Who We Are: Staff & Council

Anna Draffin has extensive experience in communications and marketing, strategic development and change management across the private and public sectors in Australia, USA and UK.

In establishing the Victorian office for the Australia Council for the Arts' philanthropy initiative, Artsupport Australia, Anna mentored nearly 200 Victorian organisations and individuals, from the Board and CEO level down and helped facilitate over $3million in philanthropic funding. She was previously the Deputy Director at Heide Museum of Modern Art, with portfolios including commercial operations, marketing, fundraising, membership and capital development. With her communications background, Anna has also consulted widely including local and state government organisations (Australia) and commercial companies (Australia, USA and UK).

She holds a BA/ BComm from the University of Melbourne and was awarded a full scholarship for the General Manager Program, Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW). Anna has been a guest presenter at universities and a board member for various organisations, including peak and industry advisory bodies.

a.draffin@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)3 9665 9111

Mobile: +61 (0)419 319 388

» Melbourne Office

Bruce Argyle has over 25 years' experience in the not-for-profit sector in New Zealand, California and Australia, mostly as a CEO in the areas of homelessness, youth, Indigenous, education and fundraising. As CEO he grew one homelessness organisation from a single worker to over 70 staff in three states.

He has served in his current role since 2007. In this role he has primary responsibility for supporting existing and recruiting new members – individual and family philanthropy, trusts and foundations, including PAFs. Bruce has oversight of the Community Foundations nationally. Bruce has a strong history of growing organisations and has played a pivotal role in facilitating significant growth in membership at Philanthropy Australia during this period, especially in Victoria.

He oversees partnerships between Philanthropy Australia and other grant making organisations such as the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network and the Australian Women Donor's Network. Working closely with the Office for the Community Sector, Bruce represents Philanthropy Australia on the not-for-profit reference group and the Philanthropy and Government Working party. In 2012 this latter group developed a set of 'Guiding principles for Collaboration between Government and Philanthropy'. In 2011 he set up the professional development pilot program for Philanthropy Australia. He facilitates a broad range of activities and philanthropic services, often in conjunction with members and partner organisations and coordinates the annual Events Calendar. He is currently lead judge for the annual Business Higher Education Round Table philanthropy awards.

An Honours undergraduate of Massey University, New Zealand, Bruce has also recently completed a Masters in Conflict Resolution at LaTrobe University in Melbourne.

b.argyle@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)3 9665 9105

» Melbourne Office

Mary has a background in media and journalism, holding a Bachelor of Creative Industries (With Distinction) with a major in Media Studies and a minor in Creative Writing, from the Queensland University of Technology, Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Arts majoring in Creative Writing from Melbourne University, and a Diploma in Business majoring in Public Relations from Swinburne University of Technology.

She is an acclaimed media commentator and activist, founding the US-based not-for-profit organisation Girl-Wonder.org in 2006 and publishing in a number of cultural studies essay collections. Mary is also a novelist and does freelance journalism in her spare time.

m.borsellino@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)3 9665 9100

» Melbourne Office

Joanna brings over 17 years' experience and extensive knowledge of web technologies, digital marketing and design to Philanthropy Australia, previously holding digital production positions in the not-for-profit and government sectors, and commercial marketing agencies. She has worked with organisations ranging from grass-roots community groups to large corporates producing online projects and campaigns, and is an enthusiastic advocate for empowering not-for-profits with smart use of technology. Her first official foray into governing structured philanthropy has been as one of the founding Committee Members of the newly established Impact100Melbourne.

Joanna maintains Philanthropy Australia's online presence and communications channels including social media, as well as the design of print and digital materials. She is also responsible for managing Philanthropy Australia's IT infrastructure and technical support to Members.

j.fulton@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)3 9665 9104

» Melbourne Office

Vanessa Meachen has over 14 years' experience at Philanthropy Australia. She has extensive knowledge of the Australian philanthropic sector including history, statistics, practices, and philanthropic structures and options. Vanessa coordinates Philanthropy Australia's representation and policy response, including consultations with members and legal representatitves and writing submissions to government. Vanessa's Bachelor and Master of Arts give her strong communication skills which she uses in writing for Philanthropy Australia's publications and guides. She is the author of 'A Guide to Giving for Australians' and 'A Grantseeker's Guide to Trusts and Foundations', which are free downloads from our Publications page.

Vanessa provides information and research services for our Members and responds to queries from media, the public, academics and government. She has also developed and conducted grant-seeker and customised workshops.

v.meachen@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)3 9665 9106

» Melbourne Office

Annie provides administrative assistance for the Sydney office of Philanthropy Australia and assists with membership services for NSW and ACT.

a.scoufis@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)2 9326 9235

» Sydney Office

Caroline comes to Philanthropy Australia with expertise across the legal, government and not for profit sectors. After working as a commercial lawyer at boutique Sydney law firm, Pigott Stinson, she joined the Australia Council's philanthropic arm, Artsupport Australia, as its NSW Manager. She managed the New Generation program for the 12 months it was under the Australia Council's auspices.

Caroline also spent five years as a board member of Information and Cultural Exchange, a digital media organisation based in Western Sydney.

c.vu@philanthropy.org.au

Direct phone: +61 (0)2 9326 9239

Mobile: +61 (0)429 995 439

» Sydney Office

David is a trustee, governance and structure consultant in the philanthropic community. He is Director of Social Ventures Australia (SVA) Private Ancillary Fund Service and is also on the Council of Philanthropy Australia.

David was the author of the Trustee Handbook: Role and Duties of Trustees of Charitable Trusts and Foundations (2008) and the Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Handbook (2009) for Philanthropy Australia and is a presenter of the Trustee and Governance Workshops for Philanthropy Australia. David is also a Sessional Lecturer at Asia Pacific Centre for Social Investment & Philanthropy, Swinburne University, Melbourne.

He was a member of the international panel that developed the Investment Management Code of Conduct for Endowments, Foundations and Charitable Organisations for the CFA Institute (2009-2010).

David had 20 years' experience as a financial market executive with ANZ including four years as CEO of ANZ Trustees, which manages over 200 charitable trusts.

David has a BSC (Hons) and started his working life as a diplomat in New Zealand.

Paul Clitheroe is a director of ipac securities, a company he founded in 1983 with four partners. ipac manages more than $16 billion dollars for clients.  Paul is a leading media commentator on financial issues and is renowned for his ability to explain complex money issues in plain English.  His books have sold over 600,000 copies.  Paul is also a regular radio commentator and writes weekly newspaper columns.

He was host of the Channel 9 TV program money from 1994 to 2004 and has been Chairman and Chief Commentator of money magazine since 1999.

In February 2004, the Federal Government appointed Paul as Chairman of the Consumer and Financial Literacy Foundation. This Foundation has established a national strategy to improve the financial skills of all Australians and is now implementing this strategy in schools and the workplace.  Most Australians would have seen the “Understanding Money” campaign run on TV, magazines and newspapers.

In 2002, Paul and his wife Vicki set up a PPF, The Clitheroe Foundation. The Foundation provides support for medical research and the arts. In recent years it has funded annual scholarships, fellowships or grants for Sydney Symphony, National Art School, Sculpture by the Sea, NSW Art Gallery, Ensemble Theatre and Taronga Zoo.

Janet Hirst has been Chief Executive Officer of The Ian Potter Foundation, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust and The George Alexander Foundation since December 2006.

Janet came to philanthropy after working in senior policy roles for the [former] Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon John Anderson AO, including National Transport Security Adviser and Social Policy Development Adviser. Janet played a key role in the establishment of the Regional Women's Advisory Council, which advised the Government on issues affecting communities in regional Australia, and was a member of the Regional Australia Summit Steering Committee, responsible for developing a plan for implementing outcomes from the Summit.

Janet is currently a member of the Indigenous Eye Health Advisory Committee; the Philanthropy and Government Working Group (convened by the Victorian State Government Office for the Community Sector); the Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) Advisory Group and the Committee for the Advancement of Health & Medical Research (established by Philanthropy Australia and Research Australia). Previous sector roles have included membership of the Centre for Social Impact's Melbourne Advisory Council, The Foundation Project, and the Philanthropy Australia Conference Committee (Vic).

Janet is passionate about genuine collaboration within the philanthropic sector itself as well as with government and community groups, and is dedicated to contributing to the development of a positive and dynamic culture of philanthropy in Australia.

Robert is a company director and private equity investor. He is a director of LJ Hooker, Thoughtweb Inc. and the Reserve Bank of Australia Payments System Board. He is a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Co Inc. where he served as the Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand.

His non-profit roles include serving as a director of the Centre for Independent Studies, the Nature Conservancy Australia Program Advisory Board, the Asia Pacific Council of the Nature Conservancy, the UNSW Medicine Advisory Council and as a board member of Philanthropy Australia.

Genevieve is philanthropic executive of the Portland House Foundation, a private, family foundation based in Melbourne linked to commercial interests. Since her appointment in 2004, a strong grantmaking portfolio has been established consistent with the Foundation charter to assist people to move out of situations of disadvantage. Genevieve is also Deputy Chair of the Inner North Community Foundation, and a director of the George Hicks Foundation, and she brings more than 30 years of experience in grantmaking and social investment.

This experience includes management of the Lance Reichstein Foundation for 12 years, followed by 6 years as an international philanthropic consultant in Australia and New Zealand. Genevieve delivered a comprehensive range of services in both countries through this consultancy, including design, implementation and review of contemporary grantmaking programs, matched with policy and research on emerging trends and global challenges in philanthropic grantmaking. More than 30 clients included community foundations, trusts, PAFS, government, corporate and private donors, plus the peak membership organisation Philanthropy New Zealand. A range of professional development materials have been published both in Australia and New Zealand. In the last decade, Genevieve worked closely with state government as a member of the Victorian Advisory Council for the Community Support Fund, and the Government and Philanthropy Working Party which developed Principles for Collaboration between both sectors.

Other board appointments include the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership and Reconciliation Victoria. High level peer networks are maintained as a Fellow of Leadership Victoria, as a Senior Fellow of the Johns Hopkins International Fellows in Philanthropy Program (USA), and in New Zealand with peer grantmakers.

Genevieve is committed to ensuring that philanthropy in Australia reaches its best potential in the decade ahead, and that Philanthropy Australia as an organisation is respected, influential, leading out with creativity and professionalism, while also adding value and accelerating the progress of all PA members.