Volunteers are the beating heart of any event, from the Olympics to your local school sports day. But beyond the medals and podiums, what impact does volunteering have on individuals, communities, and the broader economy?
In this episode, Shayne MacLachlan from the OECD talks to Max Jablonowski (BIAC) and Betty Anne Bryce (OECD), who volunteered at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They share their behind-the-scenes experiences, the personal and professional skills they gained, and why volunteering is a powerful force for social good. They also explain what policy makers can do to support and sustain this essential activity.
So, join us as we explore the people-powered force behind the Olympics and discuss how we can harness its full potential for communities everywhere.
As Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Shayne engages with policy issues concerning SMEs, tourism, culture, regions and cities to name a few. He has worked on a number of OECD campaigns including “Going Digital”, "Climate Action" and "I am the future of work".
Betty-Ann Bryce is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Regions, and Cities in the Regional and Rural Unit. She joined the OECD from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), where she served as a Special Advisor for Rural Affairs. She was detailed to ONDCP from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture where she held different roles including Senior Policy Advisor, Rural Health Liaison, and Financial Investment Specialist in the Rural Development Agency. Betty-Ann is a licensed Attorney with a MPA in Economic and Territorial Development from The Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po) in France, and a MPA in Economic and Political Development from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in the United States.
Max Jablonowski is the Communications Manager for Business at OECD (BIAC). He manages their external communications outputs, including media relations, digital communications, branding, amongst others. He works with the team, and policy group leadership to strengthen visibility within the OECD’s network and beyond. He has written for several media outlets including the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Politico, Euronews, and others. Prior to joining Business at OECD, Max gained experience working as Events and Communications Officer for a leading think tank in the UK supporting their external affairs, media relations, and high-level events schedule. He graduated from the University of Exeter in July 2022 with a degree in French and Politics.