The winning team. From left to right Grace Craig (support), Roger Ye (support), Ray Neruwana (support) and Forouzan Hakimi (support), Gai Tyrrell (CEO), Scott Paton (HR and campaign organiser), Keiryn Osbourne (support manager).

Sabre Pacific, a global technology company serving travel suppliers and agencies, has announced the winners of their hotly-contested mobile phone drive held in support of the Jane Goodall Institute.

CEO of Sabre Pacific, Gai Tyrrell, says Sabre is dedicated to promoting culturally responsible and environmentally sustainable practices, both internally and amongst its customers.

"Being involved with charities and environmental activities are just some of the many ways we go about accomplishing this.  Over the past few months, Sabre employees and our customers across Australia and New Zealand have been scouring their homes for unwanted mobile phones and sending them in to us by the dozen – and they're doing so for a great cause,” says Tyrrell

Every phone received helps to reduce the environmental, biological and humanitarian impact of coltan mining in the Congo. The rare and expensive components found in all mobile phones can be recycled or reused to: fund a ranger in the Congo to protect against illegal mining; limit the impact of the phones on landfill; reduce the global need for coltan; and even raise cash which can be used for initiatives, such as assisting with community needs, environmental education and HIV and Family Planning in the Congo.

Sabre Pacific would also like to congratulate Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), who received first prize in the customer category after donating an astounding 100 phones. Internally, the Sabre Pacific Support Team managed to edge out the competition to take first place in the Sabre staff challenge.

The winners in each group will receive a fantastic behind-the-scenes experience at an Australian zoo of their choice.

The competition was run in conjunction with the Jane Goodall Institute, a charity dedicated to rounding-up old mobile phones and putting them to work to help save Africa's dwindling primate population.

"We'd like to thank all our customers who participated, with a special thank you to CWT. While many of the staff at CWT helped make our promotion an incredible success, we owe special credit to two employees who managed the project across Australia – Marie Van Vlenmen and Mariam Alkham," says Tyrrell.