Tom O'Connor is the Chief Executive Officer of The Oaktree Foundation, Australia's first youth-run aid and development organisation.  Oaktree is run entirely by volunteers under the age of twenty-six, who aim to raise community awareness by organising events, lobbying government and conducting fundraising for overseas projects.  By partnering with developing communities in six countries, including South Africa, India and the Philippines, Oaktree has already provided increased educational opportunities to over 40,000 young people.

Tom's initial involvement with Oaktree was his participation as a volunteer in the Make Poverty History Roadtrip to Canberra in 2005.  When he officially joined the foundation a few months later, he was appointed to the role of Victorian Universities' Coordinator. Nine months later, he was promoted to Victorian Director, and under his leadership, the Victorian team doubled in size.  He led the Zero Seven Roadtrip which recruited over two hundred Ambassadors and raised $80,000 in the 2007 one day campaign.

In June 2008, Tom was appointed General Manager of Operations, joining Oaktree's Senior Leadership Team.  In the following 14 months, a South Australian branch was consolidated, all state teams experienced significant growth and Oaktree's leadership at state level was restructured and strengthened.

Tom's earlier achievements include completing the International Baccalaureate, receiving a National Scholarship to the University of Melbourne, and representing Australia at the 2005 International Model United Nations in the Netherlands.  In 2007 he was named the Young Victorian of the Year in recognition of his efforts helping to organise the Make Poverty History Campaign concert and his work with Oaktree.  Tom was also invited to contribute to the Prime Minister's Australia 2020 Summit, which brought together some of the best and brightest brains from across the country to discuss the longterm challenges confronting Australia's future.  Recently he co-edited the book The Future By Us with Hugh Evans, the founder of the Oaktree Foundation Australia, and Australian of the year in 2004.

Tom is also completing his studies in Law, Politics and Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.  A passionate and dedicated leader, he is filled with energy, dreams and hope for Oaktree's future.  Believing anything is possible, he is looking forward to working with the entire Oaktree team to achieve great things.