ANZIIF partners with Guide Dogs SA/NT for Charity Luncheon

Aaron Chia, Chief Executive Officer of Guide Dogs SA/NT had a significant lightbulb moment when his mother-in-law lost 75 per cent of her sight in her 50s.  

“I truly realised the importance of the Guide Dogs organisation,” Chia says. “We enable people with low vision, blindness, and other specialised needs to retain their independence and continue to participate in life.”

For Chia, an added motivation is being extremely short-sighted. “I understand the privilege afforded by my ability to utilise vision correction,” he says. “Life would be very challenging without it.”

Guide Dogs, the chosen charity

In 2024, Guide Dogs SA/NT will partner with ANZIIF for its annual South Australian Charity Luncheon.

Chia, who has been at the helm of the Guide Dogs organisation based in South Australia for just over six and a half years, will speak at the event. 

He was born in Singapore and completed his primary schooling before migrating to Melbourne, Australia, in the 1970s with his parents. 

“My father had a sales and marketing background and was the Managing Director of the subsidiaries of a couple of international firms,” he says. “Mum was in charge of us and our home.”

Chia undertook a Bachelor of Economics at Monash University and was recruited by one of the big four accounting firms. He qualified shortly afterwards as a chartered accountant. 

Experiencing personal and professional setbacks early in his career development, such as suffering stereotyping as an Asian-Australian, helped Chia empathise with others experiencing injustice as a result of their differences.  

Inspiration for his current commitment to charity work also came from individuals who publicly overcame cultural hurdles.

“Successfully challenging cultural norms of the day with the support of family and friends helped me understand that you can achieve anything with self-belief and the right support systems around you,” he says. 

Being a change-maker

Chia loves working as a leader in the community sector because it allows him to influence and create support systems for those who are disadvantaged, irrespective of race, religion or ability.

Before working with Guide Dogs SA/NT, Chia was CEO of SA Motor Accident Commission, Deputy CEO of the SA Ambulance Service, and held CFO and company secretarial positions with several public companies. 

Over the past couple of decades, Chia has also been active on a variety of not-for-profit (NFP) boards.  

Chia currently chairs the Board of CBB Inc, a national salary packaging provider to other for-purpose organisations, as well as chairing the Board of YourPlace Housing Ltd, a SA-based community housing provider with approximately 500 houses under management.

Chia also chairs the Risk and Performance Committee of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission.

Charity-first model

In an environment where most disability NFPs are becoming NDIS fee-for-service organisations, Chia’s long-term vision for Guide Dogs SA/NT is to retain and grow its charity-first business model.

“This will mean we can meet our client community’s needs, innovatively funded by a combination of available government funding, community donations and corporate partners,” he says.

“It is limiting for our client community if our services and products (including guide and assistance dogs) are only provided when government funding is available. Our priority is that they can trust us to meet their needs regardless of their ability to pay.”

Chia asserts that Guide Dogs SA/NT is all about leading passionate and talented professionals to positively impact other people. “Our team is consistently achieving amazing outcomes with minimal resources,” he says. 

As a leader, he says there are broad commercial skill sets and levels of experience required for any organisation however, what he relies on most (in the charity sector) is an understanding of “business models, people skills, people skills and people skills.”

“Empathy, respect, integrity and resilience would be core leadership values that stand out for me,” he says.

Inspired to make a difference

In the partnership with ANZIIF, Chia hopes to offer a greater insight into the work of Guide Dogs SA/NT.

“The partnership provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the important work we do for communities in South Australia and the Northern Territory,” he says.

“Our iconic guide and assistance dogs are a crucial part of the services we offer but we also provide advocacy and funding assistance.

“I hope participants at the Charity Luncheon will feel inspired to support people living with low vision, blindness, and other specialised needs; whether that be financially, by offering time through volunteering, or by taking action to increase accessibility in our community.”

Funds raised will enable Guide Dogs SA/NT to raise and train guide and assistance dogs and support more people living with low vision, blindness and other specialised needs.

Find out more about the South Australian Charity Luncheon