Melbourne Climate Lens launch

This is a member only event, please login to the Better Giving Hub to register here

Climate change is a topic on everyone’s minds. But as a funder, how do you start to apply a climate lens to your philanthropy and investments?  

A changing climate affects everyone, but not equally. Low-income households struggling with rising electricity bills, people with chronic health conditions, bushfire- and flood-affected communities that lack adequate resources to begin with — these Australians and many more, are particularly vulnerable to the pervasive impacts of climate change.  

It’s why we’ve partnered together to develop and launch a Climate Lens tool for Australian funders seeking to better understand — and armed with this insight mitigate against — the cross-cutting impacts of climate change, all of which are working to undermine the people, places and causes you serve.  

We would love you to join us in Melbourne to share this new tool with the Australian philanthropy community. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with peers, hear first-hand from funders who are applying a climate lens to their giving and be inspired by the impact that can be achieved for a safe climate and stronger communities.  

We look forward to seeing you there!

A special thank you to Sustainability Victoria for providing venue for this event.

Speakers

Darrel Wade

Chairman, Intrepid and Director, Dawn Wade Foundation

Darrell Wade is the Co-founder and Chairman of Intrepid, the world’s largest certified travel B Corp. A highly regarded entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, Darrell and Geoff (‘Manch’) Manchester founded Intrepid Travel in the late 1980s as a new way for people to explore the world that was immersive, sustainable and gave back to the communities they visited. Today, Darrell works with a number of start-up and accelerator businesses, in addition to being an advocate for responsible tourism.

He is vice chair of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and chair of Travalyst, an initiative established by the Duke of Sussex to increase travel industry sustainability. 

Dr Catherine Brown OAM

CEO, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Chair of the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network  

Catherine leads the largest and oldest community foundation in Australia as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. They tackle the tough issues facing Melbourne. Priority areas currently include affordable housing, sustainable Melbourne (energy, food and water), the health impacts of climate change, social cohesion and youth unemployment. The Foundation uses a climate lens to inform its work across all impact areas.  

Catherine is a lawyer with a commitment to community philanthropy and philanthropy’s role supporting innovative solutions to tough environmental and social problems.  

After several years in commercial law, Catherine worked in legal and management roles with the MS Society, Wesley Mission and the Brain Foundation Victoria, where she was CEO and then as an advisor within the not for profit and philanthropic sectors. She joined the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in 2011.  

Catherine is the author of Great Foundations: A 360° guide to building resilient and effective not-for-profit organisations (ACER Press, 2010). She has completed a PhD by practice related research related to philanthropic foundations and innovation at Swinburne University (Centre for Social Impact, Faculty of Business and Law).  

Catherine has held Victorian Government Board appointments as Chair or Deputy Chair of organisations in health, women’s affairs and cemetery management.

Amanda Martin OAM

CEO,  Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network

Amanda has worked in philanthropy for over 20 years, having worked as Executive Officer for the Poola Foundation for four years before helping to establish the AEGN in 2008.After years of participating in and helping with social and environmental change, Amanda believes that a key ingredient to making the world a better place is smart and strategic community groups working with smart and strategic philanthropy. She has a background in biodiversity and protected area advocacy and management, working in both the public and community sector. Previously, Amanda was the Executive Officer of the Victoria National Parks Association, and the Head of Policy and Planning at Parks Victoria. She is also a trained and skilled facilitator of groups and regularly uses this in her current role. 

Jack Heath

CEO, Philanthropy Australia

Jack sees philanthropy as a driving force for good in a time of diminished trust in institutions and huge societal challenges. He advocates for a philanthropy that is big-hearted, clear-headed and joyful. 

After graduating from the University of Melbourne in Honours Arts and Law, he served in government as a diplomat, speechwriter and senior adviser to federal ministers including Prime Minister Paul Keating. Then, following the suicide of his young cousin, Jack led the establishment of the ReachOut youth mental health organisations in Australia, Ireland and the USA before serving as CEO at SANE Australia for over 8 years. 

He has sat on a number of advisory boards and committees and received awards for his contributions in mental health, including a Centenary Medal. 

Jack lives in Sydney with his publisher wife Catherine Milne and they have 2 adult children, Lucy and James, and a dog Fred.