We are committed to responding appropriately and with humility, working alongside our community partners and donors to deliver effective responses to these ongoing societal challenges. We also recognise that if we do not start changing our collective approach now, the challenges ahead will become even more difficult to resolve.
Therefore, we are delighted to launch the inaugural Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change. This new annual event acknowledges and celebrates the generosity and ongoing commitment of Mr Paul Wheelton AM KSJ and Mrs Angela Wheelton OAM DSJ, and the extended Wheelton family, to social justice, fairness and the wider Greater Melbourne community.
Our first event will focus on the concept of the ‘wellbeing economy’, an inspiring example of how we can reimagine our systems so that people, communities, resilience, sustainability, and the planet are placed at the forefront of economic decision-making.
We are honoured to welcome leading global expert in wellbeing economies, Dr Katherine Trebeck as our keynote speaker and Misha Ketchell, editor at The Conversation, to facilitate a thought-provoking Q&A session.
I warmly encourage you to join us for this special event and to read our feature article with Dr Trebeck as an introduction to the wellbeing economy.
In the latest edition of eConnect, we’re sharing more about Strategy 2030 - our new direction for the next five years. I had the opportunity to sit down with journalist, Mackenzie Archer, to discuss what the new strategy means for the Foundation and the positive impact we hope to generate for Greater Melbourne and its region.
We also explore what a place-based approach to some of our work can look like, and why it is vital for philanthropy to adopt adaptive models that foster stronger partnerships with local communities and organisations.
With Reconciliation Week at the end of May, we have put together a guide of events and exhibitions in Melbourne that you might like to consider attending. Our team will be participating in some of these activities as part of our commitment to Reconciliation.
The Foundation acknowledges that the lands on which we work, live, and gather are First Nations lands – unceded - and that a treaty for Victoria is a crucial step towards true reconciliation.
The support of our community partners, other funders, and donors is an integral part of our work at the Foundation. There are many ways you can partner with us for effective philanthropy, and I encourage you to contact our Development team to explore giving options as we approach the end of the financial year.
I look forward to seeing you at Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change on Thursday 29 May.
Peter Walton Chief Executive Officer