Greater Melbourne Foundation

"There is so much going on here already that arguably Melbourne is already leading the world into a new era of democracy. And the question is, what more can we do? What more can you do? And I really want to appeal to you all this evening, not just to listen to me and listen to our conversation, but to get involved.'' This was the call to action from Jon Alexander when he delivered the 2026 Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change on Tuesday evening. Jon, the celebrated author of "Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us", identified how #GreaterMelbourne could build on its innovative approach to citizen-led engagement to become an inspiration for a new model of democracy. After the lecture, Jon joined a panel discussion, facilitated by Peter Walton, with Youth Affairs Council Victoria CEO Mary Nega, YLab Co-CEO Imogen Gerraty and Executive Director of the Centre for Truth-telling and Dialogue at the University of Melbourne, Travis Lovett, to probe issues of #equity, #fairness and #access and plot a course for a stronger #democracy. Thank you to Jon, our panellists and everyone who joined us for the evening and a robust Q&A. A special thanks to Paul Wheelton AM CGSJ for his closing remarks and the Wheelton family for being there. We’re going to keep the conversation going over the coming weeks, stay tuned for more. #WheeltonLecture #Democracy #SocialJustice #SocialChange #GreaterMelbourne Wheelton Group

What if the future of democracy isn’t something we wait for, but something we build together?   Don't miss your chance to hear Jon Alexander deliver the 2026 Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change tonight at ACMI.   Joined by a panel of local leaders:  • Imogen Gerraty, Co-CEO, YLab • Mary Nega, CEO of the Youth Affairs Council Victoria & a Board Member, Greater Melbourne Foundation • Travis Lovett, Inaugural Executive Director, Centre for Truth-telling and Dialogue at the University of Melbourne   Together, Jon and our panel will explore how transforming our democratic systems can unlock long-term, equitable social impact for Greater Melbourne. Final tickets remaining. Secure a spot here → tr.ee/n9r3V4   #GreaterMelbourneFoundation #WheeltonLecture

What could a fairer future look like if we reimagined our role as citizens? Don't miss your chance to hear Jon Alexander deliver the 2026 Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change on 20 October ACMI, 6-8pm. Joined by a panel of local leaders: • Imogen Gerraty, Co-CEO, YLab • Mary Nega, CEO of the Youth Affairs Council Victoria & Greater Melbourne Foundation Board Member • Travis Lovett, Inaugural Executive Director of the Centre for Truth-telling and Dialogue at the University of Melbourne Jon and our panel will explore how reimagining our democratic systems and our roles as citizens can make a fairer future possible. Join us for a thought-provoking evening of strategy, bold ideas, and vision for Greater Melbourne. Only a few seats remaining. Reserve your spot here → tr.ee/n9r3V4 #GreaterMelbourneFoundation #WheeltonLecture

In the second installment of our Q&A series with panellists ahead of the 2026 Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change, we chat with Mary Nega, CEO of the Youth Affairs Council Victoria and Greater Melbourne Foundation Board Member, about why a fairer future requires moving beyond symbolic engagement to give young people a real say today. Read more here → tr.ee/kSbyzt #GreaterMelbourneFoundation

We are delighted to announce the three panellists joining Jon Alexander for this year's Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change on 20 October. Imogen Gerraty, Co-CEO, YLab Mary Nega, CEO of the Youth Affairs Council Victoria & Greater Melbourne Foundation Board Member Travis Lovett, Inaugural Executive Director of the Centre for Truth-telling and Dialogue at University of Melbourne Ahead of the event, we engaged with our panellists in a Q&A series to help shape the dialogue and consider how Greater Melbourne can lead the world into a new era of democracy. Read the Q&A with Imogen, the first in this series here → tr.ee/HshnEh #GreaterMelbourneFoundation

How can Greater Melbourne lead the world in a new era of democracy? That’s the question visionary thinker Jon Alexander is bringing to the 2026 Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change on 20 October.  Sharing insights from democracy movements around the world, Jon argues that when citizens are activated and people in positions of power openly respond we get a transformational shift, and when that happens “things can move really, really fast” towards a fairer future for all.  Last year, Dr Katherine Trebeck challenged us to reimagine our economy, with the wellbeing of people and planet at its heart. This year, Jon and a soon-to-be-announced panel of local leaders will share how redesigning our democratic systems – and our role as citizens – can make this vision a reality. Join us for a thought-provoking evening of bold ideas and aspirations for our city. Tuesday 20 October, 6-8pm | ACMI, Fed Square Register Now → tr.ee/PhgUcQ The annual Wheelton Family Lecture for Inspiring Social Change celebrates ideas that inspire action for a better future and acknowledges the generosity of Mr Paul Wheelton AM CGSJ, Mrs Angela Wheelton OAM DSJ and the Wheelton family.

How do we make sure good businesses aren’t just the exception, but the rule?  Global thought leader Erinch Sahan is coming to Melbourne to share insights from his current role as Associate Director for Investment at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and 20 years of experience across business, civil society, academia and government, including Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL), World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), and University of Cambridge. Together with special guests Tara Anderson, CEO of Social Traders, and Josh Devine, Collaboration and Investment lead at Regen Melbourne, Erinch will explore the critical role of business and investment in building an economy that is fairer, more regenerative and fit for future generations.  Join us and The Next Economy to explore how Greater Melbourne can become a place where purpose-led business is the new status quo. Book now: https://lnkd.in/g3Auhpca

Highlights from the first day of the Philanthropy Australia conference c/o our CEO Peter Walton who's in Meanjin / Brisbane this week. Here's what we're thinking about. - Money isn't the main character - Anita Patel, MPP from Bush Foundation on how sharing power and investing in possibility is the way to support community-led decisions. - A simple yet powerful analogy from Joshua Amponsem about how when traveling local advice is revered, yet that same reverence is rarely applied to lived-experience and community knowledge in philanthropy. - And the importance of trust especially in unpredictable or unprecedented times. Joanna Kerr reinforced so much of what we're working on at Greater Melbourne Foundation. Especially around how the role of philanthropy is "not to remove uncertainty but to create space to address it." Today Peter will be listening in on discussions about #AI and the dawn of a new era for community charities and #philanthropy, and don't miss him at the fun reverse pitch session aptly called "Sit Back and Take my Money" at 4pm alongside: Georgia Mathews, Community Foundations Australia Charlotte Siddle, Siddle Family Foundation Leonard Vary, Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation Sam Turner, Rainbow Giving Australia

Wonderful to see the Neighbourhood Economics and SGS Economics and Planning collaboration recognised like this. Community wealth building is key to a fairer future for Greater Melbourne and beyond.

Heading to the Philanthropy Australia Conference this week? Join Greater Melbourne Foundation CEO Peter Walton for conversations about giving generously for a fairer future, long-term investment and partnering for systemic change. Details below. Wednesday 9 September, 4.00pm: Sit Back and Take My Money - A Reverse Pitch Session, with... Georgia Mathews, Co-CEO, Community Foundations Australia Charlotte Siddle, CEO, Siddle Family Foundation Leonard Vary, CEO, The Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation and Co-Chair of Equality Australia Sam Turner, Chair, Rainbow Giving Australia Thursday 10 September, 10.50am: Philanthropy for Systemic Change: From Grantmaking to Long-term Learning Partnerships, with... Kaj Löfgren, CEO, Regen Melbourne Mia Georges Sturrock, Senior Associate, Sector Capability, Paul Ramsay Foundation Ferdi Hepworth, Trusts and Program Manager, Equity Trustees Hope to see you there!