Press Releases
New Book Challenges Gen Y Stereotype
HUGH EVANS AND TOM O’CONNOR’S THE FUTURE BY US TO BE LAUNCHED BY PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD
Edited by Hugh Evans and Tom O’Connor
With foreword by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
‘What a shot in the arm this book is! At a time of great uncertainty in the world, here comes the vision and ambitions, hopes and expectations of our young leaders. Theirs is a world full of hope, compassion and strength. Turn off the news for a few days and read this book!!!’ —Hugh Jackman
Hugh Evans’s and Tom O’Connor’s The Future By Us hits stores next week and promises to challenge the typical self-centred Gen Y stereotype by taking a stand and making a demand for change across environment, economic and health issues to ensure Australia is a fairer country in 2020 and beyond.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will launch The Future By Us on Tuesday March 17th at Parliament House, Canberra. In his foreword to the book, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd applauds the work of these young leaders, putting innovative ideas into action and stimulating public debate.
In a time where Australians face an unstable future with global warming and a global financial crisis, The Future By Us attempts to shed hope in the next generation of leaders by presenting some of Australia’s best young minds’ vision for our nation in 2020 and beyond. In an inspiring and provocative collection of essays, emerging young leaders in their field discuss the potential hazards and suggest practical steps we can take to create a more just Australia. From creating a sustainable society to forging better relationships with Indigenous Australians, from building stronger communities to reinvigorating democracy, these future leaders address the biggest issues of the 21st century. The Future By Us is an ambitious book, driven by a bold vision and big ideas for the future – a future that we all can play a part in, for ourselves and generations to come.
Hugh Evans was the Youth 2020 Summit Co-chair, Young Australian of the Year 2004, key leader behind the Make Poverty History campaign and founder of the Oaktree Foundation. Evans is currently studying International Relations at Cambridge and in the past week, addressed the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth and The Duke of Edinburgh as part of the Commonwealth Day Observance.
Tom O’Connor was named Young Victorian of the Year in 2007, General Manager of Operations for the Oaktree Foundation and delegate to the Youth 2020 and 2020 Summit.
The Future By Us is published on March 18, 2009 by Hardie Grant Books RRP$24.95 (Paperback)
