Finance industry CEOs to take part in Vinnies CEO Sleepout

The 16th annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout will take place across the country as a combination of live events as well as a virtual event for people sleeping in their backyards, cars or couches throughout the states.

Leaders in business, community and government will sleep without shelter on one of the longest nights of the year to help raise money and awareness to change the lives of Australians experiencing homelessness.

The fundraising evening aims to help the charity reach its fundraising goal of $8 million.

Among the participants sleeping outside to raise funds for the homelessness charity are several members of the finance and mortgage industry, including:

• Brad Cramb, Aussie CEO distribution (the Lendi Group)
• David Hyman, Lendi Group CEO
• Jamie Osborn, GetCapital CEO
• Jean-Pierre Gortan, Simplicity Loans & Advisory director 
• Phil White, QBE Lenders Mortgage Insurance CEO
• Yanir Yakutiel, Lumi CEO

Representatives from lenders are also taking part in the sleepout, such as teams from ANZ branches and Westpac private bank in the gold coast.

Speaking to The Adviser about his participation for the third year in a row, Lumi CEO Yanir Yakutiel said: “The CEO Sleepout isn’t just about raising money or awareness. It’s a genuinely humbling experience that reminds business leaders what is actually important in life.

“You don’t ‘feel good’ after – sleeping without shelter on a long, cold night is not something you can enjoy.

“But it gives you a bit of perspective on what it must be like to face that situation involuntarily.

“Yes, we return to our warm houses and soft beds the next day, but I can guarantee that our thoughts will be on how we can make the world a better place because of the experience,” he said.

Those wishing to support the sleepout can donate via ceosleepout.org.au

*The Vinnies CEO Sleepout Perth event will be held on 24 June 2021.

[Related: Mortgage industry among top bushfire appeal donors]