CLUB IQ May2017 | Page 30

Jon Dee with former US Vice President and global warming campaigner Al Gore. Jon with Richard Branson. Jon founded Planet Ark IN 1991. Meet Jon Dee Host of Smart Money, philanthropist, founder of Planet Ark, former Australian of the year and keynote speaker at the CMAA National Managers Conference As a social entrepreneur, Jon Dee has combined his philanthropic activities with his role as an advocate for the SME sector. On Sky News Business channel, Jon is the Anchor host of Smart Money. It’s a primetime live TV program that airs at 6.30pm every Wednesday. On the program, Jon shows businesses how to improve their bottom line by being smarter with their use of energy and other resources. The show also covers innovation, renewable energy and new business models. Released in 2010, Jon’s Sustainable Growth book has become the definitive sustainability guidebook for small business. With 90,000 copies distributed, his book showed that being sustainable is good for the bottom line. Jon’s recent book Energy Cut is a definitive energy efficiency guide for small to medium sized businesses. Written in plain English, Energy Cut describes 20 practical steps that businesses can take to cut their energy use and save money. It can be downloaded for free from IQ 30 EnergyCut.info/SME-book Within Australia and overseas, Jon regularly gives keynote speeches and consults to companies on efficiency, sustainability and change management. As a philanthropist, he is the Founder and Managing Director of the Australian advocacy organisation DoSomething. In June 1991, he also founded Planet Ark in partnership with Pat Cash. He headed up the organisation for 15 years, turning it into a household name and a powerful force for change. Together with Olivia Newton-John, Jon founded Australia’s National Tree Day and the international One Tree Per Child initiative. Jon is the Global Director of One Tree Per Child which is currently planting trees in 7 countries. Ambassadors and Patrons of the initiative include Kevin McCloud, Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall and Lord Stern amongst others. In 1988, Jon founded Rock Aid Armenia which led to the building of a music school for 220 children in the Armenian earthquake zone. For this, Jon recruited the help and support of bands such as Pink Floyd, Queen, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Bon Jovi and others. In 1989, he produced a UK top 40 all- star remake of ‘Smoke on the Water’ and organised the UK’s first ever charity album to go ‘Gold’ - it sold 100,000 copies in 10 days. Jon has directed 300 TV ads and videos which have featured Tom Cruise, Kylie Minogue, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Richard Branson, Kevin McCloud and many others. Jon was Australian of the Year 2010 (NSW) and in 2009 was the recipient of Armenia’s highest award, The Order of Honor, for his long-term work in Armenia. He lives in the Blue Mountains with his wife Leanne and their two daughters. For more information JonDee.com twitter.com/JonDeeOz [email protected] “Jon’s Sustainable Growth book has become the definitive sustainability guidebook for small business. With 90,000 copies distributed, his book showed that being sustainable is good for the bottom line.”