Our Patron
The Rt Honorable Malcolm Fraser AC CH
In addition to being Prime Minister between 1975 and 1983, Malcolm Fraser is recognised as a true moral leader within Australia. He has been recognised numerous times for his humanitarian leadership – whether it be as Chair of UN hearings in New York in 1985 on the role of Multinations in South Africa and Namibia, Chair of CARE Australia, President of CARE International, or as a recipient of the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2000. An outspoken advocate for the marginalised and oppressed.
“I am proud to be the Patron of an organisation of such passionate and committed young people. I know they will continue to have a significant impact not only in overseas developing communities but also in the hearts and minds of all Australians.”
Our Board
Glenn Scott – Chair
Glenn has been involved in the Oaktree Foundation almost since inception. He has been a hugely important mentor for past and present senior Oaktree leaders, and has also provided much needed support and guidance in Oaktree’s formative years through his role as founder and managing director of Prime Charter. Glenn is also Chair of the Harvest College Board and is an active participant in many other business and social forums, not least with his beloved Carlton. Glenn brings a wealth of board experience and business nous to his role as Chair of Oaktree’s board.
John Nolan – Deputy Chair
John is Director of Nolan Consulting where he provides technical, commercial and stakeholder advisory services on water and environmental matters to public and private sector clients. He has experience in business development, building and maintaining technical excellence, and undertaking strategic water and environment projects. He has particular expertise in the development and independent review of State and National sustainability programs involving a diverse mix of stakeholders as well as the evaluation of projects.
Louise Mercer – Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary
Louise and her husband Aron have been keen supporters of Oaktree since 2006, primarily as part of the Supporters network. Louise is the Manager for Personal Insurance Strategic and Business Planning at Suncorp, and brings to Oaktree a background in strategy, projects and human resources. She is an active member of St Matthew’s Prahran, and has travelled to many developing communities. Louise has a BCom (Arts & Science) and an MBA.
Martine Wilson – Non-Executive Director
Martine is a lawyer with several years experience as a commercial lawyer with Clayton Utz. Martine also brings significant experience managing aid and development projects as she currently works as Projects Manager for TEAR Australia, overseeing all of their Indian Development Projects.
Viv Benjamin – Non-Executive Director
Viv is a past Oaktree leader with significant experience leading large campaigns and initiatives on Global Poverty and Climate Change. She was part of the team that lead the 2006 MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Concert, Directed the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY ZEROSEVEN Roadtrip, created and directed Oaktree’s 2008 End Child Slavery Campaign, and directed the 2010 MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Roadtrip. Viv is also on the Board of Mustard, and is now National head of Advocacy at TEAR Australia.
Tom O’Connor – CEO and Executive Director (ex-officio)
Tom first started in Oaktree in 2006 and has since lead in every part of the organisation. Tom was first Oaktree’s Victorian Director in 2007, then became General Manager of Operations in 2008 and stepped up to CEO in June 2009. Tom is Co-Founder and of Big Mouth: The Youth Speakers Bureau and was 2007 Young Victorian of the Year, and co-edited the book ‘The Future By Us: Visions of Australia 2020 and Beyond’ with Oaktree’s founder Hugh Evans.
Caroline English- CFO and Executive Director
Caroline joined Oaktree as CFO this year, and has recently graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Commerce. She has worked as an intern at accounting firm PwC in the summer of 2010-11, volunteered as an English teacher in China in 2008 and in northern Thailand in 2010, and spent two years as the Treasurer, then Vice-President of UN Youth Victoria. Caroline is also the inaugural recipient of the Boston Consulting Group fellowship, awarded to one young person on the Oaktree executive team.
Andrew Asten – Non-Executive Director
Andrew began working with the Oaktree Foundation in 2007 leading the Schools 4 Schools program, which provided life changing educational opportunities for students in South Africa. Andrew has also led Oaktree’s engagement with philanthropic and business supporters as Oaktree’s Chief Business Development Officer (2009-2010), raising over $2 million for the organisation’s work. Andrew remains a Director of the Oaktree Foundation. He continues to strongly support a number of community initiatives including the Homeless Persons Legal Clinic in Melbourne. Andrew’s work was recognised with the award of the Sir John Monash Medal from Monash University in 2010, and in being selected as a Victorian Young Australian of the Year Finalist. Andrew graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws with honours in 2010, is married to Grace, and is currently a Solicitor at Freehills..
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