Alumni
From 2007 100 BYM delegates have been annually selected from more than 1500 applications on average. These delegates came from all across Australia. They are all worthy to be called Brightest Young Minds. The following are some of the many outstanding BYM alumni:
Featured Alumni
Alissa founded SPACE, a community space where where people with special needs can connect.
Alissa Phillips had a simple idea that has grown into something special. With a Masters in Music Therapy, Alissa’s goal is to introduce the concept of ‘Inclusive Communities’ through the demonstration of what it would take to create one. In 2007, Alissa founded s.p.a.c.e, Specialised Programs and Community Endeavours. Operating from a scout hall in suburban Brisbane, she set up Big Night Out, a monthly dance party where people with special needs can connect. From this grew a range of weekly programs aimed at engaging members of the community with disabilities in regular, dynamic and affordable developmental activities. Her work has garnered her a number of awards including 2007 Lord Major’s Youth Citizen of the Year, University of Queensland’s Young Alumni 2008 and 2009 Queensland Young Volunteer of the Year. Alissa was also recently named one of ten emerging leaders by The Weekend Australian. Alissa believes that disability and difference can be embraced in our communities’ dynamic conversations and education through positive and shared experiences. Alissa Founded s.p.a.c.e prior to her week with BYM. She found BYM motivating to continue her work.
Sarah co-founded the Ampersand Network a not-for-profit organisation increasing the number of university students who partake in volunteer work.
The mission of the Ampersand Network is to help create an enduring culture of social reciprocity. The Ampersand Network addresses three major obsticles to youth participation in volunteering: accessibility, appeal and awareness. The experience of volunteering can provide students with a perspective they might not otherwise gain from uni life, and may help to produce the more broad-minded, socially engaged and compassionate generation of leaders we will require to meet the challenges of the future.
Currently, Sarah is living and working for 12 months in Arusha, Tanzania as the Manager of an eco-friendly, children's village called Kesho Leo for the NGO foodwatershelterb(FWS). FWS builds and runs eco-friendly children's villages with education, social and health facilities for children in developing countries. FWS aims to enhance the current and future lives of these children so that they are better able to contribute to their community and enjoy their lives.
Greg is the President of the International Young Professionals Foundation. He previously co-founded what is one of the largest refugee tutoring programs in Australia, assisting thousands in the refugee community.
Greg is the current President of the International Young Professionals Foundation(IYPF). IYPF s a professional focused organisation that seeks to highlight the powerful position and influence Young Professionals have both inside corporations and through government, encourage Young Professionals to actively help make a difference, and improve the capacity of Young Professionals making a difference through information, knowledge, & connectivity. IYPF has members in over 130 different countries, and is responsible for running project such as the International Young Professionals Summit and MDG Pledge.
Previously, Gregory was the co-founder of VoRTCS, the largest refugee tutoring program in Australia. VoRTCS provided an in-home tutoring service for refugee families that assisted with English, school work and cultural adjustment. In the three years since starting the program has grown to include over 500 volunteer tutors that every week support thousands in the refugee community.
Greg has been acknowledged for his efforts by being invited as one of the very few young delegates to the primary Australia 2020 Summit, awarded with the Queenslander of the Year Community Spirit award(also a finalist of the Young Queenslander of the Year). And the Queensland University of Technology(QUT) Outstanding IT Young Alumni.
Alan has been the youngest and longest-serving Chair of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (Australia's national youth council), and was a finalist for the 2008 Young Australian of the Year Awards
Alan’s work as the youngest and longest-serving Chair of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition helped lead to the re-establishment, in 2007, of a federal Minister for Youth position – the first since early 2004 – and the announcement of $2million in new annual federal funding for the youth affairs peak and associated activities for young Australians.
Alan was also amongst the youngest invitees to the Prime Minister's Australia 2020 Summit. He was a finalist in the 2008 Young Australian of the Year Awards, and the recipient of the Australian Human Rights Commission's Young Person's Human Rights Commendation. More about Alan Wu.
Through BYM Melissa was inspired to create a project to recognise the positive contributions of young males in the community.
I remember it was 2.30am and I had just come across the Bright Young Minds website. I was excited to know that this was an initiative that brought together some of Australia’s ambitious young achievers.
Always a believer in creating my own opportunities rather than waiting for them to come by, at aged 19, I was building the foundations for an initiative I was passionate about - Best Catch - a project aiming to recognise the positive contributions young males make to our community and empowering them to break those negative stereotypes we are continually bombarded with in the media.
After applying and being selected in the top 100 at aged 21, BYM provided the platform and resources to further harvest social initiatives to make a significant impact. My experience ignited my pursuit to continue addressing the issues I was concerned about and reinvigorated my thirst to see change within our culture and communities. After leaving BYM, I worked hard on my own project and today at 23, I’m currently Managing Director of the Best Catch Foundation and lead a group of volunteers to not only reward those males who are inspirational and role models, but to engage the average bloke to contribute to their community.
My experience of BYM was fantastic. I was surrounded among Australia’s top young thinkers, introduced to new ideas and innovations, shared our passions and developed an incredibly valuable network. Today we are all still in contact and occasionally bump into each other at varying national conferences and events – it was a memorable time and recommend others to apply – just watch out for any funny banana actions – don’t worry, you’ll know exactly what I mean when you go.
Nicola started her own organisation that is fighting poverty on the ground in Uganda.
BYM connected me with people who share the similar values but who have different ideas about how to turn these values into action. This empowered me to think outside the square. The seminars and guest speakers enabled me to put these new thoughts into an organised plan of action. This has been extremely useful with the running of my organisation, One Village. While One Village was founded before BYM, it certainly took on a new dynamic following BYM.
In One Village's short history, it has empowered the community of Namwendwa in rural Uganda through sponsoring 32 girls through secondary school, HIV/AIDS community outreach programs, an agricultural program in the local primary school and so much more. One Village's greatest achievement is that every project has become a reality by the partnership, passion and hardwork of it's incredile Australian and Ugandan volunteers. Check out www.onevillage.org.au
