Griffith Business School is proud to once again support the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, with a team of staff and alumni taking part for the fourth consecutive year. On Thursday 18 June, these leaders will once again trade their warm beds for a night on cold concrete, helping raise vital funds and awareness for Australians experiencing homelessness.
This year's Griffith Business School team, led by Professor Caitlin Byrne, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business), includes:
- Professor Martin Berka
- Professor Alberto Posso
- Associate Professor Alexandr Akimov
- Associate Professor Kanchana Kariyawasasm
- Dr Ayesha Scott
- Dr Tommy Soesmanto
- Associate Professor Popi Sotiriadou
- Celine Dang, PhD student
- Chrystal Coughlan, PhD student and former GBS Student Leader
- Alvin Yap, former GBS Student Leader
Their ongoing involvement reflects the School's deeply held values of responsible leadership and community engagement. The team has already raised over $10,000 toward their ambitious $40,000 goal, a reflection of the growing momentum and community support behind GBS's commitment to this cause.
The urgency behind this commitment has never been greater. Queensland's housing crisis has reached record levels, with 54,490 active households now on the state's social housing register as of February 2026. That figure represents a 77 per cent increase in the waitlist since 2017, and the situation shows no sign of easing. *
Professor Caitlin Byrne, who has been a participant since 2022 says. "The numbers behind Queensland's homelessness crisis are sobering, but behind every number is a person, a family, a story. The CEO Sleepout keeps that reality front of mind for leaders across our community, and I'm proud that Griffith Business School continues to answer that call."
The annual CEO Sleepout, run by the St Vincent de Paul Society, is more than a symbolic gesture. Funds raised go directly toward services including emergency accommodation, food, healthcare, and pathways out of poverty for vulnerable Australians. Last year, the event raised over $9.4 million nationally.
For Professor Alberto Posso, now in his third year of participation, the event bridges the gap between academic insight and real-world action.
"As researchers, we spend our careers analysing poverty, inequality, and housing insecurity, producing the data and policy recommendations that can, over time, drive systemic change," he says. "But the CEO Sleepout reminds us that change also happens one dollar, one conversation, one cold night at a time. Being part of this team year after year reinforces why the work matters."
If you would like to support Griffith Business School's team and help make a difference to the lives of Australians experiencing homelessness, you can donate here: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/griffithbusinessschool
*Data sourced from the Queensland Government Housing Dashboard (February 2026) and the Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements.
