The Brightest Young Minds Foundation aims to foster a new model of leadership in the up and coming generation of young Australians. Learning the lessons from the successes and failures of the ungrounded idealism of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and then a total swing to the other end of the spectrum with the unbridled cynicism and greed of the 1980’s and 1990’s, it is now time for our generation to offer a balanced model. BYM promotes the idea that it is possible to be both successful, powerful and responsible economic agents, as well as significant change artists affecting the pressing social issues facing Australia and beyond, while helping the people and communities who need uplifting.

To do this, the BYM Foundation annually brings together the 100 brightest, most dynamic and creative 18-25 year olds from all disciplines (from Science to Politics to the Arts) for a 5 day life changing event where they are instilled with this new ethos. At the national BYM Summit, the delegates connect with each other, some of Australia’s leading visionaries, and Australia’s leading socially responsible corporations and organisations. The next BYM Summit will be held 6-10 July in Sydney.

The purpose of the BYM summit is to allow these exceptional individuals to collaborate on the development of new social initiatives which they will ultimately launch and run themselves. From the summit and involvement in its initiatives, these 100 Brightest Young Minds are inspired by what they can achieve for themselves and for others, but are also grounded and cognoscente of how difficult change is to bring about. They will lead with discipline and commitment but most importantly success. They will lead by example and be emulated by others, setting off a ripple effect across Australia’s youth.

The BYMs of the 2007 Inaugural Australian Summit are already blazing a trail for others to follow. Below are a few of the initiatives they have launched:

• The Bipolar Expedition: an expedition to both the North and South Poles undertaken by sufferers of bipolar disorder, accompanied by a support team of clinicians and trek experts. The expedition will be recorded as a documentary, with the aims being to increase public awareness of the disease and to generate support for curative research. www.bipolarexpedition.org
  
  
• Adopt a Community/Village: a programme whereby large commercial organisations ‘adopt’ an underprivileged community/ village, and assist it towards social and economic development.
  
  
• Young Women's Development Network: This network has been adopted by UNIFEM and will provide the premier opportunity for young Australian women to actively engage with aid and development issues, and make a positive contribution to the lives of their counter-parts in the developing world.

At BYM we want the brightest Australia has to offer. Strong academics show you are bright but that isn’t enough; BYM is about more than just academics. If you can lead or influence others, if you are creative and can come up with ideas that others can’t, if you are committed to social causes and have made an impact, or if you just believe you should be part of the group and can back it up, we encourage you to apply for our 2008 Summit