User:Scottjohnmaggs/sandbox

Scott John Maggs (formerly known as Jimmy Niggles Esq.) is an Australian entrepreneur, public speaker, and skin cancer awareness advocate. He is the founder of a non-profit charity organization called Skin Check Champions which evolved from a movement called Beard Season. The charity focuses on improving access and awareness for the early detection of skin cancer. Particularly for communities most at risk.

Early Life and Education
Scott John Maggs grew up on a farm in Oberon called Mayfield. He attended high school at Scots Bathurst and took a gap year in the UK before studying Commerce at the Australian National University (ANU). During his time at ANU, he resided at John XXIII College, where he became friends with Wes Bonny, whose death from melanoma in 2010 inspired Maggs' advocacy work.

Travel and Early Career
After university, Maggs traveled the world for a year, working as a ski instructor in Canada, on a superyacht in the Mediterranean, and touring Southeast Asia. Upon his return to Australia, he embarked on a career in advertising, working with high-profile clients such as Apple and Google. During this time, he built Beard Season as a side project, which eventually grew into his full-time commitment.

Beard Season and Skin Check Champions
In honour of his friend, Maggs started Beard Season in 2010. The initiative invited gentlemen to grow beards during winter to raise awareness about skin cancer and the importance of regular skin checks. The name "Jimmy Niggles" was a persona created by Maggs to embody the campaign's playful yet impactful spirit.

Beard Season has garnered significant attention both in Australia and internationally. Maggs' distinctive beard became a symbol of the movement, and he used his platform to partner with numerous organizations, conduct public speaking engagements and organize events aimed at promoting skin cancer awareness.

The peak of this movement was an exhibition called BEARD   at Somerset House, which he hosted with British Photographer Mr Brock Elbank, sponsored by Hublot with the support of Captain Fawcett. The event attracted over 33,000 visitors including celebrities like Nick Wooster, Harnaam Kaur and Graham Norton, who was inspired to grow his beard because of the work.

Other celebrities who have supported the initiative include Sir. Richard Branson who invited Jimmy Niggles to Necker Island, Chris Hemsworth who encouraged his social media community to get a skin check, and Hamish Blake who has attended the charities events and was the Master of Ceremonies at the Million Dollar Beard Ball with Michael (Wippa) Wipfli.

Transition from Jimmy Niggles to Scott John Maggs
In 2021, Maggs decided to retire the Jimmy Niggles persona and return to using his real name, Scott John Maggs. This transition was marked by a significant event on May 13, 2021, at a star-studded ball held at Justin Hemmes’ Merivale in Sydney. During this event, Maggs shaved off his iconic beard, which had become known as the "million dollar beard" due to its role in raising substantial funds for skin cancer awareness and research.

This beard is the first in the world to raise a million dollars, with proceeds funding a groundbreaking research pilot called [Project Check Mate](https://www.projectcheckmate.com.au). This project aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of skin cancer screening and early detection methodologies. Working with nurses, Artificial Intelligence and events in regional / remote communities. Project Check Mate is a collaboration with the Rosemary Bryant Research Centre of the University of South Australia and aims to receive on-going support from the Australian Federal Government and Department of Health.

Strip Off for Skin Cancer
In November 2022, Maggs collaborated with renowned artist Spencer Tunick for a large-scale public art event at Bondi Beach called "Strip Off for Skin Cancer." The event involved over 2,500 participants who watched the sun rise in nothing but their skin to raise funds and awareness for the early detection of skin cancer. This collaboration achieved over 485 million global media impressions and was a top four world news story.

Engagement with the Government
Maggs has been actively engaging with the Australian government to pioneer a targeted national skin cancer screening program. His efforts include advocating for systematic and accessible skin checks to ensure early detection and treatment of skin cancer, aiming to reduce the mortality rate associated with the disease.

Personal Life
Scott Maggs now lives on the NSW South Coast and is a eager surfer, CEO and family man.

Legacy and Impact
Scott John Maggs' efforts through Skin Check Champions have helped thousands of people to get their skin checked, potentially saving hundreds of lives by catching melanoma early. His innovative and engaging approach to health advocacy has inspired many and brought significant attention to a critical public health issue.