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Craig Connelly CEO and Professor Richard Larkins Governor of The Ian Potter Foundation attend the opening of Taronga Institute of Science & Learning in October.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
A sustained vision
I am pleased to share that the vision for the Foundation is now '…a vibrant, healthy, fair and sustainable Australia'. In October 2018, the Board of The Ian Potter Foundation approved the recommendation to add ‘sustainable’ to the vision of the Foundation.
Adding ‘sustainable’ as a fourth element to our vision reflects the history of The Ian Potter Foundation as a strong supporter of Australian environmental and conservation initiatives and confirms our commitment to grantmaking informed by the best science and the strongest evidence of the time.
For Australians to enjoy a vibrant cultural scene, a healthy life, and be part of a society where as few people as possible suffer disadvantage, we also need to nurture and protect our environment and ensure our natural resources are managed sustainably.
The recent national strike by many young secondary school students concerned about the lack of a comprehensive and coordinated national plan to combat the impacts of climate change highlights the extent to which sustainability is front of mind for many Australians, young and old.
The Ian Potter Foundation has proudly supported a range of science-led endeavours throughout its 54-year history, and on the issue of climate change the science is unequivocal. Funding environment and conservation initiatives that are led by science, large scale and in areas of national and international significance will define the Foundation’s approach to delivering on this new element in the vision of The Ian Potter Foundation.
I am now working closely with the Board to ensure our grantmaking is strongly linked to the four elements of the Foundation’s renewed vision. Over the next few months, the program management team, in conjunction with our communications, administration and operations staff will be working on the finer details of how the Foundation will engage with the NFP sector to deliver on our vision in the next few years.
I hope to be able to share more on this matter by mid-2019.
In the meantime, I am pleased to share with you the exciting new Major Grants approved at our most recent Board meeting and other news from the Foundation and our grantees.
I would also like to express the Foundation’s appreciation to Sally Cliff who resigned from her role as Finance Manager in October. Sally will be greatly missed by all the team. Replacing Sally and joining the team is Anna McCallum, a qualified Chartered Accountant and experienced philanthropic executive. Please join me in welcoming Anna to the role.
Lastly, the team at The Ian Potter Foundation wish our partners and our colleagues in the wider philanthropic sector a happy and safe holiday season. We look forward to working with you all in 2019.
Craig Connelly
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Louise Arkles, Environment & Conservation Program Manager visited Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area in August to meet with local Indigenous rangers.
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GRANTS ROUND UP
$6.5 million for three Major Grants
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The Foundation’s recent funding round focused on Major grants and invited applications. Three Major grants totaling just over $6.5 million were awarded. An additional three program grants were awarded totaling $660,000.
Two Major grants were awarded to community-led programs that are focused on strengthening Indigenous communities through embracing both-ways learning to develop new skills and provide employment opportunities.
Find out more about all this round's grantees on our blog or see the complete list in our Grants Database.
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The Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cut the ribbon at the official launch of the brand new world-class Taronga Institute of Science & Learning.
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IN THE NEWS
Major environment & conservation initiatives
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A royal opening for the Taronga Institute of Science & Learning
The Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, visited Taronga Zoo on the 16th of October to cut the ribbon at the official launch of the brand new world-class Taronga Institute of Science & Learning. The Ian Potter Foundation Governor Professor Richard Larkins and CEO Craig Connelly also attended.
The Taronga Institute will put science on display, creating an inspiring and collaborative environment for future generations to become champions for change for the environment and the community. The Taronga Institute will enhance and expand Taronga’s role as a leader in conservation science for wildlife and habitats.
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Griffith University's 3D modelling tool will help save rivers
Professor Stuart Bunn, Director of the Australian Rivers Institute at Griffith University, was recently featured in a Brisbane Times article (syndicated nationally) on the importance of the work being done by the Institute to help farmers and the community in river catchments to mitigate against flood damage in the future. This work has led to development of a 3D planning tool to allow farmers and other stakeholders to 'see' the downstream impacts of their planned revegetation projects in badly eroded areas.
In the article, CEO Craig Connelly speaks to why The Ian Potter Foundation has invested $1 million in the Institute's planning tool, explaining, 'from our perspective as a national funder, we would hope that this sort of technology would leverage way beyond this area and starts to benefit other major rivers, both in Queensland and nationally as well.'
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Annual Report 2017–18
The Foundation continues to proactively seek partnerships with not-for-profit sector leaders wanting to build their capacity, initiate innovative programs and/or scale up proven approaches.
In 2017–18, 142 grants totalling $24.5m were awarded to many long-term as well as new not-for-profit partners.
This year's report also includes a review of the Foundation's grants supporting Indigenous communities, health and education over the past five decades.
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OUTREACH
Sector Engagement
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Louise's learnings from North America
In September, our Environment & Conservation Program Manager Louise Arkles had a rare and precious opportunity to escape from the grants treadmill and spend time with counterparts in North America. In Vancouver and San Francisco, she visited 10 philanthropic foundations that fund in environmental conservation. She also attended the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) annual Fall Retreat in Asheville, North Carolina.
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Health & Disability Learnings, Foundation Learnings
In the last few months, we have updated the Foundation's Learnings and published Grantee Learnings for the Health & Disability program area. We have now published grantee learnings for seven of our program areas.
We encourage our grantees and colleagues in philanthropy to share these learnings to the broader NFP sector.
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Grantee news
Ian Potter Southbank Centre
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In 2019, the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music will relocate from its historic home in Parkville to The Ian Potter Southbank Centre in Melbourne's Arts Precinct. Designed by John Wardle Architects, the new centre will offer state-of-the-art teaching, learning, rehearsal and performance facilities for Conservatorium students.
The Foundation has contributed $14 million towards this project through an Arts grant in 2013 and two Major grants in 2016 and 2017.
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Grantee news
ANU Sustainable Farms launch
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The Australian National University's (ANU) Sustainable Farms program, an interdisciplinary program to improve sustainability of farming, was launched at Parliament House in October.
The Sustainable Farms program will bring together environmental, economic and psychology experts to develop techniques to improve the long-term viability of Australia's agricultural industry.
This ANU program received funding from The Ian Potter Foundation ($2m), the Fairfax Foundation, as well as private donations from Australian farmers who wish to support a program that will help improve the longevity of their industry and businesses.
Sustainable Farms has now devised a program of podcasts that will be released regularly. These will be short and engaging chats about the program's research, and a tool to share other insights and knowledge with interested parties.
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Staff News
Olivia Belle arrives
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Congratulations to our colleague Nicole Bortone and her husband Chris on the safe arrival of their daughter, Olivia Belle, born on 1st November.
We wish the new family a safe and happy Christmas.
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Staff News
The Potteroos score goals
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The Potteroos took to the soccer pitch again in the 2018 Homeless Law's Street Soccer event. This is an annual event sponsored by Justice Connect and The Big Issue which brings together teams from law firms and philanthropic foundations and The Big Issue's street soccer program to compete for the HPLC Street Soccer Shield.
This year, we made it to the Preliminary Final and our own Eleanor Connelly earned the trophy for Best Female Player!
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Grantee news
Homes for Homes
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In October, Homes for Homes announced its first-ever funding recipients with $300,000 awarded to social and affordable housing projects in Victoria and a further $200,000 awarded in the ACT.
Women’s Property Initiatives, HousingFirst, Habitat for Humanity Victoria and Housing Choices Australia will share in the Victorian funding. Havelock Housing Association will receive the ACT funding.
Homes for Homes were awarded a Major grant of $1.25 million by the Foundation in 2017 towards capacity building.
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Grantee news
Awards galore for grantees
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We are always thrilled to hear about the success of our grantees. This year several of our grantees have won awards for projects and programs that the Foundation has helped fund. We congratulate the following grantees on receiving these acknowledgements of excellence.
- Centennial Parklands Foundation: The Ian Potter Wild Play Children's Garden
- Windmill Theatre: Girl Asleep Digital Education Package
- Save The Children: Out Teach Mobile Education - Tasmania
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And the winner is...
SisterWorks Hamper
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In early December, SisterWorks launched several of their products through Ritchies' IGA stores across Melbourne. To celebrate this milestone and spread the word about SisterWorks, we ran a competition on social media to win a hamper of SisterWorks gourmet food and eco-friendly products.
We had close to 80 entries from people across every state and territory. The lucky winner was Lyn Cornege from Queensland who was thrilled to receive this box of delights in time for Christmas.
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In November, we welcomed Anna McCallum as our new Finance Manager.
Anna is a Chartered Account who has over 20 years of experience working across various industries both in Australia and the UK.
After completing her commerce degree in Melbourne, she joined PwC as a graduate accountant – it was there that she gained her membership to the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Since leaving PwC, Anna has been the CFO of Golf Australia, and most recently the Executive Officer of the Marian and E.H Flack Trust.
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