Its Time Foundation delivers renewable power solutions for remote Pacific Island schools with the dual objectives of reducing carbon emissions and enhancing education in the target communities.
Contributors are engaged with the outcomes and we hope, through that experience, they are motivated to be more effective stewards of the world we live in. Particularly young people who are tomorrow’s leaders, scientists, teachers, parents … they will soon have the world’s future in their hands.
Please explore the website and our work – we look forward to you being part of the foundation’s achievements.
Our history
Its Time was founded in early 2007 by Rob Edwards.
Prior to establishing the foundation Rob spent considerable time designing business systems for another not-for-profit (SchoolAid) where he helped raise $2.0M to rebuild education facilities in disaster regions — including a new school in Aceh destroyed in the Asian tsunami, $.5M to Beslan community in Russia after the 2004 hostage crisis and repairs following cyclone Larry. The “outreach” objectives were to enhance the lives of children in disaster regions. The “inreach” objective was to show students at home that their small fundraising efforts could make a real difference — with the hope that they move into society as more caring and philanthropic adults.
In 2007 we launched the Cool Schools project that provided tools and encouragement to schools in Australia to raise funds with the aim of installing back-to-grid solar systems at their school. This process showed students that collective small efforts can make a difference in the fight against climate change. While many schools embraced this project, it was suspended in light of the incoming government’s Solar Schools initiative that promised to install solar across Australian schools. Perhaps the Its Time model and the hundreds of student letters to the Australian government had some influence on development of that government policy.
While delivering the Cool Schools initiative, we researched the remote island projects that we now invite you get involved in. In 2008 Rabi High School was chosen as the site for a pilot installation for the current focus of the foundation. The Foundation then moved in to the fundraising phase that we hope will result in hundreds of systems installed in schools across the Pacific. We look forward to you joining us on that journey.
Its Time Foundation Fund is a public fund (registered charity) listed on the Register of Environmental Organisations under item 6.1.1 of subsection 30-55(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. We are not acting on behalf of any supplier, marketing group or peak body and have no association with any political or religious organization.
Our board
Our board members volunteer their time with strong and consistent commitment to the mission of the Its Time Foundation.
Rob Edwards OAM
Rob is the founder of Its Time Foundation. He worked in the health industry for twenty years including five years in cardiac rehabilitation and two years with disadvantaged youth. He established and was Managing Director of Health Futures Pty Ltd (1992-2008), leaving that position to focus on becoming a leading keynote speaker and establishing Its Time Foundation. He has also developed several sustainability and plastics mitigation projects. In 2020 Rob was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his charitable work.
Sean Gordon OAM
Peter Bickerton
Peter is a senior executive spanning of over forty years in both private and public sectors in the areas of education, service delivery, information technology and law enforcement (domestic and international). He has a strong history of supporting the community and the environment with over twenty years experience on boards (Chairman/ president, treasurer and other positions over time). Since Peter ’semi retired’ from public service holding National management roles; Deputy CEO and Chief Information office (CIO) roles has been spending more time providing leadership in mentoring/coaching, formal complex project and program reviews and in between furthering his love for scuba diving and first-aid training others to become a dive and first aid instructor. He founded Gungahlia (teaching accredited first aid) and Scubadiving IDC (travelling as a ‘fly-in fly-out’ scuba course director). Peter’s love of Fiji over many years, apart from Its Time, includes international First Aid in remote areas.
Annette Edwards
Founding member of Its Time Foundation and long-term office manager, bookkeeper and other roles in the Foundation. A registered nurse with 10 years’ experience in the Australian public health system. 12 years as co-founder, director and practitioner in the Health Futures corporate health and wellness program. Since 2013, office manager the finance industry.
Steve Whistler
With a background in design and infographics, Steve founded one of Australia’s first web design and development agencies in the late 1990’s where he remains Creative Director to the present day. His expertise and experience spans digital marketing, communications and user experience design for a wide range of industries – from the financial sector and automotive sales to FMCG, retail and small business. Beyond his work for commercial clients, Steve’s interest in environmental causes saw him take up an organisational role in the long running and ultimately successful campaign to stop the expansion of coal seam gas operations in the Sydney’s water catchments.
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