Macquarie Group Foundation
Generation’s programs are designed to train learners with the skills that employers need and equip them with the mindset, behaviours and technical skills needed to succeed from day one on the job. Providing mentorship, both during training and on the job, is critical to Generation’s model in supporting learners who face barriers to employment. To date, over 140,000 people across 17 countries have graduated from its programs.1
In 2017, alongside McKinsey & Company, the Macquarie Group Foundation (the Foundation) supported Generation Australia to conduct a feasibility study; this helped pilot, establish and then scale Generation Australia. Since then, the Foundation's support for Generation’s network of in-country affiliates has expanded around the world and in 2023, Generation, You Employed, Generation’s global hub became the Foundation's first global grant partner.
| 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Generation, You Employed was founded | Macquarie supports Generation with a feasibility study of Generation Australia | Macquarie provides funds to support the launch of Generation Australia | Macquarie supports Generation UK in establishing a green jobs program | Macquarie supports Generation France to expand the green jobs portfolio |
| 2023 | 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Generation, You Employed becomes Macquarie’s first global grant partner with funding to test and refine their mentoring program | Directors from across Macquarie coach Global Alumni Ambassadors in a skilled volunteering program |
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Generation Australia delivers accessible programs, running for four to twelve weeks, co-designed with employer partners in high-growth sectors such as technology and care. The organisation combines technical training with employability skills, mentorship and wraparound support.
Since 2019, more than 1,700 people have graduated, with 60 per cent still employed six months after graduation and being paid an average starting salary of $A60,000.2
The Foundation’s most recent unrestricted three-year grant, provided in 2022, has been instrumental in scaling the organisation, building partnerships, and developing curriculum.
Our support for Generation Australia extends beyond financial support to include pro bono work, board memberships and advisory roles, which unlocked additional funding, reflecting a shared commitment to improving employment outcomes for people facing barriers to employment.
I am proud that Macquarie has been a strong partner and supporter of Generation Australia since its inception. I’ve seen firsthand the significant impact that the non-profit has in supporting unemployed or underemployed – often vulnerable – people into meaningful careers. The employment outcomes delivered are real and are having a lasting impact.”
Freeke van Son
Head of Risk Governance, Macquarie Group
Director, Generation Australia
Hamda Muse, a Generation UK programme graduate who participated in the technology bootcamp and is now a Tech Analyst at Macquarie, shares her story of being placed into professional employment.
The Foundation worked with Generation UK to create a training programme that equips individuals with skills for green energy careers, addressing unemployment and meeting the rising demand for green jobs.5
With pro bono guidance and funding from Macquarie, Generation launched the UK's first green jobs programme in 2022, featuring the sustainability project officer training bootcamps that focus on job-specific training for those facing employment obstacles. The programme has since trained over 170 learners, with 67 per cent placed into roles with employers such as Groundwork Trust, Agility Eco, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.2
The green jobs work continues to expand with the addition of a solar panel installer programme in late 2024. Generation UK have now supported 28 learners through the piloting of this new programme.
Building the Green Workforce event held in collaboration with the Macquarie Group Foundation and Generation UK.
It’s been rewarding to help Generation UK launch their solar installer programme and watch its benefits grow. Supporting learners and working with partners like Island Green Power to open doors in the green jobs sector has been truly motivating."
Robert Thornhill
Division Director
Macquarie Group
Generation France CEO Fatène Ben-Hamza and graduate Rubens Nelson talk about the impact the programme has had on them.
In 2023, the Foundation joined forces with Generation France to help the expansion of the existing green mobility bike maintenance programme and introduce a new heat pump installation programme to their green jobs portfolio.
Generation’s support benefits individuals on a national scale, particularly in Paris and the broader Île-de-France region, as well as in Pays-de-la-Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and others.
Participating in the mentoring with Generation France provided an incredible opportunity to empower individuals of all ages with the skills they need to thrive in the workplace. It was truly inspiring to support and motivate people as they embarked on their professional journeys.”
Maria Bekkare
Senior Analyst
Macquarie Commodities and Global Markets
France
Since 2023, with support from the Foundation, Generation has refined its mentorship model and created a digital mentorship platform that is now available in Chile, Colombia, France, Ghana, India, and the US. This platform aims to improve the effectiveness of mentoring by matching mentors and mentees, allowing Generation to offer learners differentiated support based on their needs, and allowing learners to keep track of their mentoring goals and progress. The platform has supported over 10,000 learners.1
In India, Generation uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help with job coaching, including writing CVs and cover letters. Due to positive outcomes from the pilot6, Generation is rolling out the AI mentorship tool to Chile, Ghana and the US.
Generation’s work shows that high-quality mentorship leads to better learner outcomes. Generation will expand its digital mentoring platform and strengthen mentorship initiatives to help more people overcome barriers to economic mobility.
Each year, Generation invites alumni to apply as Global Alumni Ambassadors who support Generation’s work by reviewing curriculum and engaging with learners. Ambassadors also gain access to professional development through volunteer coaches. In 2025, five directors from Macquarie volunteered as coaches, providing career guidance to Generation Alumni Ambassadors across three sessions. This supported Generation’s mission and gave Macquarie volunteers practical experience with coaching skills.
It was incredibly rewarding to help my mentee uncover fresh perspective through the coaching process, and in the course of program, hearing how they applied those learnings immediately to create new pathways towards their goal.”
Lidija Mihaljevic
Associate Director
Macquarie Group
