Board Profiles
The AEGN Board is currently composed of the original AEGN supporters. Elections will be held to vote members to the board from the membership in 2010 at the AGM (tentatively scheduled for Wednesday 27 October). The AEGN welcomes member participation. Please let us know if you are interested in joining the Board or one of our subcommittees or working groups.
Martin Copley
AEGN Chair - Spinifex Trust
Martin is the founder and a trustee of the Spinifex Trust. He has been involved in philanthropy for 12 years, principally as a donor to the environment and music education and performance. He has a passion for Australian mammals and has worked tirelessly to help protect them when he realised that so many of them were on the brink of extinction. Martin has been involved with the AEGN since its inception. Martin has several other interests including the commercialisation of solar power technology and building sustainable communities.
Jill Reichstein
AEGN Deputy Chair - Reichstein Foundation
Jill has been on the Board of the Reichstein Foundation since the early 70’s; first as a trustee and then as Chair. Jillwas involved in the earlier version of Philanthropy Australia, the Association of Philanthropic Trusts, holding the role of chair for two years. Jill is very active in trying to grow social change philanthropy and has supported many versions of women donor groups. Jill is passionate about the environment and knows that other donors are also, but can find it hard to know where to start. She hopes the AEGN can be a source of information and inspiration to other donors interested in the environment.
Simon Herd
AEGN Treasurer - The Myer Foundation
For many years Simon has had an abiding interest in philanthropy. He has been a member of The Myer Foundation since 1997 and was appointed a director in 2003. Simon has also been involved with a number of other philanthropic foundations and organisations connected to the sector; including working with Dr Rhonda Galbally in helping launch OurCommunity.com.au, a resource for community groups seeking information on grants. Simon wrote an honours thesis in his law degree, on the topic of ‘The Public Accountability of Philanthropic Foundations.’ In August 2007 Simon left his position as a lawyer in order to pursue a Masters of Business specialising in the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors.
Sue Mathews
AEGN Public Officer - The Mullum Trust
Sue Mathews became a trustee of the Mullum Trust in1996. Her mother Rivkah established Mullum in the 1980s to fund environment and education. In 1998 Sue’s brothers Steve and Danny joined as trustees, and collectively they decided to focus the trust exclusively on environmental issues - as they are acutely aware of how under-funded environment is compared to other areas funded by philanthropy, and how urgent is the need for more funding for climate change and biodiversity in particular. Climate change is Sue’s particular obsession - but she also thinks it’s important to keep a sense of humour and hope at the same time as focusing on these scary and depressing things. In 2008 Sue went to the United States Environmental Grantmakers Association Fall Retreat as an AEGN member. She sees the AEGN as an organisation that can both help increase the level of environmental funding and the effectiveness of our granting and that of others with similar interests. Sue convenes the AEGN’s Climate Change Working Group.
Dr Colin Brown
Diversicon Environmental Foundation
Diversicon Environment Foundation started in 2003, with Colin and his wife Pam as Trustees. They have assisted organisations such as Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Bush Heritage and Gondwana Link in setting aside land where conservation was the primary purpose - they also believe that an active research program is essential to this endeavour, as it’s not possible to achieve effective conservation without identifying the barriers and threats to good long term outcomes. Colin aims to raise the profile of the environment in the minds of people at all levels of society, saying ‘I would like to be a part of the awakening of our society to the realisation that the health of the natural world takes precedent over having more things. ‘ Colin believes the AEGN provides a great forum to learn what others are thinking and doing and to join in projects that otherwise would pass by unseen and unify and amplify the total efficacy of environmental funding.
Max Bourke AM
The Thomas Foundation
Max has been with The Thomas Foundation since its inception in 1996 and has been personally involved in philanthropy for many decades - having facilitated and expanded philanthropy and corporate sponsorship while CEO of the Australian Heritage Commission and Australia Council for the Arts. A lifetime of working around Australia and watching the deterioration in our biota and landscapes has inspired Max to work on environmental issues. Max is keen to work with the AEGN to encourage new philanthropists and to expand the field of environmental philanthropy.
