PA welcomes Laura Cochrane as Executive Director, Membership and Engagement
Fri, 8 Aug 2025
The Philanthropy Australia team is delighted to welcome Laura Cochrane as Executive Director, Membership and Engagement. Laura is an executive with 20 years’ experience across philanthropy, social investment, corporate affairs and journalism. She was most recently CEO and Managing Director of the Bennelong Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bangarra Family Office, where she led giving in Australia and the UK focused on creating education and employment pathways for people facing the biggest barriers to participation.
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Professor Thomas Homer-Dixon: How can we lead with ‘commanding hope’?
Dee Rudebeck, Advisor, News & Storytelling
Fri, 8 Aug 2025
Globally renowned complex systems expert, Canadian Professor Thomas Homer-Dixon, kicked off the main event at the Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025 by unpacking the polycrisis. Speaking to Giving News beforehand, he said that leadership for our times involves helping people to be more comfortable with uncertainty and understand that it ‘creates possibilities for novel breakthroughs’.
Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025 – In pictures!
Fri, 8 Aug 2025
What an incredible few days we had in Canberra! Browse through these moments that capture the passion of our speakers, the engagement of our audience, and the collaborative spirit that made our Leadership Summit truly special.
Thank you to our Leadership Summit Partners
Fri, 25 Jul 2025
The Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025 is completely sold out and we’re pleased to be expecting 450 attendees for the Leadership Summit itself on Wednesday 6 August. We are particularly happy that we have a strong contingent of attendees representing First Nations organisations and small not-for-profits, thanks to our scholarships.
Next-gen philanthropists join Prince Harry at NEXUS 2025 Global Summit
Lucy Steggles, Executive Officer, NEXUS Australia
Fri, 25 Jul 2025
A delegation of 14 next-gen leaders has returned from the yearly gathering in New York with ‘hearts full and minds ablaze with inspiration’. The summit brings together young philanthropists, impact investors and social change innovators from over 25 countries to connect, learn and collaborate on the world's greatest challenges. Among the highlights was a special workshop with Prince Harry, writes Lucy Steggles, Executive Officer of NEXUS Australia.
From privilege to possibility: leadership in an age of inequality
Rachel Ball, CEO, Reichstein Foundation
Fri, 25 Jul 2025
In this era of economic inequality, the philanthropic sector is not a spectator. We contribute to and benefit from a flawed economic system that fuels inequality, condemns people to poverty and perpetuates discrimination. As privileged participants in this system, we have an opportunity and responsibility to change it, writes Rachel Ball, CEO of the Reichstein Foundation.
Welcome to PA’s two new Engagement Leads
Fri, 25 Jul 2025
We are delighted to welcome to new members of the Philanthropy Australia membership and engagement team – Fleur Allen and Caroline Morrissey.Caroline joins Kim Harland in the PA Queensland team as the Engagement Lead (QLD/NT). Fleur is our Engagement Lead (WA/SA) working from the Perth office with Ollie Hanson.
