Stories from ordinary people achieving extraordinary things

The digital network revolution and the reality of globalisation are creating a far deeper integration of technology, business and society than the world has ever seen.

This brings with it new possibilities and new responsibilities. As corporations we need to step up to help solve national issues and support important community groups. As individuals, we need to re-evaluate how we can contribute.

For IBM in Australia, this means: • Tackling skills shortages with education programs.

• Lending our expertise to support local communities.

• Embedding sustainability into our industries with energy efficient IT.

It also means caring for our own employees and helping them achieve their best both professionally and personally.

Ultimately, it is people who make organisations live up to their own standards. As the stories in this booklet show, IBM is fortunate enough to employ some extremely caring, courageous and community-minded individuals.

Glen BorehamGeneral ManagerIBM Australia and New Zealand

They represent thousands of IBMers who last year poured their time, skills and energies into making a difference to the world.

Australia is currently enjoying a resources

‘boom’, however, it’s unlikely that this will

deliver the sustainable economic growth we

need to maintain our quality of life –

but science will.

We need to create a science ‘boom’ that will

ensure a pipeline of talent for decades to

come. This is why IBM is bringing TryScience

to Australian schools, to spark the interest of

future generations.

Leah Montgomery:

Sparking interest in science

The Western English Language School

(WELS) in Braybrook, Victoria, which teaches

English and cultural understanding to refugee

and migrant children from over 50 different

countries, is using the TryScience program.

Run by IBM volunteers, the program involves

students in innovative science experiments

from IBM’s TryScience website (www.tryscience.org).

For many it’s their first experience of practical

science and the

lessons have created wonder and excitement.

In addition to the volunteers, WELS has

taken advantage of IBM’s Community Grants

program, receiving six laptops to support

its technology programs.

Sustainability Victoria had a vision –

they wanted to create a model,

energy-efficient office.

“When we spoke to IBM, they got the idea

straight away,” explains Sustainability Victoria

CEO, Geoff Mabbett.

Patrick Lee:

Designing a green data centre

The team questioned using a single server

for each application, whether servers need

to run full bore 24 hours a day, and the

practice of keeping the server room at

20 degrees Celsius.

The result: data centre energy use,

accounting for over half the total office

power bill, fell by over 60%.

Sustainability Victoria’s new office now

has a five-star Australian Business

Greenhouse rating and a six-star data

centre energy rating.

Meanwhile, IBM continues to invest

US$1 billion every year to develop green

technologies that will allow companies to

increase computing power, without

expanding their carbon footprint.

Sangeetha Jaganathan:

Putting art centre stageIn 2007, Queensland Ballet General Manager,

Judith Anderson, was in a Catch 22 situation.

She knew they weren’t using IT effectively, but

“couldn’t afford an IT specialist.”

Enter stage left, Senior IT Consultant –

Sangeetha Jaganathan – a volunteer from IBM’s

On Demand Community (ODC).

The ODC channels IBM’s volunteers into

disadvantaged communities. Over four years,

3,000 IBMers have donated 207,000 hours of

volunteer service. It also matches employees’

schedules, locations and skills with

appropriate community projects.

Sangeetha, for example, is an expert in

applications development but had never

audited an IT system. With ODC’s technology

planning tools she had the confidence to help.

The audit revealed some major issues, with

staff IT training a priority. Again, the ODC

came to the rescue with a $1,600 grant for

IT training.

Today, Queensland Ballet is making IT work

behind the scenes and creating magic for

the people of Queensland.

Melanie Youngson:

Building IT skills for the futureDespite advances in gender equality, women

only make up a fifth of Australia’s IT

professionals. With a shortage of talent and

a declining workforce, it’s a situation that

can’t continue.

IBM’s EX.I.T.E. (Exploring Interests in

Technology and Engineering) camps are

inspiring high school girls to make a

difference through science and technology.

In 2000, Melanie Youngson was a typical

smart year 10 young woman, but she’d never

considered a career in IT. EX.I.T.E. changed

all that. It gave Melanie a feel for the career

opportunities available and the confidence to

think she might be a success.

Two years later, Melanie saw an IT course

that included an internship at IBM. She

jumped at the chance to enter the profession and

is now working with IBM as an Associate

IT Specialist.

Melanie now volunteers her time in EX.I.T.E.

camps – encouraging the next generation of

smart young women to support Australia’s

IT future.

Peter Farrell:

Supporting our courageous colleaguesAt 60, Peter Farrell has a wonderful wife, a

fulfilling job at IBM and friendly, supportive

colleagues. He is also a quadriplegic.

Peter was involved in a car accident in 2005

that broke his neck, and yet, 18 months after

his accident, Peter was back working about

40 hours a week.

Of course his work environment needed a few

modifications. IBM built him a dedicated work

console including a mouth-operated mouse.

This, together with voice recognition software,

gives Peter full use of his laptop.

IBM paid Peter’s salary in full for the 11 months

whilst he was in intensive care and then funded

a graduated return to work program, managed

closely by the Global Well-being Services team.

But it’s also down to Peter’s determination and

inner strength. Peter Farrell is living proof that

happiness is a choice. IBM is lucky to have him.

Corporate responsibility in the 21st century

For every one of us, the digital network revolution and

global integration make new forms of work, innovation

and personal fulfillment possible.

For IBM, these historic and disruptive shifts are

creating a new social and economic relationship

among individuals, organisations and civil society.

A relationship that creates new responsibilities for

corporations in the 21st century.

Corporate responsibility in the 21st century

Never before have corporations carried so much

of the responsibility for solving the world’s issues. And

yet we accept that responsibility gladly because we

believe true corporate citizenship confers a

triple benefit:

Corporate responsibility in the 21st century

For IBMers, we enable them to acquire new skills

by working collaboratively and seamlessly across borders,

improve the communities where their

children, families and neighbours live, and take

personal control of their own destinies.For communities and society at large, we bring our

talent and technology to bear on tackling large,

difficult societal problems - like skills shortages

and national competitiveness.

For IBM, we establish a stronger brand with longer-

lasting shareholder value and become more attractive

as a responsible company to clients, investors and

prospective employees.

Corporate responsibility in the 21st century

The criteria that determine how we fulfil these

responsibilities are the same ones that shape

IBM’s business actions and relationships, the

values of IBMers:• Dedication to every client’s success.

• Innovation that matters – for our company and for

the world.

• Trust and personal responsibility in all relationships.