What is the 30under30?
30under30 is an Anthill initiative launched in early 2008 to encourage and promote entrepreneurship among young Australians.
Each year, we invite our readers to nominate young Australian entrepreneurs deserving of recognition for their outstanding entrepreneurial endeavours. More.
Robert Gillies, VIC (b. 1990)
Name: Robert Gillies
Age: 26
Gender: MALE
State: VIC
Known for: Conscious Creative Limited
With eyes set on giving back to his community, Robert Gillies created Conscious Creative Limited, a charity that manages a number of social enterprises.
Robert says his charity has three goals: “make caring cool, make giving easy and receiving dignified.”
Conscious Creative Limited currently runs three other charities, HoMie, a fashion label and clothing store; The Charity Tap, which enables bars and pubs to easily donate to charity and the Homeless of Melbourne, an online advocacy platform with over 50,000 followers.
In 2015, Robert founded Conscious Creative Limited alongside co-founders Nick Pearce and Marcus Crook. Since then, they’ve raised over $400,000, brought 250 homeless Melbournians into its support network, distributed 1,750 items of new clothing to the homeless community and more.
Robert has been successful in many other ways as well, including winning the Young Australian of the Year in 2016. This award created a lot of buzz for Robert, which he used to promote and develop Conscious Creative Limited.
Through this buzz, Robert was able to gain support from politicians, get cheaper rent for the HoMie store, recruit corporate sponsors and build relationships with other charities across the country.
Robert’s climb didn’t come without setbacks. A major obstacle being when HoMie was forced out of its retail location because of redevelopment. The board voted on a risky, but calculated move to sign a new five-year lease on Brunswick street in order to continue the ‘VIP Shopping Days’ for the homeless community. The move paid off, Robert says, and the store is now highly profitable.
Throughout the ups and downs, Robert says he stays motivated through “a desire to contribute meaningfully to the lives of people facing disadvantage or discrimination.”
Robert also works for the entrepreneurial thrill, he says. He feels fulfilled from establishing new connections and working with innovative and brilliant minds.
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