get to know Carlos

Carlos Aguilera’s journey began in Santiago, Chile, where he was born under a dictatorship. Whilst he has many fond memories of his childhood; he also has many not-so-fond memories that he says; “those, I choose not to remember.”

A fond memory Carlos plays over and over in his head is when “I went to a fair with my sister when I was 4 or 5 and I recall that the crowd was told about a child that had a brain tumour. The announcer asked people to help by giving cash or by buying something from the fair. My sister and I bought a balloon to help. Sadly in figuring out how to best hold the balloon together – we both let it go and it flew away. Regardless, I remember this because it was my first encounter with ‘fundraising’.”

In 1991, he and his family immigrated to Australia, a difficult transition but one that opened his eyes to the power of kindness. 

Growing up in Australia, Carlos found community and purpose through Boys Brigade, where he participated in various fundraising campaigns such as Lamington Drives, selling chocolates, washing cars, and donating clothes to the needy. These early experiences solidified his passion for social causes, teaching him the importance of giving back.

Carlos grew up playing football [soccer] and tennis. In 2002, Carlos moved to the US to coach tennis.

In 2003, Carlos undertook a Bachelors Degree in Sports Science, Sports Medicine from University of Canberra. He graduated in 2006.

In 2004, Carlos was offered the opportunity to work in Government [Federal] on an IT project. Even though he was hesitant to join [even for a 3 week contract], Carlos gained his first experience working for Government and on IT. The 3 week contract would quickly extend to 3 months, then 6 months, then 12 months. Carlos was promoted to a permanent position in 2006 and would spend the following 11 years in Government.

Carlos spent just shy of 13 years working in government, culminating in his work on the Gonski Educational Reform Taskforce. He played a key role in implementing a national payment system for every student in Australia, marking a significant milestone in his career. Despite his success, in 2015, he resigned to pursue his true passion for fundraising and helping others.

Later that same year, Carlos trained for and completed his first marathon in Canberra, followed by an ultra marathon across Israel and Palestine just three weeks later. This extraordinary feat was in support of persecuted Christians fleeing ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The experience transformed his understanding of the nonprofit sector, deepening his appreciation for the power of kindness and generosity.