Media releases
Westpac partners with China Australia Millennial Project
23 February 2015
Westpac will partner with the China Australia Millennial Project (CAMP) to bring together 200 young innovators aged 18 to 35 years from across China and Australia to tackle challenges common to both countries, including global talent and digital disruption.
Supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New South Wales Government, Westpac and CAMP will engage young leaders across both countries and provide a platform to connect, do business and solve problems.
“CAMP aims to bring together some of the brightest young minds from China and Australia into a number of different Thinktanks to form a collaborative bilateral hothouse for creative solutions to universal problems,” CAMP founder Andrea Myles said.
“We’re delighted that through the Digital Disruption Thinktank, Westpac is helping to kick-start game-changing new digital products that may have bilateral applications and markets. Westpac’s Global Talent ThinkTank will also explore exciting new ways to support and leverage multicultural, multinational teams.”
“As well as great cross-cultural skills and connections and the chance to get financial support for their ideas, participants will gain practical skills by developing and implementing an idea from concept through to reality,” she said.
As part of the program, Westpac’s Digital Disruption and Global Talent Thinktanks will comprise a three-month online component mentored by thought leaders from Westpac, followed by an intensive 5 day face-to-face Summit being staged as part of Sydney’s VIVID Ideas Festival from 1 to 5 June 2015.
At the end of the program, participants will have the chance to pitch their ideas directly to Westpac for capital investment as well as participating in a general pitch on 5 June to venture capitalists in front of a public audience.
Participants will also benefit from training in cross-cultural awareness and form valuable networks with their Chinese peers, delivering long-term career benefits as Australia takes part in the Asian Century.
As part of the partnership Damien MacRae, General Manager Westpac Premium Banking, will join CAMP’s advisory board to provide strategic direction and commercial insight to the program.
Mr MacRae said: “Westpac is proud to partner with this fantastic initiative and I look forward to meeting with young leaders from CAMP who will create a blueprint for bilateral relations and help Australia and China develop strong bonds between our leading talent to drive change.
“Westpac, like our customers, knows that innovation is the engine of growth and is vital for sustained performance in a rapidly changing, digital economy. We are looking for delegates to develop innovative solutions in collaboration with industry to real world problems with a real world market.
“The 12-week program will bring together the best and brightest young leaders from Australia and China, help foster mutual cultural understanding as well as providing delegates an exceptional professional development program designed to stretch their creative problem solving and innovation skills,” he said.
Andrew Whitford, Westpac’s Head of Greater China, said connecting with the next generation of innovative leaders is aligned to Westpac’s own strategy, supporting the Australia-China corridor.
“We are strong supporters of the China Australian relationship. Between our two countries, the appetite to do business together has never been stronger. We need to better understand how to leverage ‘global talent’ to help us succeed.
“We recognise that a diverse and globally talented workforce will help build greater interactions and customer flows from Asia and China, which will deliver a big component of our future growth,” he said.
CAMP applications are open for people aged 18 to 35 years of age from Australia and China who believe they possess the drive, passion and willingness to expand their horizons and collaborate. Details can be found at www.australiachina.org. The closing date for applications is 28th February.
For more information about applying to CAMP, please go to www.australiachina.org.
For further information:
Gemma Pitcher
China Australia Millennial Project
gemma@australiachina.org
Mobile: 0434 865 441
Supreet Thomas
Westpac Retail & Business Banking
sthomas@westpac.com.au
Mobile: 0478 314 102