMHxBHlU

https://www.garethspeaking.com/

https://greenandgoldeducation.com/

http://www.trueblue.tv/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethbenson/

Get ready to hear from one of the most inspiring and insightful beings I have even met! Stephanie Woollard began Seven Women at age 22 after meeting seven disabled women working in a tin shed in Kathmandu. These seven women were struggling to make a living in the face of harsh discrimination.

15 years on and over 5,500 women have been educated, trained and employed by Seven Women, providing the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. Stephanie has been internationally recognised with numerous global awards including the UN Rotary International Responsible Business Award and more recently the Order of Australia.

Seven Women is dedicated to Empowering disabled and marginalised women in Nepal through drawing out their human potential.

Steph shares insights on her belief that to making real and lasting change, is about drawing out the full potential in others; starting with oneself. 

It was a true honour and privilege to speak, connect and learn from this inspirational lady, who is no where near finished in providing help, support and value to the world.

Connect with Steph from the links below: 

https://sevenwomen.org/

https://www.facebook.com/SevenWomenNGO/

Dynamic and driven serial Community Advocate Karen Corr shares her story from Environmental Engineer to Social Enterprise Founder.

Karen has shaped and led social enterprise Jump Leads -  not-for-profit social enterprise that “Jump-starts” community and arts initiatives to change cultures and invigorate communities for a better future. She has also established Make a Change Australia and Pop Up Art, fostering many community initiatives and innovative organisations across health and well-being, environment, social disadvantage, inclusion and creative sectors.

Her driver is to activate and invigorate community led solutions, for which partnership with government agencies, visionary organisations and committed individuals is critical.

Connect with Karen:

https://jumpleads.net/

https://makeachange.org.au/

https://popupart.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/popupart.jumpleads/

Founder of SandyMcDonald.com and charity, CreateCare Global, Sandy McDonald is an author, a TEDx speaker, and a storytelling trainer, working with businesses to bring clarity of communication through purpose-led story.

CreateCare Global brings together compassionate, creative, problem-solvers that contribute small actions, that create a big impact on helping provide for vulnerable children that are in need globally.

After 22 years running a marketing communications company, she used purposeful storytelling to start a worldwide community that helps thousands of orphaned children in Africa today.

Knit-a-square has distributed over 90,000 blankets

since 2008 to warm and comfort the cold,

orphaned or vulnerable children of South Africa.

Sandy’s TEDx talk about this, Tell Your Story. Save a Life received a standing ovation, and her book, Clans, Supercharge your business details the framework that achieved this. Watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtuYmwKtiDE&feature=youtu.be

Sandy is using and teaching the power of storytelling to help change-makers seeking to build community and create to positive action, they exist to spread kindness and love across Australia, and around the world.

Connect with Sandy:

http://sandymcdonald.com/

http://create-care-global.org/

https://knit-a-square.com/

Yana Martens is a video content and confidence coach. Her expertise is based on an understanding of self-image and human behaviour from a degree in psychology, combined with years in front and behind the camera, as a model and photographer. She helps her clients to elevate their personal brand by increasing self-awareness, find their authentic voice,  encourage them to get out of the comfort zone and face their fears of being seen and judged. With over 14 years’ experience in front of the camera, Yana knows exactly how it feels and how to address all negative thinking that might arise.

Yana has taken her work skills to become a much loved and adored team member and mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia which is committed to helping young people to reach their potential , providing them with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships, that change lives for the better.

https://yanamartens.com/

https://www.facebook.com/modelyanamartens/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/

We all hear the stories in the news about the detention rates, drug and alcohol abuse and dire circumstances that teenagers face in the Northern Territory. I am honoured to share this incredible guest with you that has taken this challenge and found a way to create positive change in these kids lives so that they can learn, grow and change their lives and be a role model for other youth.

Adam Drake trained actor/director and fitness instructor and founder of Balanced Choice, has taken his skills and experiences to develop  evidence-based program that is designed to educate at-risk young males about balance of the body, mind and spirit. The aim is to promote positive physical and mental activities to encourage young people to nourish the body, mind and soul and to make positive choices to live their best lives and achieve their goals. To create better mental health literacy, practical life skills, healthier relationships with peers and family, increased self-efficacy and resilience, a positive sense of the future, and a greater sense of connection to self and others.

Balanced Choice works predominantly with young people in the youth justice space. They also facilitate professional development workshops based on team building and self-care to private organisations.

To contact Adam or find out more go to https://www.balancedchoice.org/

https://www.facebook.com/balancechoice/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-drake-0626a3103/

After retiring from a well established as an Electrical Engineer that Colin Lambie found his calling to provide support and assistance to companies, community groups and residents on the benefits and cost effectiveness of solar power. Always being curious about the power and versatility of natural power; it was his work with the Y Service Club of Bendigo which he had been a member of for 20 years. That lead Colin to become a founding member of the Bendigo Sustainability Group in 2007 whose focus is environmental sustainability, which includes reducing greenhouse gases by replacing electricity coming from coal burning power stations in Latrobe Valley with solar. Incredibly his work through both community groups merged and  resulted in me running classes about climate change science, greenhouse gases and how to reduce them across Asia.

Big fan of Colin's story and his dedication to supporting those around him and serving his community it's awe-inspiring. 

Here are the links to connect with Colin and his community involvement groups.

https://www.facebook.com/BendigoSustainabilityGroup/ 

https://www.facebook.com/YsMenBendigo/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/333509920165721/