International anti-poverty organisation Global Citizen announced the appointments of sustainability specialist Terence Jeyaretnam and social entrepreneur Anna Robson to its Australian Board of Directors.

Jeyaretnam is a Partner at Ernst & Young (EY) in the Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice, as well as EY Australia’s Reconciliation Leader, while Robson is Co-founder and CEO of Refugee & Migrant Talent – Australia’s first national refugee and migrant employment platform facilitating sustainable employment.

These new appointments are part of the organisation’s move to further their goals in 2021, which they consider is a critical year for the delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This, as COVID-19 has pushed millions of people further into extreme poverty and the world seeks solutions to the climate crisis.

“I am honoured to be joining the Australian Board of Global Citizen. Environmental and climate impacts are not only disproportionately impacting the poor and vulnerable communities, but contributing to affecting ecosystems and food bowls, putting further strain on our common goal to eradicate poverty,” said Terence Jeyaretnam, who brings with him over twenty-five years’ experience advising governments and corporations on sustainability issues.

Prior to joining EY, Terence founded Net Balance in 2006. Before it was acquired by EY in 2014, he succeeded in growing the firm to Australia’s largest standalone sustainability and climate change advisory service. Net Balance was twice rated by BRW as one of the Fast 100 growth companies in Australia.

Jeyaretnam is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, having migrated to Australia under humanitarian status from Sri Lanka in the mid ‘80’s.

Meanwhile, Anna Robson said she was excited for the appointment and the chance to further the organisation’s mission.

“I am excited to join Global Citizen’s Australian Board and contribute to the organisation’s much-needed work towards encouraging all Australians to take actions that help meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which ultimately improve conditions for all human beings and the planet we live on.”

Robson has helped connect more than 25,000 refugees and migrants globally and within Australia to over 600 employers nationally, via her social enterprise Refugee and Migrant Talent since it was launched in 2015.

In 2017, she was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia: Social Entrepreneurs.

The new board members join existing directors, Hon. Mary Wooldridge (Chair), Ian Allen AM, Trish Daley, Professor Linda Kristjanson AO and Natasha Stott Despoja AO.

“With less than ten years remaining to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – the framework for ending extreme poverty – we need countries such as Australia to step up to ensure these goals are met. Due to COVID-19, more people have been pushed into extreme poverty and many global efforts have stalled or regressed. This means that the urgency and need to act is more important than ever. We are delighted to be welcoming the breadth of experience from Terence and Anna to ensure we expand our efforts in Australia and be an effective champion for the world’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Mary Wooldridge, Chair of Global Citizen Australia.