Our vision is to change the world! Well… maybe not the whole world. But certainly
some of it! Through connecting people with the charities and causes that are closest
to their hearts (whether it be starving children in Africa or a soup kitchen down
the street) we hope to make charitable acts part of our everyday lives.
Instead of giving platters, socks, photo frames and other useless gifts our initiative
allows companies and individuals to give the gift of Charity Gift Vouchers. This
Charitable voucher can be sent to families or friends, customers or colleagues,
empowering them to give the donation to the charities they care about most. In short;
our aim is to make Karma Currency the most soulful, meaningful, environmentally
friendly and enjoyable gift you can give. The gift that 'spreads the love'.
And now with the Largest Gift Registry in the Southern Hemisphere you can spread
the love even further with a Charitable Gift Registry.
We believe that "what goes around comes around". If we look after our staff - they
will look after us. If we support other charities - they will support us. If we
hero our Corporate Sponsors - they will hero us. It's really that simple.
Each year over $1 billion is wasted on unwanted gifts that end up in the closet,
in storage and ultimately in landfill. But imagine a gift that could save a child,
protect a forest, find a cure, educate a mind, aid the arts, spur on spirituality
or perform countless other wonderful acts. Well we have come up with such a gift
and it's called Karma Currency - Australia's first Charity Gift Certificate.
The charities that deliver the 'directed gifts' have all signed legal agreements
that state that their Directed Gift will accurately reflect the nature of the goods
and services they provide and prominently state any qualifications, conditions or
exclusions associated with that Directed Gift. In other words, you know where your
money goes. And that's great karma!
Karma Currency's board sets policy and strategic goals that guide Karma Currency's
operations.
Ashley Rosshandler - Founder and Director
Working in advertising and selling 2-minute-noodles left Ashley feeling a little
low on good karma. But one day, when invited to an engagement party, Ashley and
his wife wondered if it would be nice to give the happy couple a 'goat' in Africa.
But what if they weren't into goats? Maybe they were into saving forests, or rescuing
animals, or finding cures or education or the arts or any number of worthwhile causes?
That's when the idea dawned on them for Charity Gift Vouchers. And they haven't
looked back since! In his spare time Ashley studies for an MBA at Monash and enjoys
spending every free moment with his new child.
Matt Kuperholz
Matt Kuperholz was formally trained in Actuarial and Computer Sciences at Melbourne
university. His technical skills in these fields have been honed and expanded
over more than 15 years consulting to top-tier companies to make him an expert in
advanced data analytics. As the owner and director of Matt Kuperholz Consultancy
he specializes in assisting his clients with realizing maximum value in data assets
through the application of artificial intelligence software and other sophisticated
data mining techniques. Matt holds a position of Principal with Deloittes,
a company he has partnered with for over 5 years, where he is integral to the development
of their data analytics business. Matt is also a director and owner of SOS
Guard, a company that has developed and is marketing an innovative hardware and
software solution which provides its users with a personal electronic emergency
medical record device.
Nicholas Weston - Chairman
Nick Weston is a lawyer in private practice with Collins Street, Melbourne firm Nicholas Weston. Nick also serves as chairman of ASX listed biopharma, Agenix Limited [ASX:AGX; NASDAQ OTC: AGXLY].
Nick has strong experience in several practice areas with a focus on commercial law, brands and litigation. Nick Weston is also a registered Trade Marks Attorney. He is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center’s List of Arbitrators and Mediators and also the Center’s Domain Name Panel.
From 1983, Nick was a professional rower, a member of the Australian Rowing Team in 1989 and a Finallist in the LW4- at the World Rowing Championships, in Bled, Yugoslavia.
Nick is kind to small children and fluffy animals.
Phillip Aarons - Secretary
Philip Aarons graduated from Monash University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Economics
(including a major in Accounting). Since graduating he has concentrated his career
in the Financial Services industry working for Arthur Andersen Consulting followed
by ANZ.
Philip is currently employed by NAB (nabCapital) after joining the organisation
in 1998. Whilst qualified in Accounting, Philip has focused on Information Technology.
Philip is a qualified CPA, Centre of Excellence in Information Technology. He is
also a registered Tax Agent. Philip is in his very early forties, is married with
two children and lives in Melbourne and sometimes out on Port Philip Bay on his
jet ski.
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner is the General Counsel and Company Secretary of ASX listed SMS
Management & Technology Limited, an IT consulting and services business
(ASX:SMX).
Prior to joining SMS, Sarah was a barrister at the Victorian Bar before
which she worked as Legal Counsel at BlueScope Steel Limited. She spent four
years in London primarily dealing mergers and acquisitions and IT. She
commenced her career as a lawyer in the Melbourne office of Corrs Chambers
Westgarth.
Sarah has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate
Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. She has been admitted to practice
by the High and Federal Courts of Australia, the Supreme Courts of Victoria,
New South Wales, and Tasmania and the Courts of England and Wales. She is a
member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Australian Corporate Lawyers
Association, the Law Society of England and Wales and Chartered Secretaries
Australia.
Dion Hershan —MBA, BCom, BA
Head of Australian Equities
Dion joined Goldman Sachs JBWere Asset Management (GSJBWAM) in July 2007 as Head
of Australian Equities. He is responsible for managing the Australian Equities team
and the equities investment process. Dion transitioned into this role from the Proprietary
Trading area of Goldman Sachs JBWere where he commenced in 2006.
Before joining Goldman Sachs JBWere, Dion spent a number of years in New York as
a Fund Manager at Citadel Investment Group where he managed a long/short portfolio.
Previously he worked as an Analyst and Fund Manager for Boston-based Fidelity Investments,
where he was responsible for managing a diversified fund. Before moving to the US,
Dion worked at Boston Consulting Group where he undertook financial and quantitative
analysis, project and client account management.
Dion has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and
a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School, New York.
Dr Judith Slocombe
Dr Judith Slocombe is CEO of the children's charity The Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
The foundation provides support for children who are victims of violent crime or
sudden family loss as well as running programs to address the serious issue of bullying
in schools. Judith also holds numerous directorships, including the Open Universities
Australia, Agriculture Victoria Services, is Chairman of the Animal Welfare League
of Victoria (Lord Smith Animal Hospital). She has an MBA from the Melbourne Business
School. Judith has also been awarded the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the
Year and in 2003 she was awarded a centenary medal for service to Australian society
in business leadership.
John Dalziel
John Dalziel was the Communications Director of The Salvation Army for 15 years
prior to his retirement in 2006. His background is in marketing and for 27 years,
prior to his work for the Salvos he was involved in advertising. He was the Managing
Director for Dalziel Harper and Grey Advertising and Founder and joint owner of
Grey Buchan Public Relations. The clients he worked on included Transport Accident
Commission, Mars, State Bank and The Salvation Army. He sold his advertising and
public relations businesses to work full time for the Salvos and thus brought together
the two great interests in his life; working for the alleviation of injustice and
poverty and communication of ideas.
Denis Tracey
Deputy Director, Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment BA (ANU) Denis Tracey
is Deputy Director of Philanthropy and Social Investment at Swinburne University
of Technology, Melbourne. His previous appointments have included: 1996-99: Founding
CEO of Family Business Australia, a national not-for-profit member-based organisation
offering advice and services to family-owned businesses association of family-owned
businesses. 1997-98: Founding Executive Officer of the Melbourne Community Foundation,
an independent public foundation that enables and encourages individuals, families
and corporations to set up philanthropic funds to benefit the community.
The Karma Currency Foundation would be but a dream if not for the support of our
wonderful sponsors. Please feel free to support them as they have supported us.
