Channel leaders brave the cold at CEO Sleepout

The eleventh edition of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout took place on the night of 23 June in 12 Australian cities.

This year the initiative raised in excess of $5.4 million with more than 1,400 CEOs participating across the country.

According to St Vincent de Paul Society acting chief executive Dianne Lucas, almost 60 percent of the people that access its homeless services are women and children - and this year more females executives are participating in the Sleepout.

CRN caught up with some of the technology leaders participating this year.

Lenovo managing director Matt Codrington

"This is my fourth year. Last year was really tough with the weather. So coming back this year is a big commitment. I can't imagine what is like for those who suffer through a long period.

"It really is about raise awareness, recognise that 100,000 people that are homeless and how we support a great charity like St. Vincents to address that. I think we are largely unaware of the issue."

Codrington is the NSW technology executive who has raised the largest amount of money so far, with more than $30,000.

Enablis chief executive Jon Evans

"Tonight is the night when I get a small reminder of what it could be like to be homeless - but without the risks and only for one night. Can you begin to imagine what it must be like to find yourself in this situation?"

Staples Australia head of technology Karl Sice

Sice said the St Vincent's CEO Sleepout highlights "that each night around Australia over 105,000 people do not have a place to call home".

"Vinnies’ service staff and volunteers know the importance of reaching people at risk of homelessness early, affording them the strongest chance of staying housed. Or if they are experiencing homelessness finding a place to call home. Vinnies provides both crisis accommodation and wrap around services; we stay with people on their journey, however long, ensuring they have the skills and support to keep their tenancy. Each year Vinnies helps over 1.8 million people.

"The technology industry has been partnering with Vinnies for a number of years now and the number of attendees from industry in 2016 demonstrates the continued passion felt."

Last year, several representatives from industry, including Matt Codrington from Lenovo, Kate Burleigh from Intel and Karl Sice from Staples formed a Tech Advisory Board serving Vinnies that resulted in several big technology process and structural initiatives being expedited.

Telstra Business regional general manager Angela Lovegrove

Empired managing director Russell Baskerville

"Sleeping outside doesn’t put us in the shoes of Australia’s homeless community, but the experience was eye opening to the issues they face every day. Empired is proud to have been a major sponsor of the CEO Sleepout and to have 25 of our people volunteering at the events nationally. We look forward to growing a close relationship with St Vincent's."

Montech Holdings director Michael Pollak

"This is the second year that I’m doing the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Helping assist Australia’s homeless is a cause close to my heart, and I personally got a tremendous amount out of last year’s Sleepout.

"I think Vinnies does a fantastic job, not only raising important awareness about the unacceptable state of homelessness in Australia, but also their work in funding vital services to help thousands of men, women and children on a daily basis.

"I am honoured to be part of a charity that helps change the lives of so many Australians who are in need of assistance."

Virtunet managing director Martin Kosasih

"Being born in Indonesia where there’s a big socio-economic gap, I have witnessed poverty growing up. Sitting in an air-conditioned luxury car, I could see homeless people sleeping on the dirt in scorching hot sun at arm’s length. I often wonder how they feel and how I can help, but I could only watch as a child.

"Now I have a very strong team in my business supporting my every goal, and I’m confident that we can achieve great things as long as we put focus into it."

RXP Services: Kevin Brough, Wayne Cottis, Paul Stewart, Stephen Wayne and Alex Bullen

Bulletproof chief executive Anthony Woodward

"2016 will be my fifth consecutive CEO Sleepout and there are a few reasons I keep coming back to this event. Homelessness is a tragedy, something that can happen to anyone as a result of a few pieces of bad luck or it can be a result of fleeing domestic violence. It's tragic that there are people in Australia who experience homelessness and I want to help reduce these statistics. Everyone should have somewhere safe and warm to call home each night.

"As the CEO of Bulletproof, it's my job to rally the troops. For previous CEO Sleepouts I've sung at our Christmas party and wore an onesie to work (and external meetings). This year I cooked breakfast for the team, putting on a spread including bacon and eggs, various pastries and fresh fruit to help me hit my fundraising target.

"It's a cause I'm passionate about and that I'm proud to support each year with the Bulletproof team. Experiencing some mild discomfort and a night sleeping on the streets is a small price to pay if it helps combat homelessness and inequality."

Schneider Electric zone president Gareth O'Reilly

"This the eighth time I do this. It is a great event and I am happy to support it.

"There are so many good causes out there. Homelessness just feels wrong but it exists on such a level in a country that has got so many resources as we do. There is also so many causes behind it domestic violence is one of the biggest ones. I feel that everybody in the community need to talk about more and businesses need to engage in these problems we've got to solve."

The Missing Link security practice director Aaron Bailey and security consultant Sam Marshall

Avnet ANZ general manager Darren Adams

Expert360 chief executive Bridget Loudon

"I was 19 when I first sat down and had a coffee with a homeless man. As you sit there and talk with someone sleeping rough, you realise that all it takes is a few unfortunate events to go from having a roof over your head to living on the street.

"We all have varying degrees of fall back options as we navigate a sometimes unforgiving world. These men and women have simply just worked through their fall back options, or had none at all from the start.

"It is more important than ever that we do what we can to help the more than 100,000 Australians suffering from homelessness each night. Nothing is too much or too little. Whether you’re able to make a donation or simply offer a kind gesture, such as a cup of coffee or bit of conversation, we can all do our part in ensuring all Australians are treated with dignity and respect.”

Expert360 chief operating officer Emily Yue

"I have always admired the charity and advocacy that Vinnie's provides for the homeless. The CEO Sleepout has been something I've wanted to do for a long time.

"I believe it's important that we address the immediate needs of those at risk, but also focus on the support required to address more endemic social, health and economic challenges that drive homelessness in the first case.

"Charity has always been an important focus for me, both overseas and at home. By participating in the CEO Sleepout, I hope to bring awareness to the challenges the homeless face and inspire others to take action, however big or small, to support others in their community. There's something we all can do."

Sententia sales director Tony Vizza

"I chose to undertake the CEO Sleepout because for a long time now I have strongly advocated for our society to address social inequality and homelessness. It was time to match my advocacy with direct action and lead by example to create awareness amongst family, friends and professional colleagues.

"It pains me to know that we have brothers and sisters sleeping on the streets, even more so that so many children and teenagers are doing it rough. As the father to a young child, knowing this is especially difficult to accept, give we belong in a modern and developed society. I feel there is absolutely no place for homelessness full stop.

"I felt it was a very worthwhile cause and have been inspired to act by those who have preceded me in this, in particular Jon Evans from Enablis who has been doing the sleepout for a number of years now and who we work with, encourage and support in this endeavour."

Coevolve chief executive Tim Sullivan

"I do this because I've been very fortunate and is only by doing this that you actually realise how lucky you are and how unfortunate others are.

"The homeless problem is significantly larger than everybody realises and have the opportunity to give so I gave my time."

Former UXC Connect chief executive Ian Poole

AT&T managing director Martin Creighan

"I have been in Australia for over 18 years and prior to me living in Australia I was in the US Navy for almost 10 years. During my time in the Navy I had the opportunity to visit over 110 countries all around the world. Some of the countries I have visited have epidemic portions of homelessness and poverty. I also started to notice that even here in this wonderfully rich country I was seeing more and more homelessness.

"Last year I had the opportunity to join the CEO Sleepout fundraising team and not only did my knowledge of the homelessness situation here in Australia increase but I had taken the first step to taking action to help fight a growing challenge here in Australia.

"Over 17 percent of our homeless are under the age of 17, woman and girls make up 59 percent of people turning to homeless services and the fastest growing group among the homeless are women over the age of 55. I couldn't imagine my mother, sisters, and aunts facing homelessness when they should be planning for retirement."

AGC Networks vice president Tony Heywood

Polycom ANZ managing director Tony Simonsen

"This will be my third sleepover, and I’m sure it won’t be my last! The CEO Sleepout is a great initiative and I am proud that I can be a part of it. I have just briefly experienced how it feels to sleep outside without the warmth and security of a home, something that we can so easily take for granted.

"We have responsibility to help put an end to the cycle of homelessness and to provide assistance to the 105,000 people who sleep rough every night. By participating, I hope I can help focus the spotlight on this issue as well as raise much needed funds to help build a brighter future for those in need."

PowerNet founder Jacob Ohlson

"Every Thursday at 5:45am I ride my pushbike through Woolloomooloo to my networking group and on this ride I continue to be taken aback by the large number of people sleeping rough under the bridge. I see the same images as I ride regularly through Belmore Park opposite central station (Sydney) and it saddens me with the number of people living in tents. In fact, Sydney has homelessness everywhere and we need to make changes.

"As these images are refreshed regularly, I continue to think about how lucky I am to have a loving family and a family who I love dearly. I feel a calling that I personally need to help as much as I can. The CEO sleep out is a really great starting point, and I’m willing to get uncomfortable for one night to sleep in the rain if needed!

"Taking part in this event again I hope to help raise awareness and to raise the profile of homelessness."

InfoTrack chief executive John Ahern

BigHand Software managing director Anthony Bleasdale

NICE managing director Gerry Tucker

"This is my third time. The first time I participated I spoke to a homeless person, who told me he was an IT manager in a financial institution in New Zealand and he lost his job, his relationship ended and in 12 months he was on the street.

"You are only ever a few steps away from this situation."

Acresta founder Fadi Geha

"My first experience of meeting a homeless person was in London 16 years ago when I was on a business trip and happened to be walking down Oxford street a young boy asked 'Can you spare some coins, sir?' I noticed that there were two boys sitting in the corner and he said he was hungry and so was his friend.

"I ran across the road, bought two McDonald’s Big Mac Meals and came back and handed them one each. I asked them if they needed anything else and why they don’t go to a shelter or go back home and the answer wasn’t forthcoming. After a short conversation the other boy explained that whereever they go, they get treated badly.. Enough said!

"The lack of decent shelter back then, in one of the world’s leading cities, was a huge wake up call for me. I feel the Vinnies CEO Sleepout helps raise the profile of homelessness and also educate the public of the issue at hand."