With Purpose

Kelly O'Shanassy is one of Australia's most recognised environmental leaders, having served as CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation for over a decade. In this episode, Kelly reflects on what it means to lead an organisation through moments of both progress and frustration, and shares how a deep, personal love of the natural world has sustained her through the demands of that work. She off...

Melissa Smith is the CEO and founder of Noble Ambition, the founder of the She Gives campaign, a former Australian Fundraiser of the Year and a former Global Fundraiser of the Year. In this episode, Melissa speaks about the significant and growing role of women in philanthropy, what women respond to and what they want when they give. She shares valuable insights in relation to successful fundraisi...

James Garland FFIA CFRE is a Strategic Director at fundraising consultant DGB Global and the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s 2025 Fundraiser of the Year. In this episode, James delves into various aspects of fundraising, sharing insights from his extensive career. He shares pivotal moments that shaped his approach to fundraising and offers advice to charities attempting to crack the structure...

David Handley AM is the founder and the force behind Sculpture by the Sea, an exhibition that began in Sydney in 1997, before expanding to Perth and, with Royal patronage, Denmark. In this episode, he explains how and why he built these cultural and community assets, and why he is so passionate about his latest venture, the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. David also offers valuable insights into ru...

Mel Thomas is a frontline domestic violence prevention expert who founded her own charity KYUP! Project, to teach Australians self-worth and self-defence. A two-time Australian Hapkido champion and black belt martial artist, Mel has spent the last decade delivering practical workshops and education in schools, shelters, community centres and businesses across Australia. In this episode, Mel talks...

Michael Traill AM made his name at Macquarie Bank as a successful private equity investor, before jumping ship to foster social entrepreneurship in Australia as founder of Social Ventures Australia. This journey led him to the field of impact investing, a field in which he is now acknowledged as a pioneering leader and elder statesman. Today, Michael is Executive Director of For Purpose Investment...

Shaun Christie-David is an award-winning social entrepreneur who thinks big and delivers on his ideas. As the Founder and CEO of Plate it Forward, Shaun uses food and hospitality to support and lift up people in need. In this episode, Shaun talks about his life and his long-term commitment to helping and empowering marginalised communities through the provision of food, employment and business.

Karen Mahlab AM is one of Australia’s most prominent community advocates. As the force behind Pro Bono Australia, Karen gave voice to a raft of social and environmental movements for over 20 years. As a proponent of public interest journalism, she remains at the forefront of civic life, even as she contemplates her next move. This episode was recorded in the wake of Australia’s Voice to Parliament...

Greg Hagin is a Principal, Managing Director and Board member at global fundraising consultant CCS Fundraising, where he provides advice to the non-profit sector. In his career Greg has advised on more than 100 development initiatives that have raised collectively over $10 billion, positively impacting tens of millions of lives. Greg knows Australia well and in this episode he shares universal sec...

Alex Vynokur arrived in Australia aged 16 and unable to speak English. He went on to co-found leading ETF manager, Betashares, where he is currently CEO. After initially feeling shock and anger in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Alex helped to establish the United Ukraine Appeal, a registered Australian charity providing humanitarian aid to people affected by the conflict. Alex t...

Kristy Muir is CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation and a Professor of Social Policy in the Business School at UNSW Sydney. In this episode Kristy’s passion for evidence-based social justice is on full display. Kristy talks about her belief in the power of culture and how her values shape her work as a leader. We also examine how the Paul Ramsay Foundation works to break cycles of disadvantage by ena...

Susheela Peres da Costa is a leader in the field of responsible investment. Purpose sits at the heart of her work with organisations like The Stewardship Centre, Beyond Zero Emissions and the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. In this episode, Susheela talks about different approaches to investing responsibly, the relationship between risk, return and impact and the ever-growing oppor...

Daniel Petre AO has spent his career at the cutting edge of business. He’s particularly well known for his achievements in tech and venture capital. A long-time philanthropist, Daniel talks about his belief that financially successful people should be giving more and giving thoughtfully, something he learnt first-hand from Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. This episode was recorded using Zoom and you...

Vicki Condon AM is the founder and CEO of Raise, the youth mentoring foundation. In the midst of a destabilising global pandemic, Vicki explains how mentoring builds resilience and how the benefits can be felt across a whole community. This episode was recorded using Zoom on 31 August 2021

Warren McFarlan is a legend of the Harvard Business School. Over the last 50 years he has made major contributions to the work of the School at home in Boston, in Switzerland and in China. A former Chairman of the Advanced Management Program, he is best known in Australia for his work teaching governance and leadership development to non-profit directors and executives. Warren’s latest book is ‘Ef...

Orange Sky is the world’s first free mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness – an idea founded in a Brisbane garage by two 20-year-old mates, Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett. In recognition of their achievement in founding and leading Orange Sky, Nic and Lucas were subsequently named 2016 Young Australians of the Year and in 2020 they were each awarded an Order of Australia Med...

Few people know the communities of our wide brown land as well as Natalie Egleton, CEO of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. In this episode, Natalie shares her experience of inequality, resilience, disaster recovery and the vital role philanthropy plays in uniting people across Australia. This episode was recorded using Zoom on 7 December 2020.

You find time for the things you love, says Cav. Simon Mordant AO, in a conversation that shines light on a life of purpose and achievement. Starting with little more than a pair of cuff-links, Simon has fashioned a rich philanthropic and cultural life from a career as one of Australia’s top corporate financiers. As Simon prepares to step down as Chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art, he refl...

In this episode we speak to Malcolm Turnbull, the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. Malcolm talks about philanthropy, impact investing and the merits of choosing a purposeful life. Along the way, we discuss the importance of the non-profit sector and Malcolm offers tips to charities seeking government support. There is even a guest appearance from Malcolm’s wife, Lucy. This podcast was recorded on...