Simon Sheikh
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Simon Sheikh
| image =Simon Sheikh.jpg
| caption = Sheikh in 2010
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1986}}
| birth_place = Sydney, NSW
| nationality =
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater = University of New South Wales
| occupation = Community campaigner
| organization =
| known_for = Former National Director of GetUp!
| party =
| movement =
| spouse = Anna Rose
| awards =
| footnotes =
}}
Simon Sheikh (born 1986) is an Australian activist who is currently CEO of superannuation fund Future Super. He was the National Director of GetUp! from 2008 to 2012.[http://www.wakeupsydney.com.au/Interviewees/Simon-Sheikh.aspx Simon Sheikh]. WakeUp Sydney. Retrieved on 2012-07-03. He was a delegate to the economics stream of the Australia 2020 Summit and was named the New South Wales Young Professional of the Year in 2007.[http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/simon-sheikh/ The Punch biography]. Thepunch.com.au. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.
Education and career
He was born in Sydney, and has ancestry from India, Pakistan, Britain, New Zealand and Australia.[http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2634507.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation Q&A Panellist Simon Sheikh]. Abc.net.au. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.
He is the son of Michael Sheikh, an Indian-born Pakistani industrial chemist and inventor and British New Zealander, Rhonda Badham. He attended Camdenville Public School and later gained entry to Fort Street High School.{{cite news|title=Journey around my mother|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/journey-around-my-mother-20130809-2r9yh.html|accessdate=11 December 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 August 2013}}{{cite news|title=Simon Sheikh|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/3540524.htm|accessdate=11 December 2014|date=8 July 2012}} He later studied economics at the University of New South Wales,[http://www.getup.org.au/about/media/ GetUP! Media page]. Getup.org.au. Retrieved on 2012-07-03. while working full-time in the Services Marketing team at Telstra and as a public servant at the NSW Treasury.{{cite web |url=http://www.simonsheikh.com/about |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-01-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211143523/http://www.simonsheikh.com/about |archivedate=11 December 2014 }}
Sheikh represented Australia as the youth representative at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in 2007.
In 2009 he was part of the Sydney Leadership Program run by Social Leadership Australia at The Benevolent Society.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=21iXDQAAQBAJ&q=simon+sheikh+Social+Leadership+Australia&pg=PA172|title=Digital Citizenship and Political Engagement: The Challenge from Online Campaigning and Advocacy Organisations|last=Vromen|first=Ariadne|date=2016-11-25|publisher=Springer|isbn=9781137488657|language=en}}
=GetUp!=
He became National Director of GetUp! in September, 2008, at the age of 22.GetUp!: [http://www.getup.org.au/about/faq/ FAQ]. (16 November 2010). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.
He stepped down from being National Director of GetUp! on 27 July 2012,ABC Radio National, 8:00 am, 28 July 2012 stating that he intended to avoid burnout. GetUp! claims its membership increased from 270,000 to 610,000 during his four-year term. 80,000 people donated to GetUp! in the 12 months up to July 2012. He is succeeded as director by Sam McLean.
= Future Super =
Sheikh is managing director of Future Super,{{Cite web|title = Future Super|url = http://www.myfuturesuper.com.au/our_story|website = Future Super|accessdate = 2015-10-29}} an ethical superfund, which he co-founded with Adam Verwey.
Political career
Sheikh was a financial member of the Australian Labor Party for two years from 2004 to 2006.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
In 2013, Sheikh unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the Australian Greens seeking election to the Senate representing the Australian Capital Territory.{{Cite web|title = Former Greens candidate Simon Sheikh won't stand at next federal election|url = https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6062216/former-greens-candidate-simon-sheikh-wont-stand-at-next-federal-election/|website = The Canberra Times|accessdate = 2021-10-13}}
Personal life
In November 2011, Sheikh married Australian climate activist Anna Rose.[http://annarose.net.au/bio/ Anna Rose biography]. Annarose.net.au. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.
References
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Category:University of New South Wales alumni