New CEO for Oaktree

Sashenka Worsman has stepped in as CEO of Australia’s largest youth organisation, Oaktree.

Worsman replaces Chris Wallace, who will be taking some leave to spend time with his family and plan what the future may be.

“My time as Oaktree’s CEO has been transformative, inspiring, challenging and rewarding. I have worked alongside an incredible team of young leaders who have a vision for a world where justice reigns, and they are prepared to sacrifice much in order to get there. I am consistently amazed by the capacity of young people to change the world, and being in this environment day-to-day is something I will really miss,” he said.

New CEO Worsman, said that “we’re failing to realise this country’s fullest potential when young women are held back in the workplace.”

Having migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka as a 16-year-old, Worsman has seen first-hand the impact of poverty and war.

“For much of my time growing up in Sri Lanka, I saw the heart-breaking images and consequences of poverty and war. But I also saw the opportunity for hope that came from people giving and doing what they can,” she said.

“My greatest passion is working towards a world where equality, justice and treating others how you wish to be treated comes as second nature.

“Tackling inequality, in all its forms, is one of the world’s greatest challenges. I want to see a world where everyone can reach their potential- and that means ending poverty, that means tackling gender inequality, that means dismantling barriers of all kinds.”

With a background in campaigning, Worsman’s aim as CEO is to maximise the power of technology to connect people to Oaktree’s movement for a fairer world. She will be leading a team of over 240 volunteers, and over 200,000 supporters, advocating for change.