SIFE Deloitte Partnership

Zoe Nagara

The University of Melbourne SIFE is proud to announce a new partnership with Deloitte, beginning in May 2009. Facilitated by Jonathan Kress, the former SIFE President in 2006 who is currently an analyst at Deloitte Private, and Matthew Schofield, a partner with Deloitte’s Assurance and Advisory department, and lead partner for the Deloitte Melbourne University Campus Team, the partnership has secured for the team two new Business Advisory Board members, monetary sponsorship, and ongoing in-kind support. This relationship is built upon a mutual recognition of each organisation’s core values and demonstrates Deloitte’s commitment to identifying and investing in top talent, strengthening corporate social responsibility, and making a positive impact in the community.

As the fastest growing Big 4 firm and Accounting Firm of the Year (CFO, 2008) in Australia, Deloitte strives to maintain a close relationship with core student bodies of leading universities, who recognise the firm as the employer of choice. Through this partnership with SIFE, Deloitte is promoting its corporate conscience by supporting a sustainable, not-for-profit student organisation of which a number of their employees are alumni. Deloitte’s people will be actively involved in the program in a mentoring capacity, sharing their expertise with the team and opting to work on projects that match their own skill-sets and interests. SIFE’s project portfolio is well-aligned with three key areas that Deloitte’s charity arm, the Deloitte Foundation supports – community welfare, education and the environment. As well as empowering the community through outreach initiatives, SIFE places the professional and personal development of its members as a high priority.

Deloitte are showing their support for SIFE through active participation and sponsorship. The board will be strengthened by new members, Jonathan Kress, and Director of the Innovation Program, Hafeez Bana, whose extensive consulting experience will enhance the board’s capacity to provide strategic advice for projects. Funding will be used to support the project portfolio, to provide professional training workshops for student members, and to subsidise National Conference expenditure.

As a partner of the University of Melbourne SIFE, Deloitte will join a global network of over 2000 universities in 48 countries, and will help to inspire a new generation of socially responsible leaders. This network fosters considerable knowledge transfer between business leaders, academics and students, a process that is integral to the SIFE program. SIFE’s corporate partners believe in securing a future led by ethical leaders with a broad worldview and a commitment to improving communities around the world.