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
CEO – Viv Benjamin
Viv is Oaktree’s CEO, and at 23 has already created some of the biggest poverty campaigns in the history of Oaktree and Australia. From 2006 to 2010, Viv directed Oaktree’s campaigns and advocacy nationally, and at 18 was National Director of the Make Poverty History Zero Seven Road Trip. Following this she was National Director of the End Child Slavery campaign and National Director of the 2010 Road Trip. Viv’s dedication to ending global poverty and injustice is life-long. She has worked with Amnesty International, Bombs Begone, the United Nations Youth Association and in 2010 was the election coordinator for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. From 21, Viv worked full-time as National Advocacy Coordinator for TEAR Australia. (Based in Victoria)Deputy CEO – Claire Harman
As the Deputy CEO 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. (Based in Victoria)
General Manager of Live Below the Line – Daniel Lewis-Toakley
At 21, Dan Lewis-Toakley is Oaktree’s General Manager of Campaigns, overseeing Live Below the Line and all of Oaktree’s public-facing advocacy and communications work. Since becoming involved with Oaktree in 2009, Dan has held senior roles within the campaigning and youth programs portfolios, including managing Oaktree’s university engagement nationally. Dan currently sits on the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Steering Committee and prior to his involvement with Oaktree, held a number of leadership roles at Melbourne High School and later senior roles within the Monash Law Students’ Society. (Based in Victoria)
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.
NSW Director – Eleanor Webster
Ellie is the director of Oaktree’s New South Wales branch. Ellie is passionate about empowering young people and equipping them with the skills to take action on extreme poverty. She has worked with Oaktree since 2008, in a range of roles across campaigns and operations teams at a state and national level. Ellie recently graduated from the University of Sydney with a double degree in Commerce and Arts, majoring in economics, Spanish and Arabic. In 2008 she was selected as one of Australia’s 100 Brightest Young Minds.Queensland Director – Nikki Bartlett
Nikki’s passion for humanitarian issues stems from her parent’s commitment to volunteer work, emphasis on travel and welcoming of all people into their home: regardless of race, culture or religion. As a result of this, and after receiving the ACT Board of Secondary Studies Social Justice Award in 2007, Nikki embarked on a gap year, volunteering in a small town in Tanzania. Working alongside community members who were empowering others through education, Nikki returned to Australia inspired to make a difference in a tangible and immediate way. Currently completing the final year of her Development studies degree, and leading the Oaktree branch in QLD, Nikki is aligning her passion with deliberate action on behalf of the world’s poor and inspiring a new generation to take up the fight.
Tasmanian Director – Robert Hortle
Rob has been involved in social justice and international development since he was 7, when his family volunteered on a remote island in Tonga for two and a half years. Rob’s first major role with Oaktree was Operations Manager for the Tassie leg of the 2010 Make Poverty History Roadtrip. In 2011, Rob was a facilitator for the first ever Tasmanian Generate program until taking on the role of Tasmanian Director in July. Rob graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts at the end of 2011, and is currently completing Honours in International Relations and Indonesian language.
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.
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