Myles McGregor Lowndes Named Emeritus Professor

The founding director of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT, Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes has been recognised for his distinguished and longstanding contribution to the university over 35 years with the title of Emeritus Professor.

Myles McGregor-Lowndes is one of Australia’s best known researchers and authorities on the workings of the not-for-profit sector.

He joined QUT in 1982, advancing to Professor in 2002. He is the founding director of The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies (ACPNS), which has built a strong national and international reputation for teaching, research and impact on practice.

McGregor-Lowndes has written extensively on NFP tax and regulation, legal entities, government grants and standard charts of accounts as a means of reducing the compliance burden.

Can you tell we’re just a little chuffed Myles McGregor-Lowndes was made Emeritus Prof? Knighting ceremony at #ACPNS #congratsMML @w_scaife pic.twitter.com/BcZ6dC1fNl

— ACPNS – QUT (@acpns_qut) August 9, 2017

He is a founding member of the Australian Taxation Office Charities Consultative Committee and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) advisory board and, in June 2003, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to the community by providing education and support in legal, financial and administrative matters to not-for-profit organisations”.

QUT said McGregor-Lowndes’ contribution to the Australian and international NFP sector had been extensive and enduring.

“His research contributes significantly not only to the academy but also to policy makers and the NFP and philanthropy sectors. His contribution to the creation of a National Standard Chart of Accounts (NSCOA) for the sector extended the not-for-profit accounting knowledge base, provided significant savings for the sector and reduced red tape, resulting unanimous adoption of NSCOA by the Council of Australian Governments,” QUT said.

As well, Myles McGregor-Lowndes has provided compelling evidence to Australia’s judiciary on decisions made when families challenge charitable bequests, and has presented his research by invitation from governments in a range of countries including New Zealand, China, Korea and Canada.

Advisory tools resulting from his research and the ACPNS are used extensively in the sector.

Among the significant government and sector committees that have sought a particular contribution from McGregor-Lowndes are the Productivity Commission, the advisory board for the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission, and the Australian Tax Office’s Charities Consultative Committee.

His latest book Charity Regulation – the Inside Story (co-edited with CEO of Canada’s Muttart Foundation Robert Wyatt) brings together the main actors in charity regulation internationally in order to guide policy makers, public administrators and the third sector towards possible future regulatory paths.

Myles McGregor Lowndes is a regular contributor to Pro Bono News.