Centre for Philanthropy Names New Advisory Board Members

Queensland’s Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies based at QUT has secured a number of  new high profile members to its Advisory Board.

The new board members are Sandy Blackburn-Wright, Jennifer Robertson, Linda Lavarch and Allan English.

“Each of the members is involved in different aspects of philanthropy and Not for Profit organisations and they bring a wealth of experience and good judgment to their board deliberations,” ACPNS said.

Formally the Head of Social Innovation for Westpac, Sandy Blackburn-Wright is now the Convenor of the Social Marketplace.

At Westpac, Blackburn-Wright established the Organisational Mentoring Program in 2009, which partners with Not for Profit organisations and social enterprises to build their organisational capacity over several years of engagement and support.

Linda Lavarch has held one of the most influential positions in the community sector as Chair of the Australian Government's Not for Profit Sector Reform Council – a specialist advisory panel appointed by the former Labor Federal Government to advise on its NFP reform agenda from 2011 until September 2013.

Lavarch is a former Member of the Queensland Parliament, serving as Queensland's first woman Attorney-General.

Jennifer Robertson is a solicitor with a Master of Business from Queensland University of Technology.

“Jennifer Robertson is uniquely placed to contribute, being a former student and guest lecturer at ACPNS, former ACPNS  Alumni chair and now QUT Alumni President and member of the QUT Council,” ACPNS  said.

Allan English is a philanthropist and Non Executive Director of the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia which runs programs for entrepreneurial individuals who have an idea or start–up venture with a social or environmental benefit.

English is also Director of the English Family Foundation.