Date: Wednesday 24 February 2010
Location: Sunshine Coast

Kick off 2010 with the inspirational story behind one of Australia 's best known philanthropists and entrepreneurs, David Bussau AM.

David has been hailed for his innovative approach to solving world poverty. He challenged the conventional wealth redistribution model of development by pioneering a unique process known as micro enterprise development (MED), addressing the root causes of poverty through responsible wealth creation.

He is the co-founder of Opportunity International (OI), an organisation that provides small loans to budding entrepreneurs in 27 developing countries, empowering them to start or expand their own small businesses.

David is a successful entrepreneur who commenced his business career at 15 with a rented hotdog stand. Twenty years later, at the age of 35 and with numerous successful businesses to his credit, he "retired", having reached what he refers to as the "economics of enough".

Recognising that the key to building any small business is access to credit, Opportunity International has distributed over one million loans since it began nearly 30 years ago. Opportunity International Australia currently focuses its work in three countries – India, Indonesia and the Philippines, serving close to 1.4 million people with microfinance and community development programs.

This interview style event will provide great insights into David's remarkable story and the entrepreneurial lessons he has to share with managers incorporating the launch of the 2010 AIM Sunshine Coast Management Excellence Awards.

Speaker Profile

David Bussau has spent the last 35 years eradicating poverty in third world countries through economic empowerment. His ground level experiences in disaster relief led him to form an organisation that provides small loans to the poor, working to fuel local business and transform communities.

Applying business thinking and entrepreneurial principles, David pioneered a methodology that gave poor people the means to live sustainably, provide for their families and transform their own lives based on providing hand ups, not hand outs.

David was awarded the Order of Australia for services to International Development in 2001 and named Senior Australian of the Year 2008.

David was the first social entrepreneur to be awarded the Ernst & Young Australian Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has also featured the ABC television series "Australian Story”.

This interview style event will provide great insights into David's remarkable story and the entrepreneurial lessons he has to share with managers.

Read more about David