MARK Anderson has dedicated more than 23 years of his life to youth development in Western Australia. His charitable youth organisation based in Pinjarra provides a range of development programs, apprenticeships and traineeships for young people. Mr Anderson’s most significant business achievement was the major role he played in the revitalisation of Fairbridge village from a decaying and unprofitable site to a vibrant, multi-functional, award-winning heritage village and enterprise. The five-year redevelopment and restoration program started in 1997 with $10.7 million raised from donations. The village has grown from having just 5,000 visitors each year to more than 180,000 in 2004-2005, with 170 volunteers and 120 staff. Mr Anderson was instrumental in introducing the Fairbridge Pathways Program in 2002, which supports 1,500 young people each year at risk, with a disability or struggling to achieve, encouraging long-term change so that they can become valued contributors to society. Fairbridge is now endorsed as a registered training organisation. In 2005, Fairbridge won a Prime Minister’s Employer of the Year award for excellence in employing people with disabilities. Mr Anderson started at Fairbridge nine years ago in the role of development officer, having previously been manager of Kununurra Youth Services. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Edith Cowan University and is to complete a masters in leadership and management from Curtin University.