Lauren is an innovation strategist and project manager for CC Lab and has played an instrumental role in building the Collaborative Consumption brand and growing movement.

Lauren has worked with a range of cutting-edge organizations in the Social Innovation sector, including the Australian Social Innovation Exchange, the Brightest Young Minds Foundation and Vibewire Enterprise Hub. Prior to CC Lab, Lauren developed the strategy and implemented large-scale training and development rollouts for national firm BVN Architecture, coordinated marketing and sponsorship activities for Brisbane Riverfestival, and worked in corporate training and development with Performance Frontiers. She holds a Bachelor of Creative Industries and Graduate Certificate in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies from Queensland University of Technology.

Lauren is excited to be involved with Project Australia because of its dedication to providing support and opportunity for Australia's emerging social enterprises. She is passionate about literacy, innovation and dessert.

Ann is a shy woman, but will always want to help people. She has found that the best way for her is by doing volunteer works on something she is good at. Yes, that is bookkeeping, as she has a Masters Degree in Accounting from the University of Sydney and many years of financial experience in various industries and professions using various forms of accounting software. These days, Ann runs her own bookkeeping business, but she considers contributing her hours to PA’s bookkeeping some of her most valuable work. She likes drawing and painting and all art works in her house are self-made.

Larissa is a Eualeyai and Kamillaroi woman, academic and author. She is currently a Professor of Law and holds the Chair of Indigenous Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology in Sydney. Larissa’s first novel Home won the 2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize. Her latest novel, Legacy, was released in 2009 and won a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. She is also the author of several books on Indigenous legal issues. Larissa is a Land Commissioner at the Land and Environment Court, Alternate Chair of the Serious Offenders Review Board, a member of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia, and a founding member of the Australian Academy of Law. Larissa is a Board Member of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Chair of the Bangarra Dance Theatre. In 2009, she was named the NAIDOC Indigenous Person of the Year and in 2011 was named NSW Australian of the Year. Larissa’s support for Project Australia stems from her desire to see innovative approaches to the challenges we face usher in more equitable futures for all. She is passionate about human rights, contemporary art and all things Parisian.

Leonid is currently working as a graduate civil engineer at consulting firm AECOM. He has a double degree in civil and environmental engineering. He joined Project Australia because it seemed like a good opportunity to volunteer across a broad spectrum of projects. Leonid is passionate about volunteering, humanitarian engineering and social enterprises. He believes that private businesses can have a huge impact on society by implementing social responsibility programs within their organisations.

At the moment he spends his time working, playing sport (he likes all sport but at the moment he's practicing Krav Maga, yoga and goes to the gym when he can), he's also learning to play the guitar and trying to speak Russian as often as he can as it is his first language.

Matt is a software engineer, consultant and self-confessed nerd. By day he is a mild mannered research engineer with the Embedded Systems group at National ICT Australia. He has two bachelors degrees - one in science and one in arts, just to balance things out - and is currently studying for a PhD in computer science. His previous job titles include Software Developer, Festival Director and Cat Carer.

Matthew has worked with several not-for-profits and charities in the past including The University of Sydney Union, Amnesty International Australia, Taronga Zoo and The Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

He is involved with Project Australia because he sees a dramatic resource shortage (in terms of both time and money) in the not-for-profit sector and he thinks the world would be a nicer place if we helped each other out more. In his spare time he likes to read, go on picnics and pat felines.

Nick is into social marketing and community and international development. He runs his own consulting business and has worked with and for the Australian government, a multinational jeans company, global financial companies, UN agencies, a major university, development NGOs, a human rights agency, a mobile phone company, a silicon technology company and as a lobbyist in Canberra.

Long ago, Nick managed a student newspaper, worked in several bars and bookshops and as a milkman. He has worked throughout the Asia Pacific region, the Americas and Africa and travelled to over 40 countries. Nick is also a researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, working on social marketing and community development. He has an MBA (specialising in public policy) and a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Indonesian) with Honours (First Class). He is an alumnus of the Asialink Leaders Program, a member of the Asia Society’s Asia21 initiative, and an Asia Literacy Ambassador with the Asia Education Foundation.

Nick joined Project Australia because he believes in making it easier for people to do useful things and drive social change. He is passionate about Asia, running and dumplings.

Billy is a self-taught guy who likes funky ideas. When he’s not out for a run, he’s mocking up designs and develope funky UI at his site Devric.co.cc. He has a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Management and likes all things entrepreneurial. He's currently working on a project called Funkyid.com, a online identity for the creatives.

Billy got involved with PA as he’s Donnie’s neighbour and loves helping others start their dreams in creative ways. He’s passionate about blues and reggae, gadgets and freeline skating.

Jessie is an undergraduate studying psychology and law. She has worked as a sales, legal clerk and a drawing tutor, she has also committed to different charitable organisations for a long time and is especially experienced in working with children.

Jessie is passionate about fine arts, playing with kids and gaining some working experience in Australia, especially in the psychological field with children or the legal field. She is involved with Project Australia because she wishes to offer her skills and knowledge, and gaining wide diversity of experiences through PA, and hopes to make the community a better place to live in.

Steve has lived and worked in Sydney since 2004. Originally from the UK where he was an I.T. Systems Administrator and Trainer, he has also worked as a Technical Change Manager, Project Manager, and Technical Team Leader for a large I.T. services company. He has a Diploma in Health Counselling and certifications in Windows, Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino systems, ITIL v3 and group training techniques.

In his spare time Steve provides pro-bono technical support and consultancy to charities around Sydney, creating solutions for their ICT requirements.

He has been inspired by the valuable work performed by organisations such as L'Arche Sydney and Side By Side Advocacy in the fields of support and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities and dealing with mental health issues in young people. He is on the steering committee for the Spaghetti Network and believes Project Australia’s staff, experience and resources will be a perfect match to help the organisation achieve its goals.
Steve is passionate about:
- providing effective, relevant technology solutions to not-for-profit organisations.
- social equity and doing as much as possible to improve quality of life for people in Australia and overseas.
- making music with computers; so passionate in fact, that after twenty years he has yet to finish a song. He claims it’s due to his ‘extreme perfectionism’.

Donnie is an author, social innovator and advocate. In addition to running Project Australia he is co-founder of the Post Growth Institute.

Donnie has had a diverse past, having worked as an exercise physiologist and telephone counsellor, coordinator of a lobby group for Aboriginal justice and a team assisting Sydney’s homeless, a journalist at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, coach of the Fijian Sailing Team, an English and mathematics teacher in South Korea, event manager for The Great Australian Bike Ride (raising $250,000 for mental health research), and the global organiser for Free Money Day.

Through Project Australia he has consulted to over 50 community groups and he holds a PhD in Technology Studies. He is involved with Project Australia because he believes that starting good stuff in this country can be a whole lot easier, with just a little help. He is passionate about theatresports, asset-based community development, and flotation baths.

Connie Picos is currently an associate in a corporate advisory firm in Sydney, as well as consulting to a start-up in the healthcare sector. She is also currently enrolled in a Master of Commerce at The University of Sydney.

Connie has been involved in a broad range of financial services roles, including equities research, fund administration and consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Management), for which she was awarded the Dean's Medal, and has also recently completed her Juris Doctor from The University of Sydney.

Connie is excited to be involved in Project Australia because she believes in its enormous potential to shape the social innovation landscape of Australia, and is passionate about growing its reputation as an integral hub of resources and support in this space.

Connie is passionate about life-long learning and continually looks to build her skills and knowledge. When she is not immersed in study, she enjoys playing tennis and is learning to sail J24s. She is also supportive of drama and contemporary art, and is currently an MCA Young Ambassador.

AJ Tennant is a creative copywriter in marketing and advertising, working for communication agency Imagination.

As well as providing creative insights and communications for Project Australia he works on films and online projects with various performance groups. He shares his love for film as a reviewer on radio and works on radio plays whenever possible. A reformed actor, he has turned his back on the stage but continues to write comedy by the bucketload.

He started working with Project Australia for a laugh but soon found love as he discovered the wonderful work they are doing. If he were anywhere else doing anything else, he would be a spear-fisherman on a tropical island, preferably one without a volcano.

Laurie is sometimes known as a software engineer, code monkey or entrepreneur. He current works for a fledgling startup which has expertise in communications systems and is also developing sustainable technologies for agriculture.

Laurie joined PA to help people and organisations to communicate and collaborate to improve the communities in which they live. He is passionate about non-profit technology, trying to 'be the change', and surviving 90 minutes on the soccer field.

Rhiannon is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Communications course (majoring in Public Relations) at the University of Newcastle. She runs a leadership network in Newcastle called Livewire - connecting and motivating young leaders to use the most of their abilities and position.

Rhiannon works casually as a baby ballet teacher, and also as a barista in a quiet cafe located within a nursery! She is passionate about rowing, photography and naming inanimate objects such as her car.

Rhiannon joined the Project Australia team because she loves the work that the organisation does; aiding people in seeing their ideas become reality is something that she loves to see and be a part of.