Vinnies CEO Sleepout is 'more vital than ever'

Director of collections and exhibitions Sandra Bruce said the gallery, with its nod to Canberra's brutalist architecture tradition, meant "there's a lot of cold concrete around".

"It will be bloody cold," she said. "It's going to be intense but it's really going to be worth it."

St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn acting CEO Michelle Colefax said it was hoping to raise $800,000 locally from this year's sleepout, on June 23, saying the event raised money and awareness for homelessness programs across the national capital and region.

"Believe it when I say it, we need every cent," Ms Colefax said.

In the wake of COVID and natural disasters, there had been "unprecedented demand" on the charity for its services nationwide.

"At Vinnies, we've never been busier," she said.

Ms Colefax said 80 CEOs had registered for this year's sleepout and she hoped more would follow their lead before June.

"Thank you for stepping up," she said.

At last year's sleepout, local business, community and government leaders together raised more than $1 million dollars for Vinnies' homelessness and social impact services.

Awards were given this week to those people who raised the most money last year - first was Geocon founder Nick Georgalis, who raised $65,393. Second was Nikias Diamond director Dimitri Nikias, who raised $63,572. And third was Canberra Toyota and Lexus dealer principal Mirko Milic who raised $42,347.

Long-time supporters of the event were also honoured for completing more than 10 years of the event, including Menslink CEO Martin Fisk, who will be completing his 12^th CEO sleepout.

Now on long service leave, Mr Fisk said he planned to do the sleepout outside in the snow in Perisher without a tent as other CEOs slept in cars, outside their workplaces or in backyards.

Mr Fisk said he was motivated by seeing first-hand Vinnies help a young man who had been sleeping rough, putting him into housing and a job.

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"If we can spend one night a year sleeping outside to help people like Matt, that is fantastic," he said.

Vinnies has also named CEO Sleepout champions this year to spur others to join and to continue the wave of support that continues long after the cold night is forgotten.

They included Scouts Australia chief commissioner (NSW branch) Neville Tomkins, Christine Shaw Properties director Christine Shaw, Synergy Group CEO Antonia Marzulli, Snedden Hall and Gallop managing director Richard Faulks, Canberra Toyota's Mirko Milic and Sehida Frawley, head of SAP Cloud Success Services ANZ, SAP Australia.

Mr Tomkins said he had personally raised $182,000 for Vinnies from his sleepouts and had promised his wife he would retire once he reached $250,000.

"This will be my 11^th year," he said. "Why do I keep going? The answer is it's an absolute privilege, to be able to reach out and help those less fortunate in our community."