Patron

Governor of Victoria, The Honourable Alex Chernov, AO, QC 

Ambassadors

Australian Communities Foundation first appointed Ambassadors in 2005.  Ambassadors are chosen for their high standing in the community and their knowledgte of Australian Communities Foundation so they can assist to raise the profile.

• Michael Andrew
  Australian Chairman KPMG and a member of KPMG’s International and Asia Pacific Boards and the Global Executive Team.  Michael is a member of the Business Council of Australia, Treasurer of the Melbourne Cricket Club and a Committee Member of Melbourne Racing Club.  He is Chairman of the Dowd Foundation, Chairman of the Business Working with Education Foundation, a Council member of AbaF, the Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre Appeal and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.  He is Chairman of the National Sports Museum Advisory Board and a Director of Jawun Indigenous Corporate Partnerships.
  
  
• Chris Arnold
  Executive Director Skin & Cancer Foundation Victoria.  Chris was a Melbourne Community Foundation board member for eight years. He is a member of the Australian Communities Foundation's Audit & Risk Management Committee. Previous positions have included CEO roles in legal and financial services firms. 
   
• Clare Cannon
  Founding donor and board member of Melbourne Community Foundation.  Former Director of the Earthwatch Institute,  Clare is currently Deputy Chair, St Catherine’s School Council, Chair, Women of the Melbourne Cricket Club, and a member of the Alumni Council, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne and the Operations Committee, Bush Heritage, Australia.
  
  
• Rev Tim Costello
  Lawyer and Baptist minister, CEO World Vision Australia and from 1995-2003 Executive Director of Urban Seed.  Tim is one of Australia’s leading voices on issues such as urban poverty, homelessness, problem gambling, reconciliation and substance abuse.
  
  
• Carol des Cognets
  Former MCF Board member
  
  
• David I Gibbs
  Founding Melbourne Community Foundation board member.   David is Director, Family Office, Mutual Trust Pty Ltd and Trustee Services, Mutual Trust Pty Ltd.  He is also Director, Abbotsford Convent Foundation (Chair, Audit Committee), Mittagundi Outdoor Education Centre, Hancock Family Companies, Point Nepean Respite Centre Limited.  He is also Chairman Audit Committee, City of Glen Eira and Audit Committee, Victorian Privacy Committee.
  
  
• Peter Griffin AM
  Melbourne Community Foundation Board Member from 2004-09. Peter is highly respected in the investment and banking sector following a very successful career.  He has also been very active in the charitably sector .  Other directorships have included; Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium and Cancer Council Victoria.
  
  
• Janine Kirk AM 
  Lead Partner, Government and Public Sector and Leader Community, Oceania, Ernst & Young.  Janine is also Director of the Ernst & Young Foundation and the Asia Pacific Advisory Board.  Chair, Tourism Victoria, Melbourne Prize Trust, Leadership Advisory Board - Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute at Monash University and a founding Director of Melbourne Forum Limited.
  
  
• Ellen Koshland
  President and founder of the Education Foundation. Director of Foundation for Young Australians. Co Chair of Victoria Anti Poverty Week 2007
  
  
• Greg Larsen
  Melbourne Community Foundation director from 2005-10.  Greg established and chaired the Professional Advisers Committee.  He is currently Principal, The Adelante Group and former positions include Chief Executive, CPA Australia and Chairman and Managing Director, BP New Zealand.
  
  
• Louise Myer
  Founding director of the Myer Community Fund and served on the MCF board. Louise has many years of experience working in philanthropy with the Asialink Centre
  
  
• Elizabeth Proust AO
  Director of Perpetual Ltd, Spotless Ltd, Insurance Manufacturers Australia Pty Ltd, and of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd.  She is also Chairman of Nestle Australia, a member of the Advisory Board of JP Morgan, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
  
  
• Hayden Raysmith AM
  Hayden was the founding chair of Melbourne Community Foundation in 1997.  He is currently CEO of Regional Kitchen Group and holds the honorary positions of Chair of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation and Governance Patron of the Victorian Local Governance Association.  Hayden is also Chair of the Hobsons Bay Community Fund, a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Foundation.   Previous positions have included Executive Director of the Victorian Council of Social Service and Director of Public Health and Statewide Operations with the Victorian Health Department.
  
  
• Jill Reichstein OAM
  A former Melbourne Community Foundation board member, Jill is Chair of the Reichstein Foundation, a director of the Koorie Heritage Trust, Changemakers Australia, Trust for Young Austrlians, the Australian Environmental Granmakers Network and Co-Founder of the Australian Women Donors Network.
   
  
• Fiona Smith
  Former Chair of the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria. Fiona has over 20 years legal and governance experience across Federal and State tribunals, government agencies and not-for-profit sector. Extensive experience in social justice and disability issues and is an accredited mediator. In 2003 Fiona was awarded a Centenary Medal for her contribution to the Victorian Justice System.