Eastern Volunteers Business Booster Breakfast with Simon McKeon

The Eastern Volunteers Business Booster Breakfasts are designed to connect business with community organisations to foster mutually beneficial partnerships. This morning Eastern Volunteers held its final Business Booster Breakfast for 2011, featuring Simon McKeon, the 2011 Australian of the Year.

The Bendigo Community Bank branches of Heathmont, Mooroolbark, Mt Evelyn and Ringwood East are the major sponsors of the Business Booster Breakfasts. In addition the November event was supported by Maroondah City Council, Irabina Childhood Autism Services, Melba Support Services and the Monkami Centre.

I served as Master of Ceremonies for the Eastern Volunteers Business Booster Breakfast, ensuring that the event ran to schedule and introduced each of the speakers. As Master of Ceremonies I also concluded the proceedings and acknowledged participants through encouraging them to support community based partnerships.

Simon, has extensive business experience, as Executive Chairman of Macquarie Group’s Melbourne office and  a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Simon also has involvement in the community, as a member of the Big Issue Advisory Board and Red Dust Role Models.

The Business Booster Breakfast was attended by almost 150 guests, who heard Simon discuss the need for businesses to actively support and work with community organisations. Simon’s presentation coincided with the launch of the New Business Community Partnership website, which was developed through Syneka.

Syneka provided strategic advice on how to create the website and ensure that businesses could identify relevant community organisations. The website will provide an ongoing resource to connect businesses and community organisations in the development of mutually valuable projects.

Simon was an excellent speaker to conclude the 2011 Business Booster Breakfasts and the series will be returning in 2012.