Telco Together Foundation has announced that Mr Michael Stanley has been appointed to the role of Chair, following the decision by founding Chair Mr Vaughan Bowen to step down from the role at the Foundation’s Annual General Meeting last week.
Mr Stanley says: “Having been involved with Telco Together since 2014 it is an honour to take on the Chair role following the outstanding contributions of Vaughan Bowen. It is an exciting time for the Telco Together Foundation with strategy evolution,and I’m excited to work alongside our members and other Directors to maximise the industry’s philanthropic contributions across Australia.”
Mr Bowen was the founding Chair of the Foundation. Having recognised the power and potential of the telco industry to help disadvantaged Australians, he seed-fund the Foundation’s establishment to make the vision of a collaborative industry endeavour a reality.
Founding CEO Renee Bowker, who continues to work alongside Mr Bowen as Executive Director on the Foundation Board says: “It’s been a privilege and an honour working with Vaughan in the establishment and growth of Telco Together. His passion and drive for the causes we support, and for the concept of an industry being drawn together to make a difference in the community has been such a key part of what we’ve achieved over the last seven years.”
Since launch, Telco Together has raised over $2.4 million for charity, in addition to generating operational funds. The Foundation has facilitated 5,100 hours of volunteer time by telco staff, and delivered strategic projects including Small Change Big Change, which enables customers to donate via their monthly bills.
Mr Bowen says: “It’s been a true privilege to serve as Telco Together Foundation Chair from our humble beginnings to the point where today we are clearly positioned as the telco industry’s united charitable vehicle, having raised millions for Australians in need and mobilised collective industry initiatives previously not imagined possible. I’m humbled to have been re-elected as a Telco Together Foundation Board member once again at our recent AGM and look forward to continuing to do my part as a Director, supporting our outstanding new Chairman, Michael Stanley and the Telco Together team in continuing to build upon the platform created over the last seven years.”
Mr Stanley has been on the Board of Telco Together as a Director for the past two years, after representing Vodafone on the Foundation’s Advisory Board prior. Mr Michael Stanley is a widely respected member of both the telecommunications and philanthropic communities, having spent twelve years as HR Director of Vodafone across NZ, UK and Australia, as well as over five years on the Vodafone Foundation Board.
