New partnership to combat energy poverty

Australian technology services and solutions provider Data#3 has announced that its national charity partner for FY25 will be SolarBuddy, an organisation that provides communities in need with user-friendly solar energy solutions.

Energy poverty affects nearly 10% of the world’s population and occurs when a person has little or no access to energy. This means that roughly 789 million people across the world don’t have access to safe, reliable and affordable energy. This has implications for children’s education and community health, and can contribute to financial hardship.

To address these challenges, SolarBuddy creates mini-portable solar lights for distribution to families living in energy poverty, offering affordable, sustainable and modern energy access.

Data#3 will work with SolarBuddy to build and distribute these portable solar devices with the aim of ending extreme energy poverty by 2030.

“We’re extremely proud and excited to announce SolarBuddy as our new national charity partner,” said Data#3 Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Brad Colledge. “As part of our SOUL Program, which encourages developing links with community organisations and channels our efforts to create a real and lasting effect, we’ve made the strategic decision to focus our efforts on a single national charity, allowing us to maximise our impact.

“SolarBuddy aligns closely with our vision to harness the power of people and technology for a better future. Together, Data#3 and SolarBuddy will create lasting change and empower future generations and we can’t wait to get started,” Colledge said.

Image caption: The Data#3 senior leadership team visit SolarBuddy: Cherie O’Riordan, Chief Financial Officer, Data#3; Tash Macknish, Chief People Officer, Data#3; Holly Bond, General Manager, SolarBuddy; and Brad Colledge, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Data#3.