Our Team

The vendors are the face of The Big Issue and the reason we do what we do.

Vendors come from all walks of life with many different stories. Some are homeless; some have intellectual of physical disabilities and some are struggling with addictions. All of our vendors have been marginalised through their circumstances and are looking to improve their lives.

Vendors undertake a training session with vendor support workers and sign a code of conduct. All vendors are required to wear a their I.D. badge while selling The Big Issue. It is important not to buy a magazine from an unbadged vendor. Our vendors only sell The Big Issue magazine, and over the Christmas period The Big Issue calender.

Meet the rest of the team.

Magazine staff

Editor: Alan Attwood
Deputy Editor: Melissa Cranenburgh
Art Director: Bretton Bartleet
Contributing Editor: Patrick Witton

Editor Alan Attwood has had a long and varied career, in which he has tended to specialise in not specialising. Over 30 years as a journalist he has covered events as diverse as the first free elections in South Africa, soccer in Northern Greece, political intrigue in Morocco, four Olympic Games and all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. Between 1995 and 1998 he was the New York-based correspondent for the Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers. He won a Walkley Award for coverage of sport in 1998. He is also the author of two novels, one of which was short-listed for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Alan began writing for The Big Issue in 2003: he was a regular columnist and occasional proofreader and soccer player before taking on the role as Editor in November 2006.

Contact editorial: editorial@bigissue.org.au.

Vendor Managers

The Vendor Support team nationally look after the needs of the vendors who get out on the streets and sell The Big Issue magazine.

Vendor managers train new vendors and find them an appropriate pitch. They also are crucial in the ongoing support of our vendors, pointing them in the right direction for everything from legal advice, free meals, housing and doctors to counselling and drug rehabilitation programs. They liaise with local councils over pitches and they organise the distribution of the magazine to the vendors’ pick-up points. They are also often involved with public relations and giving talks: getting the message out about what we do here at The Big Issue.

Through training, advice and encouragement, and by building trust and confidence, they really do help people help themselves.

Contact your state’s Vendor Manager: Contact us

Administration

We have a growing team of office administrators who look after the finances, organise advertising, keep this website going and support the organisation in many other ways.

Contact administration: bigissue@bigissue.org.au.

General Manager Steven Persson makes sure all the elements of The Big Issue Australia run as smoothly as possible. In 2006 he successfully co-ordinated the bid to host the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne. His dedicated fundraising is also putting Street Soccer Programs around Australia.

Street Soccer Managers

Street Soccer Programs are being rolled out in locations all around Australia. Street Soccer managers support the players by mentoring and promoting participation and team spirit. They also organise matches and training, and coordinate volunteers and corporate partners.

National Street Soccer Coordinator: Felicia Welstead
National Coach: George Halkias

Contact Felicia Welstead to get in touch with your nearest Street Soccer coordinater: felicia@bigissue.org.au.

Read more about the Street Socceroos

Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup

There is nothing like the Homeless World Cup: people who are usually pushed to the margins of society rise up and become heroes. Having worked on world-class events such as the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the Rubgy World Cup our team promises the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne will be one to remember.

Chief Operating Officer: Sam Blackstone
Operations manager: Melissa Hansen

Contact the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup team.

Find out more about the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup.

Funding and Supporters

Funding from a range of sources keeps the wheels turning at The Big Issue, including magazine sales, advertising revenue, sponsors, trusts and philanthropic organisations, state and local governments and donations from readers. The Body Shop was our founding sponsor and continues to provide sponsorship and support.

Found out who else supports us: Funding and supporters

The Big Issue Board

The Big Issue Board provide leadership and direction for the organisation. The Big Issue Board