Hugh’s work speaks to anyone who has ever asked the question, “What difference can I make?” His resolute belief is that every individual can take meaningful action towards ending extreme poverty within a generation. His work involves creating opportunities for individuals to take action that will have monumental impact.

His journey began in India and South Africa working with those living in extreme poverty. Upon returning to his home in Australia he founded the Oaktree Foundation which has grown to become the largest youth-run aid organization in the country. The Foundation provides education to over 40,000 young people around the world. In 2006 he made history by producing the Make Poverty History concert, which mobilized thousands of young people into putting pressure on political leaders. The concert ultimately led Australia to double its foreign aid budget, releasing $4.3 billion in funds for the world’s poor.

In September 2012 Hugh produced the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York. This massive advocacy event brought together 60,000 global citizens and artists, including The Black Keys, The Foo Fighters and Neil Young to urge political leaders to take action to end extreme poverty. Over $1.3 billion in new commitments were raised for life-saving interventions in the developing world.

Hugh’s bold and daring vision has captured the attention of movie stars, business tycoons and academics alike from Bono and Hugh Jackman to Jeffrey Sachs and Bill Gates. In 2012, he was listed as part of Forbes magazine’s annual “30 Under 30” for social entrepreneurship.

Hugh is now the CEO and Founder of the Global Poverty Project (GPP), based in New York City, an advocacy organization working to eradicate extreme poverty. He has led the efforts on this important issue by speaking at many forums, including the Commonwealth Day Address at Westminster Abbey by invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Sir Keith Murdoch Oration in Melbourne and the Montreal Millennium Summit alongside Al Gore.

Hugh’s eye-opening first hand account of extreme poverty and his own efforts to address the issue are showing college students what one person can do to make a difference in the lives of many.