Youth Advocate Claims University Honour
11 April 2014 at 4:59 pm
Not for Profit leader Jan Owen has been recognised with an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Sydney for her influence on public policy and the way institutions and organisations engage with young people.
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| Foundation for Young Australian CEO Jan Owen has been recognised with an honorary doctorate from the University of Sydney. |
Owen, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Young Australians, has not previously completed a university degree.
Since taking the job at FYA in 2010, the organisation has more than doubled in size and has been known for its ability to amplify youth voice and rally the corporate, government, education, philanthropic and Not for Profit sectors to back young Australians.
“In our ever changing world, education is a process of life-long learning, something I believe our young people understand better than any generation before them,” Owen said in her acceptance oration.
“Young people not only access, but create both traditional and non-traditional ways of learning to discover and follow their passions and interests, and to help and inspire others.”
She also thanked Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson for the conferral.
Before joining FYA, Owen was Executive Director of Social Ventures Australia and prior to that founded the CREATE Foundation, the national consumer body for children and young people in out of home care.
She is currently Board Director, Australian National Development Index (ANDI); Chair, Bridges to Higher Education Advisory group; Member, RMIT College of Business Industry Advisory Board and Patron of Vanish.
Owen was named overall “Woman of Influence” at the inaugural Australian Financial Review and Westpac Group 100 Women of Influence Awards in 2012.
In 2000 she was awarded membership of the Order of Australia for services to children and young people.
Owen is the author of Every Childhood Lasts a Lifetime and the soon-to-be released, The Future Chasers, a series of in-depth interviews with some of Australia's most extraordinary young leaders, social innovators and entrepreneurs.
