The continued journey to real impact and better practice

In 2019, we ran a Thought Leadership Series with Liz Gillies, CEO of the Menzies Foundation, who shared the findings of the Philanthropy: Towards a Better Practice Model report which she co-authored.    

There was great optimism about the future of philanthropy in Australia and a genuine desire to continue to develop best practice approaches by both grantmakers and grant seekers.  Five years on from the initial research, much has changed – but the optimism and appetite for better practice remains.   

This webinar will launch the highly anticipated follow-up report, The Continued Journey to Real Impact and Better Practice.    

Liz Gillies will share an overview of how our sector has shifted towards a better practice model, and our panellists will discuss the role of evaluation, strategy and social impact frameworks in achieving change.  

This webinar is part of Philanthropy Australia's six-part 2021 Webinar Series and is open to PA members and general admission. 

Moderator

Jack Heath - CEO, Philanthropy Australia 

Jack has been a leader in the charitable sector for over two decades.  He brings to Philanthropy Australia a deep-seated belief in the ability of philanthropy to change lives. He 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 eight 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.

Presenters

Liz Gillies - CEO, Menzies Foundation 

Liz brings over 20 years’ experience in social impact, philanthropy and leadership development, to the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Menzies Foundation. She has worked across the not-for-profit, university, government and private sectors, including setting up her own businesses. 

Liz was instrumental in establishing and managing both the Centre for Ethical Leadership and the Asia Pacific Centre for Social Impact during her six years with the Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne. 

She also worked as a higher education advisor to former Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu and managed a $5million grant making program during her six years as Grant Executive of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. 

Liz was awarded a research fellowship to investigate best practice in philanthropy, working alongside The Trust Company philanthropy team to develop the Engaged Philanthropy model. This work culminated in the national launch of the Best Practice in Philanthropy Report in 2018, in partnership with Philanthropy Australia. 

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma of Management (Industrial Relations) from Victoria University and a Master of Public Policy from Deakin University. 

Liz was awarded the Governor General Medallion, recognising her excellence in Leadership throughout 2020 where she stoically maintained focus on delivering the strategic goals of the organisation, whilst offering patience and empathy to Staff, Collaborators and Partners as they faced their own challenges. 

Dr Jodi York - Chief Impact Officer, Kilara Capital 

Dr Jodi York was the Research Lead of the Philanthropic Impact Pioneer Program.  

Jodi splits her time between the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Business and Economics and working with capital providers to develop their impact strategy and impact management capacities. She is currently Chief Impact Officer of Kilara Capital, and advisor to the Climate Venture Capital Fund (NZ), the Indigenous Infrastructure Investment Fund (Australia) and Damson Capital (Singapore). She collaborated with Brightlight Impact Advisory on the design and implementation of the Asia Pacific Notes, which leveraged support from DFAT to create the world's first fixed income securities to aggregate bespoke, fit for purpose loans to social enterprises from across the Asia Pacific. 

She has a PhD (Sociology) from the University of California, Berkeley. She writes and teaches on impact-related topics and is on the academic advisory committee overseeing the development of impact management training for the UN's SDG Impact and the Impact Management Project.   

Kate McKegg - The Knowledge Institute 

Kate McKegg has specialist skills in policy and programme evaluation, evaluation capacity building, business and organizational development, research, training, and facilitation. She has over 20 years’ experience in applying these skills in many contexts and sectors, including Philanthropy, Environment, Health, Mental Health, Disability, Education, Employment, Māori Development, Social Development, Housing and Sport and Recreation.  

Kate is also a pragmatic academic, with substantive experience developing and implementing teaching programmes in evaluation at postgraduate and under graduate levels for several New Zealand universities.  Since 2002, The Knowledge Institute has been providing tailored training in evaluation for a wide range of organisations and communities.  

Kate is a founding member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (www.anzea.org.nz ), serving as a board member from 2006-2010, and Convenor from 2008-2010 and 2012-2014.