http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/pierre-johannessen/ Pierre is the CEO of the Big Bangs, an international NGO that uses the game of basketball to fight youth poverty and social disadvantage around the world.  He is also a Partner at Johannessen Legal, and most recently was named ACT Young Australian of the Year for 2010. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-helping-hand-benefits-everyone/ Walking into a room full of young Australian volunteers preparing for deployment is a great lesson in tempering preconceptions and avoiding stereotypes.  It’s easy to imagine all volunteers being of the same ilk; ultra-progressive, left wing, vegetarian… I am joking of course, but I wouldn’t be surprised if readers were nodding in agreement as I said that.  I admit that I had that image firmly planted in my head as I walked in to my first major briefing session, wondering frantically if I would fit in with the group that was already there.  This, after all, was my first real encounter with the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program, which places passionate young Australians (18-30) on short-term assignments in developing countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Pierre Johannessen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-helping-hand-benefits-everyone/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-helping-hand-benefits-everyone/#item6486 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:45:39 +0000 Pierre Johannessen | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-world-cup-of-hope/ It’s easy to dismiss sport as a distracting, dysfunctional pastime of the people.  We’re constantly flooded with stories of misbehavior, ridiculous prejudice, cheating and even criminal behavior, most of which seem sexual in nature. As the CEO of a sports-based NGO, I am constantly faced with questions steeped in disapproval and dismissal of the value of sport in “real” society.  I hear that we spend too much time, too much money, too much effort on sports in this country, in detriment to our social values.  Indeed I have even been told we would be better off with less sport in Australia.  Jessica Watson felt the brunt of this type of thinking not long ago.  Dangerous, narcissistic indulgence, anyone? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Pierre Johannessen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-world-cup-of-hope/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-world-cup-of-hope/#item3342 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:25:51 +0000 Pierre Johannessen | Author bios | The Punch