The idea for a national community of ‘Golden Gurus’ was proposed at the Australia 2020 Summit by Ernie Peralta, a mature age Australian living in Queensland.

Ernie’s idea started as a 25-word essay in a contest conducted by Brisbane’s Courier-Mail to select a worthy delegate to the 2020 Summit. Over a thousand submissions were received by the newspaper. His novel idea was chosen as a simple solution to help improve the nation’s productivity.

Ernie’s plan was to activate retired and semi-retired skilled professionals to provide mentoring support to small business and the community.

Ernie’s commitment to Golden Gurus is understandable. He says that he is living this dream based on an idea that parallels his own personal circumstances. Educated in the United States with an MBA from Stanford University, he spent his professional career with a global oil company until he brought his family to Australia in the mid 1970s. He spent some years as an international marketing consultant, then became a lecturer at an international university.

The Golden Gurus Program now occupies his full-time interest. Ernie supports Volunteering Queensland, as this organisation implements the Queensland Government’s Golden Gurus Program.

_{April 20, 2008: Canberra, ACT. Ernie Peralta and the then Deputy PM Julia Gillard at the 2020 Summit at Parliament House in Canberra.
Published: Herald Sun - April 21, 2008 Page: 020 Edition: FIRST Keywords: politician / delegates
Kym Smith
© Newspix / News Ltd / 3rd Party Managed Reproduction & Supply Rights}