Social Change Maker Profile: Anthony Xydis, ARN

B&T has partnered with UnLtd over the past few months to showcase some of the heroes in our industry – and their respective charity work – as part of an effort to make equality and inclusion the norm in our industry.

We last profiled Richard Sauerman from The Brand Guy – and this week it’s on to Anthony Xydis, chief marketing officer at ARN!

He spoke at B&T‘s Changing the Ratio last month on what happened when ARN got serious about diversity – oh, and he’s pretty damn inspiring.

First ever job: Mail Clerk at a law firm (do they even exist anymore).

If I wasn’t doing my job, I’d be: A talk show host on German TV (maybe not).

How I got where I am today: Listening and hard work combined with some great people and brands.

Causes I care about: Equality and acceptance across the board in all aspects of life, allowing people to express their real selves.

Mental Health, Youth disadvantage, and Children’s care rank up there too!

The change I’d like to see in the world and why it’s important: Simply: acceptance that people are different and that’s what drives great ideas, creativity and brilliance across disciplines.

How did you first get involved with UnLtd: I’ve been exposed to UnLtd for a number of years through media support (watching from the sidelines) and although it took a while, we started working together more formally on Batyr in 2017 with the launch of the ARN Goodness Project.

Batyr is an amazing organisation that aims to break the stigma of mental health at all levels of education.

The charity projects I’m currently working on: We’ll be working with MMAD (Musicians Making a Difference) in 2018 through our association with UnLtd.

I also have been honoured to work with the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation on their ‘Gold’ telethon/appeal and strategic direction.

Some social issues I’m passionate about are: Equality and acceptance across the board – it has relevance across everything we do, particularly in addressing mental health.

Why I want to give back: It’s the right thing to do and brings me personally and people I get to work with energy and joy.

The best/most rewarding volunteering experience I’ve had: Earlier in my career, the whole office would shut down to volunteer at the Variety Club’s Children’s Christmas Party.

My heart has never opened so much!

I was asked to dress as a clown and entertain the kids. I was terrified but so humbled by their joy and acceptance of my crappy clown act.

My greatest achievement: On a practical level, learning German on the fly while living in Switzerland.

From a social impact perspective, being one of the driving forces in elevating LGBTQI and Equality initiatives across the business.

I have been blown away by the engagement with our staff and how they ran with it. Totally humbled by the way the passion manifested and how it organically grew within the company

The person/company I’d like to challenge to get involved & why: Everyone.

Social impact is core for everyone and you can do it every day, easily. Specifically, embracing diversity is much more than addressing the gender imbalance.

We still have so much to do and I would love to see more of a voice for indigenous representation in media and more

My advice for someone just starting their career is: Listen, listen again and THEN ask your question. Have no expectations – it only sets you up for suffering.

If I could have one super power, that would be: Teach people how to fly, physically and figuratively.

Changing the Ratio has been and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. Check out our diversity centre here!

UnLtd is a social purpose organisation connecting the media, marketing and creative industries with charities helping children and young people at risk. Find out how you can get involved at unltd.org.au.

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Anthony Xydis ARN Social Change Makers UNLTD