Philanthropy Australia’s Upcoming National Conference

2014 Philanthropy Australia National Conference Early Bird offer ends this Wednesday, July 16

More than 50 leading Australian and international speakers will join up to 1,000 delegates to debate and discuss trends in philanthropy and giving at Philanthropy Australia’s 2014 National Conference in Melbourne on September 2 – 3.

The biennial conference from Australian philanthropy’s peak body, Philanthropy Australia, has been designed to raise awareness of the importance of giving in Australia, and bring together and help inspire existing and potential funders and grant seekers.

The conference features high-profile and international guest speakers, keynotes, pop ups, learning kiosks, In Conversation sessions as well as networking drinks and the presentation of the newly launched Philanthropy Australia Philanthropic Leader Awards.

Philanthropy Australia’s CEO Louise Walsh said: “Our 2014 National Conference will be one of the major events for philanthropy in Australia. We’re really excited to be able to bring together this calibre of speakers and delegates. As we champion inventive giving we’re hoping to encourage stronger collaboration within the sector and inspire others to start or increase their giving.

“Whether you want to discover global trends, thought-leaders or network with others in the giving sector this is not to be missed,” Walsh concluded.

Highlights of the 2014 National Conference include:

• Philanthropists Andrew Forrest, Founder Minderoo Foundation and Graham Tuckwell, Founder ETF Securities Limited, in conversation;
• Philanthropist Mark Carnegie, Founder & Principal M.H. Carnegie & Co and Noel Pearson, Chair of Cape York Partnership Australia, in conversation;
• President of Community Foundations of Canada and two-time Olympian Ian Bird (CAN) on Big Picture Thinking in a ‘Right Now’ World;
• Christine Sherry (USA), Founder of The Philanthropy Workshop West on key trends and lessons in philanthropy from the Silicon Valley;
• Brad Smith (USA), President of Foundation Center, the leading center of information on philanthropy, on philanthropy’s bright future;
• Lucy Bernholz (USA), Senior Fellow at Stanford University Center on inventing digital civil society;
• Actress Rachel Griffiths, Patron of HAGAR Australia, on international giving;
• Li Cunxin, Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet on how philanthropy has changed that organization;
• Maggie Beer, Founder of Maggie Beer Foundation and Sir Gustav Nossal AC in a panel on philanthropy.

Day 1 of the Conference features presentations and pop ups from leading voices in philanthropy and is open to the general public as well as those in the philanthropic sector. Day 1 concludes with Delegate Drinks at the National Gallery of Victoria and the presentation of the inaugural Philanthropy Australia Philanthropic Leader Awards.

Day 2 features collaborative sessions specifically for funders and philanthropists and is exclusively for funders and advisors. Themes include ageing, education, Indigenous, arts, international giving, health and medical research, homelessness and rural/regional concerns. In addition, there will also be sessions around corporate giving and private inventive giving. Pre-conference workshops will also be held in Melbourne.

“Philanthropy Australia would also like to thank our 2014 National Conference partners who helped bring our vision to life – we couldn’t have done it without them,” concluded Walsh.

For more information about the 2014 National Conference and to register, please visit www.philanthropy.org.au/conference. Early Bird registrations end Wednesday, July 16.

Full program available at www.philanthropyaustralia.org.au

Nominations for the new Philanthropic Leader Awards close Friday, August 1. Full details available at www.philanthropy.org.au/awards-2014