16 June 2010

CEO Robin Levison has a comfortable bed, good food, and a secure home, but will give it all up for a night sleeping rough on the streets of Brisbane.

The University of Queensland Business School Master of Business Administration (MBA) student and chief executive officer of Industrea will join the St Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout tomorrow, June 17.

Sleepout participants are only allowed to bring a sleeping bag and pillow, with cardboard and a basic soup kitchen meal provided.

Participants are not allowed to bring a change of clothes, extra bedding, or their own food – and they will sleep out regardless of the weather conditions on the night.

It is all about Australia’s corporate leaders experiencing how homeless people live every day.

Mr Levison set a target of raising $5,000 for the St Vincent de Paul Society to help with alleviating homelessness, but he now expects to triple that figure.

“Everyone thinks it is a great cause and a well-designed campaign,” he said.

“My friends, family members and peers have been very supportive. I have had some wonderful donations.”

It will be Mr Levison’s first involvement in the sleepout and he was warned to ensure he wore warm clothes.

“It will be a completely foreign environment, given I am not much of a camper. I am also lucky to be used to a comfy bed. I am expecting it to be pretty cold."

Mr Levison said he was prepared to tough it out, knowing how important it was to raise both money and awareness.

“I have always admired St Vinnies and the work they do, so I wanted to commit to helping out,” he said.

Visit www.ceosleepout.org.au

Media: Robin Levison (3725 5400) or Cathy Stacey (3346 8068)