World Vision

Working with World Vision Australia since 1995 has led Dr Brett Parris to the position of Chief Economist, providing expertise on economic development and coordinating the organisation's global policy response to climate change.

"World Vision is the world's largest development NGO, assisting around 100 million people in 98 countries. We are already seeing climate change affect the poor and it poses a potentially catastrophic threat. It's something that deeply concerns us," Dr Parris said.

Dr Parris is also a research fellow in Monash's Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics and has combined his research skills with his passion for poverty eradication by helping to establish the Development Research Unit.

"The Unit aims to reflect the University's ideal that the ultimate purpose of education and research is improvement in the human condition," Dr Parris said.

"Having a foot in both organisations has helped provide rigor for our policy work at World Vision and grounding for my research work at Monash."

In September 2009 the University and World Vision agreed to collaborate on joint research projects, volunteering and internship opportunities for students in World Vision activities, graduate placement and curriculum development.

The University recognises that the task of simultaneously addressing the world's massive wealth disparities and climate change ranks among the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Strong research capacities in sustainable development therefore lie at the heart of the University's mission.

Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the agreement was part of a University strategy to work more closely with key Australian and international non-government organisations.

"Monash has always has a strong commitment to social justice, so for the University it is a natural progression to work together with other like-minded organisations," Professor Shoemaker said.

"This is part of our plan to make for a richer learning experience for our students."