Speakers Bureau

Our people are some of the most experienced advocates in the fight against extreme poverty, having volunteered in overseas community development projects, lead and facilitated numerous projects on Australian shores, and been awarded repeatedly for their efforts.

We strive to fundraise, advocate and lead the way for generations of young people to become active agents of social change.

Through the Oaktree Speakers Bureau, you can have access to this hub of experienced and passionate young leaders. Have one of our vibrant volunteers share their experience at your next event.

Our Speakers

Tom is CEO of Oaktree, and there are few around who are as driven, passionate and single minded in their work to combat the injustice of extreme poverty. Tom was Young Victorian of the Year in 2007, and was also invited to participate in the Prime Ministers Australia 2020 Summit. In 2008 he co-edited the book “The Future By Us”, an anthology of essays on Australia’s future. Tom has been with Oaktree since 2006, moving through the ranks first in the Universities team, then as Assistant Victorian Director, Victorian Director, General Manager of Operations and now CEO. Under Tom’s leadership Oaktree has grown exponentially.

Acting General Manager of Campaigns- Peter Willis

Peter joined Oaktree at the beginning of 2009. Midway through that year he travelled to Papua New Guinea and East Timor, then taking on the role of managing the Victorian leg of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Roadtrip.
As Roadtrip manager he coordinated three separate Roadtrips to Canberra of almost 300 participants. Beyond this, Peter’s political engagement was sustained and high impact – running numerous electoral forums and having several meetings with target MPs. Peter has continued this work first as National Campaigns Director, leading the organisation’s political engagement and then as General Manager – Campaigns, responsible for all Oaktree fundraising and advocacy campaigns.
Outside Oaktree Peter was the Assistant to the Convenor of the 63rd Annual United Nations Department of Public Information NGO conference held in Melbourne in late August in 2010

General Manager of Overseas Project- Jess Jacobson

As General Manager of Overseas Projects Jess oversees and directs all of Oaktree’s international development work in East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia and South Africa. She is also responsible for selecting new development initiatives and all our monitoring and evaluation. Before stepping in to this role Jess founded Oaktree’s Tasmanian branch, and was an incredible State Director throughout 2010 and 2011.  Jess was the winner of the Southern Cross Young Achiever of the Year Award for Community Service in 2009 and manages a School and Orphanage in India.

Chief Operations Officer- Claire Harman

As the Chief Operations Officer Claire manages and supports a team of seven state directors and is responsible for the successful delivery of Oaktree’s initiatives across the country. Claire works with all the state teams to ensure that we are delivering quality grassroots campaigns and community engagement programs. Claire is passionate about working with young volunteers and prior to joining Oaktree worked as Director of the University of Melbourne Summer School, a program that aims to provide affordable and equitable education access for students who are from schools that are disadvantaged or under-represented in the Victorian tertiary system. Claire was also President of University College and sits on the University College College Council. Claire has recently graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts.

General Manager of Corporate Engagement- Kate Williams

As Oaktree’s General Manager Business Development, Kate’s job is to ensure the sustainability of the Foundation so that Oaktree can continue its innovative work overseas and in Australia. Kate is responsible for Oaktree’s corporate engagement and the development of a $3million Future Fund. Kate graduated with simultaneous Honours in Psychology and postgraduate qualifications in Business Administration. Outside Oaktree, Kate is involved with various mentoring and community service organisations, and is also a qualified Divemaster.

Victorian Director- Hugo Lamb

 As the Victorian Director Hugo is responsible for a volunteer base of over 100 young volunteers. He believes passionately in the ability of young people to shape their futures and in doing so, shaping the future to end extreme poverty. Hugo has lived in Thailand, Burma, The United States, Former Yugoslavia and Switzerland and worked on projects in remote communities as far flung as Romania, Czech Republic and Morrocco. Hugo has recently graduated with a Masters in International Politics, and is also the founder and director of the Gilmore Society, a non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank of dedicated young professionals.

General Manager of People and Culture- Nina O’Connor

 As General Manager of People and Culture Nina is responsible for ensuring that Oaktree provides the best possible volunteer experience for young Australians young working to make a significant impact on the issue of extreme poverty.Nina is an experienced and passionate social advocate and organisational leader whose unique passion originates from Adelaide, South Australia. Since her senior years of high school, Nina has been involved in leading projects organised for and by young people.Nina’s extensive experience in facilitation, organisational development & professional training comes from years of experience with the Oaktree Foundation, beginning in 2007 when she
organised the SA ZeroSeven MakePovertyHistory Roadtrip. In 2008, Nina became the founding Director of the Oaktree Foundation in South Australia and was also the National Generate Director in 2010-2011.
Outside Oaktree, Nina has interned at Oxfam, facilitated training camps for numerous organisations and been involved in leading a number of social & political campaigns.

Chief Operations Officer- Caroline English

As Oaktree’s CFO Caroline is responsible for the organisations financial management and risk management. Caroline has recently graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Commerce and has worked as an intern at accounting firm PwC in the summer of 2010-11. Caroline has volunteered as an english teacher in China in 2008 and in northern Thailand in 2010 as spent two years as the treasurer, then vice-president of UN Youth Victoria. She is passionate about social justice and development as well as the administrative side of working in the not-for-profit sector. Caroline is also the inaugural recipient of the Boston Consulting Group fellowship, awarded to one young women on the Oaktree executive team.

ACT Director- Keyta Slattery

Keyta Slattery is the ACT Director of the Oaktree Foundation. She has been engaged with Oaktree since 2007 when the Schools 4 Schools program became available at her high school. Upon graduating she deepened involvement with Oaktree by taking part in the Generate Program, 2010 Make Poverty History Roadtrip, and mentoring with Schools 4 Schools in ACT. She is passionate about providing opportunities to connect youth with the challenge of extreme poverty and the chance to take action. Her belief in young people has led her to volunteer as a mentor at Rising Generation’s National Leadership Camp. Keyta is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Development Studies at the Australian National University. She is driven by her passion for youth empowerment and hopes to later work in education.