Executive Director

Amidst this decisive decade for global climate action, Australian philanthropists are taking a bold and unprecedented step to transform how philanthropy powers environmental solutions. With four percent of Australian philanthropy directed toward environmental and climate change initiatives, there remains significant opportunity and an urgent call to action for funders to make outsized impact. The moment requires an ambitious strategy to catalyse and scale environmental philanthropy, prompting the imminent creation of the Australia Climate Impact Initiative (working title), a first of its kind philanthropic advisory for individuals and families with high capacity and inclination to combat the climate crisis. Informed by the success of the global partner Climate Lead, and launched as a high priority strategy of Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN), this exciting new initiative is a bold step to unlock, ignite, and accelerate large-scale climate philanthropy across the country. The goal is ambitious and attainable: to catalyse at least $1.1 billion (AUD) from philanthropy to enable outstanding environmental solutions in Australia, in the Asia-Pacific region, and around the world in the next five years. 

As this groundbreaking initiative moves from concept to reality, it seeks an audacious founding executive director to build the organisation as momentum and urgency build for climate action. With early multi-year funding commitments in place, the support of Climate Lead and its network of supporters of influence, and strong endorsement and involvement from leading Australian philanthropists, the executive director will establish the initiative’s strategy, structure, and operations. In doing so, this leader will conceptualise, recruit, and lead a talented team and create the systems, partnerships, and culture necessary for long-term success. This leader will also personally advise and engage Australia’s most influential philanthropists, and play a central role in fostering and organising a community of Australian funders – convening, connecting, and supporting them to learn from one another, coordinate efforts, and collectively accelerate climate impact. In doing so, the executive director will inspire donors to channel giving into climate, environmental, and First Nations issues, while expanding both the scale and sophistication of philanthropic giving in Australia. The name itself – Australia Climate Impact Initiative – is a placeholder only, serving as a starting point from where the executive director will launch efforts to establish the positioning and brand for this new, independent advisory service.

This is a career-defining opportunity to build a team of excellence and lead the first entity of its kind in the country with a focused mission to inspire scaled funding to the most impactful climate strategies in Australia and beyond. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of strategic acumen and operational rigour, in addition to deep experience securing major- and principal-level philanthropic gifts from high capacity individuals and families. This individual will also possess the cultural fluency to effectively navigate and translate Australia’s philanthropic landscape, equipping new funders with insights and information to drive transformative solutions. 

With a strong focus on climate and environmental action, the executive director will build an operation capable of providing tailored one-on-one advisory to wealthy Australian individuals and families new to this sector, helping them maximise the effectiveness and impact of their philanthropy. As a trusted adviser to high-net-worth donors, the executive director will deeply understand how benefactors operate at this level of giving in the seven- and eight-figure-plus ranges and, importantly, will devise relationship origination strategies to leverage networks, forge relationships, and spark connections to expand the circle of new philanthropists with the ability to move with urgency to meet the climate challenge. This role requires an individual who demonstrates genuine humility and a strong outcomes-orientation. They must be trustworthy and deeply credible, with the relational skills to build authentic and enduring partnerships, as well as a natural connector and guide who is capable of creating community to strengthen and expand the country’s philanthropic ecosystem and contribute Australian leadership to global climate efforts. This position is based in Sydney, New South Wales or Melbourne, Victoria. Both domestic and international travel will be necessary. 

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Bryce Ervin, and Rebecca Lyons.