A ray of hope
Ray Weekes believes in the power of education. Growing up in a single-parent housing commission home in Sydney, his mother instilled this belief in him from an incredibly early age.
Following his own education, Ray enjoyed a successful career climbing the corporate ladder, in senior leadership roles and CEO of major national and multinational companies and as director and advisor to various companies. For the past 25 years, he has been an Adjunct Professor and CEO in Residence at the QUT Business School. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from QUT in 2011.
Through this connection to QUT, Ray discovered the Learning Potential Fund.
“I joined the Learning Potential Fund committee after meeting and hearing the remarkable stories of scholarship recipients,” Ray said.
“The ripple effect a single scholarship can have on other family members and their life decisions – it's just incredible.”
His relationships with scholarship recipients such as CJ Thom highlight just how much of an impact the gift of education can make on a person’s life.
In 2015, 18-year-old CJ received his first preference offer to study at QUT. This was no easy feat, given obstacles he encountered during his high school years. He was then faced with the challenge of moving from his hometown in regional Queensland, to Brisbane - a city where he had no family, friends, or networks.
Receiving a Learning Potential Fund scholarship enabled CJ to relocate to Brisbane and embark on his course, a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences/Bachelor of Business.
“University study would not have been possible without the support of a Learning Potential Fund scholarship,” CJ said.
“The support from the team to connect me with opportunities for professional development, as well as mentor support, propelled my personal and professional development beyond the scope of anything I thought possible.”
At a Learning Potential Fund event, where CJ had been asked to share his personal story, he met Ray.
“Ray was the first person, outside of the QUT team, to see something of value in me, and actively take steps to cultivate that ‘something.’ I cannot say for sure what that ‘something’ is – but even to date, Ray is always there when I need advice or mentorship.
“Ray will not hesitate to tell me when and where I need to improve but will also be the first person to sing my praises from the rooftops when I do get it right,” CJ said.
After graduating in 2018, CJ’s professional career is going from strength to strength. He now works to support those living with significant lifelong disability or impairment, to access critical support – something he is passionate about, given CJ also came from a marginalised, vulnerable community.
From Ray’s perspective, he has always been impressed with CJ’s critical thinking and professional approach.
“CJ has a maturity, leadership understanding and management capacity well beyond his years,” Ray said.
“We are remarkably close, and I am proud to be one of CJ’s mentors.
“I support the Learning Potential Fund because of my fervent belief in the power of education.
“These scholarships enable so many individuals, like CJ, to receive the education that would otherwise be unavailable to them.”
Ray Weekes has been a proud supporter of the QUT Learning Potential Fund since 2012, establishing a scholarship in his mother’s name and providing for a bequest in his Will. CJ Thom (BBehavSc(PPsych)/BBus(Finance)) is also a donor to the QUT Learning Potential Fund, helping other students to discover the power of education.