Graeme Wood (class of 1964) is one of Australia's most successful entrepreneurs and is a nationally leading philanthropist for education, the environment, Indigenous communities and youth. Mr Wood revolutionised the travel industry with the creation and co-founding of Wotif.com, a globally leading accommodation business. Moreover, he has contributed significant funding to investments in media, including backing The Guardian and founding The Global Mail.

Mr Wood uses his wealth and position to give back to areas in the community in dire need. In 2006, he founded The Graeme Wood Foundation which has supported environmental sustainability, the arts, tertiary education and justice for Australia's Indigenous communities. He was a key supporter of the establishment of the Centre for Youth Substance Abuse and Research and has generously funded numerous programs such as the Young Achievers Program and the Wotif scholarship for disadvantaged students.

Wood is also the founder and chief executive for Wildmob, a not-for-profit organisation that protects the most threatened species and ecosystems in Australia and the Pacific. In 2010 Mr Wood also made Australia's biggest political donation of $1.6 million to the Greens, funding critical environmental sustainability campaigns.

Through his philanthropic work Mr Wood has received numerous awards including the 2008 Suncorp Queenslander of the year and the 2008 Business/Higher Education Round Table Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Support of Higher Education. He also received one of the highest honours in Australia when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2012 Australia Day Honours.

During Mr Wood's time at Brisbane State High School he competed in the firsts for cricket and also participated in rowing. He gave the advice to students to "start (activism) while you're a student, work with disadvantaged people, work on environmental campaigns, understand politics and do something about it".

Mr Wood says that from a young age, he "always questioned the absurdity of running down the natural environment for the sake of profit". He believes that it is important to give back to the community whether you have the means to or not, whether that be volunteering or campaigning, as "it is a duty for all of us to give back to the community".

In reflecting on his entrepreneurial and philanthropic career Mr Wood says that "it's not work for me, it's what I want to do. I couldn't imagine not doing it, it's what keeps me going, keeps me interested, keeps me inspired… it's my life".

Written by Max Hepperlin*

*NB: This alumni profile was crafted by a State High student as part of the school's student/alumni interview project during the 2021 Centenary celebration.