Opening Ceremony at Sydney Opera House +
The Arts Centre Melbourne

Official Welcome and Building Tomorrow Today

Welcome to Country by Traditional Custodians
Lucinda Steggles (Co-Chair, NEXUS Australia)
Ben Scott (Luminate Group, Germany)
Bronwyn King AO (Tobacco Free Portfolios)
Carlina Conrad (OneWonder)
Doha Khan (Climate activist)
Lenore Taylor (Editor-in-chief, The Guardian Aus.)
Hayley McQuire (Director, National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition)

Join us in-person at The Sydney Opera House and The Arts Centre Melbourne (subject to COVID restrictions) for an incredible evening of connection and ideas that will connect you to impact leaders and shapers, or join us online for all the content live and networking live in your home.

Side Event

Morning Meditation (9:00AM)

Suparna Bhasin (Co-Founder, MaiTri Foundation)

Join MaiTri Foundation's Suparna Bhasin for a guided meditation that takes you on a journey by gently taking your attention to the 5 sheaths of our existence: the environment, the physical body, the mind and the realm of thoughts, emotions and realm of intuition and the blissful body which is our true nature.

Plenary

Moving From Passion to Impact

Rachel Gerrol (Founder, NEXUS Global)
Adam Milgrom (Venture Partner, Giant Leap Fund)
Benson Saulo (Australian Consul-General to US)
Jess Scully (Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney)

From growing racial injustices, economic downturn and a growing health crisis - creating meaningful change has become increasingly difficult. So how do we collectively create the change we want to see in the world? Join our all-star speaker line up of the Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor, Jess Scully, the first Indigenous person to hold the position of Consul General in the US, Benson Saulo, and co-founder of Tripple, Adam Milgrom. Together they will share insights from their unconventional paths and navigated their way to turning their passions to lasting impact.

Networking

Reflection in Pairs

Networking between NEXUS delegates

Reflections will be an opportunity for you to pair up with another delegate to reflect and digest the morning plenary session.

Breakout

Women: Are We Winning?

Jess Scully (Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney)
Rana Nawas (Host, When Women Win)
Renee Carr (Executive Director, Fair Agenda)
Edwina Floch (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

This International Women’s Week, let’s reflect on how far women have come, the things we still need to fight for and how we see women reshaping the future. Three trailblazing women will share their unique perspectives on what it means to be a woman right now.

Breakout

Reimagining Philanthropy

Krystian Seibert (Industry Fellow, Centre for Social Impact Swinburne)

Philanthropy, as the use of private wealth for public benefit, is sometimes referred to as the ‘risk capital for social change’. Join Krystian Seibert for a practical and engaging session, full of real life case studies that will examine the positive role of philanthropy in Australia and beyond, but also seek to understand the context it operates in and set out ways that we can reimagine philanthropy in the 2020s.

Breakout

Envisioning a world that enables good mental health for all

Elisha London (Founder, United for Global Mental Health)
Louise Walsh (CEO, Future Generation Investment Company)
Leilani Darwin (Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute)
Hunter Johnson (CEO, The Man Cave)
Lucinda Steggles (Co-Chair, NEXUS Aus.)

Building the conditions for a society that fosters better mental health has never been more pressing in light of the last year of economic destruction and physical dislocation from place, family and communities. Hear from Elisha London on the global picture and current advocacy efforts for better mental wellbeing, and learn from a range of local leaders in philanthropy, culture and innovation about how we build a better society together.

Breakout

First Nations Self-Determination and Justice: New Narrative Shifting Research

Dr Jackie Huggins AM
Larissa Baldwin (First Nations Justice Campaign Director, GetUp)
Karrina Nolan (Executive Director, Original Power)
Gemma Salteri (Executive Director, CAGES Foundation)
Kirsty Albion (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

Get an exclusive look into the findings of a two-year, first of it's kind, message research project, that is analysing the words that are effective in building public support for First Nations self-determination and justice. Led by Dr Jackie Huggins AM, Larissa Baldwin and Karrina Nolan, in conversation with supporter Gemma Salteri of the CAGES Foundation, get first hand insight into the language that is commonly used that holds back support for self-determination and justice, and the initial findings from the research project.

Networking

Speed Networking

Networking between NEXUS delegates

For 30 minutes over lunch, connect with other delegates, share your passions and discuss what change you want to see in the world.

Brains Trust

Climate Future

Clare Ainsworth Herschell (Co-Founder, Groundswell Giving)
Edwina Floch (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

4.89 million Australians have been identified as feeling alarmed about the climate crisis, yet many haven’t yet taken action, and report feelings of frustration, uncertainty and helplessness. Groundswell Giving is here to turn this around. We know that the antidote to despair is action. Our team will spend the hour offering you hope and courage to tackle the crisis in innovative ways that harness the giving currencies of time, treasure, talent, ties, testimony and more. Encouragingly, over 2 million Australians also express openness to donating to a climate change organisation or charity - which is something Groundswell Giving is also working to shift the dial on. Currently, just 2.5% of all philanthropic giving goes into environmental giving (and an even smaller portion of that goes into climate) - given the scale of the challenge the climate crisis presents the planet and all of humanity, this is woeful. To give hope, Groundswell will share some of the most exciting people and organisations we’ve come across doing high impact work in climate action that our giving circle has funded. You’ll walk away feeling empowered to make your contribution, big or small, to the climate crisis.

Brains Trust

Philanthropy Blueprint

Jon Myer (Associate Director, Orygen Digital)
Georgia Mathews (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

How can we supercharge Australia’s culture of giving over the next decade? Over the next two decades, $2.4 trillion is expected to transfer between baby boomers and their children, marking an unprecedented opportunity to grow philanthropy in Australia. To capitalise on this opportunity, Philanthropy Australia is partnering with Social Ventures Australia to design a Blueprint to grow giving in Australia over the next decade. A critical part of the philanthropic landscape is the next generation of givers. We want to understand what NEXUS members see as the barriers and opportunities to grow giving, and get their insights and ideas to guide the development of the Blueprint. During this workshop, participants will be asked to brainstorm what they believe is currently stopping young Australians from giving, and what new ideas can be introduced to incentivise them to give more.

Plenary

Mental Wealth: Empower yourself to make powerful social impact

Zak Williams (Co-Founder, PYM Health)
Suparna Bhasin (Founder, MaiTri Foundation)
Dean Delia (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

What would our world look like where mental wellbeing was a priority? Inspirational speaker, philanthropists and long-time mediator, Suparna Bhasin, and social entrepreneur, mental health advocate and son of the late Robin Williams, Zak Williams, will come together for an important discussion on the value of mental and emotional hygiene, and reimagine what a world would look like when everyone mentally flourishes.

Performance

Spoken Word

Adolfo Aranjuez (Artist)

Join Adolfo Aranjuez (Editor, writer, speaker & dancer) for "Mind over Matter", a spoken word performance on mental health.

Plenary

Aligning capital with values to reshape the world

Berry Liberman (Co-Founder, Small Giants)
Rachel English (Co-Chair, NEXUS Aus.)
Lauren Thurin (Gandel Family)

How do we combine our passion and values with our capital to make a lasting impact? Dumbo Feather's Berry Liberman and Lauren Thurin (Gandel Family) will join us in conversation and share a series of practical case studies in impact investment to maximise social and environmental impact to significantly shape the world.

Networking

Reflection in Pairs

Networking between NEXUS delegates

Reflections will be an opportunity for you to pair up with another delegate to reflect and digest the plenary session.

Side Event

Yarning Circle (FROM 4:30PM)

Closed session for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

We have introduced an informal yarning circle ‘Yumob lisin’, to provide a culturally safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be heard and to respond to ideas, reflections, thoughts, and experiences from the Summit. This is a closed session for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Side Event

Cocktail Making Class

Will Morton (Will Bar Drinks)

Life's too short for bad drinks. Join Will from WillBarDrinks for a virtual cocktail (or mocktail) class and impress your friends with your new found bar-tending skills! Here's what you'll need:

Equipment
- Shaker (Cocktail or even a glass, water tight jar if desperate)
- 30ml Measure
- 15ml Measure
- Citrus Juicer
- Barspoon/Stirrer
- Muddler (rolling pin/blunt kitchen instrument)
- Strainer
- Fruit Knife
- Chopping Board
- Kettle
- Glassware

Sour
- Gin/Tequila (or any white or gold spirit) for Mocktail, Seedlip or other non-alcoholic spirit or extra lemon juice for a bit of tang
- Lemon (to Juice)
- Orange (to Juice)
- Honey
- Egg
- Bitters
- Rosemary Sprig (as garnish)

Mojito
- Rum (White or Gold) or Vodka if preferred (makes a caprioska)
- 1x Bunch of Fresh Mint
- 1x Lime per Drink
- Sugar (Brown preferred, but raw/white works too)
- Soda Water to dilute to taste (or to top up as a mocktail)

Special Event

Tea with Jane Goodall (FROM 9:00PM)

Dr Jane Goodall DBE (Founder,Jane Goodall Institute, UK)

In a special evening event, world-renowned primatologist, Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, will join us live for tea to share her groundbreaking story, her experiences as well as key learnings from the past and her vision for the future. There will be a special opportunity for 10 young environmental philanthropists to be invited to stay behind following the event for an intimate sit-down.

Plenary

Invest with Purpose Breakfast: How to Catalyse 100% of Your Balance Sheet for Impact

Steph Stephenson and Ron Cordes (Cordes Foundation)
Amanda Miller (Co-Founder, Impact Generation Partners)

Come and join this insightful breakfast conversation with father-daughter duo Ron Cordes and Steph Stepherson of the Cordes Foundation, in conversation with Philanthropy Australia's Chair, Amanda Miller, on how to make impact really count in 2021! Since handing over the Cordes Foundation to next-gen, they have shifted to be 100% aligned with impact, with a focus on sustainable and fair fashion.

Plenary

Breakfast with the Rockefeller Family, Co-Chairs of BankFWD

Rachel Gerrol (NEXUS Global)
Valerie Rockefeller (Chair, Rockefeller Brothers Fund)
Daniel Growald (Co-Chair, BankFWD)

More details to be announced.

Networking

Group Networking

Facilitated by NEXUS Committee Members

Group Networking is a semi-structured conversation focusing on an issue area of your interest.

Plenary

A Call to Impact: Motivating Leadership and Capital to Correct Racial Inequality

Marcus Whitney (Founding Partner, Jumpstart Health Investors)

In June 2020, Marcus Whitney did something truly brave. In an open letter to his industry, he called upon Nashville's health care leaders to acknowledge the systemic racism that has contributed to the significant wealth of the industry, and to begin diversifying its leadership to reflect the employees and communities it serves. Hear from Marcus as he reflects on the history, the exclusion of black people from health care's wealth generation, and what we can do to correct racial inequality and create lasting impact.

Plenary

Investing in Black Lives Matter

Apryl Watson (Founder, Dhadjowa Foundation)
Lorena Allam (Guardian Australia)
Chloe Cockburn (Criminal Justice Reform Officer, Open Philanthropy)

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has catalysed millions across the world in a global racial justice movement. How can we invest in movements for First Nations justice here at home? Hear from three women who are shifting the national conversation and make a case to funding movements led by people with lived experience: Apryl Day, daughter of Tanya Day who died in custody and founder of the Dhadjowa Foundation, Lorena Allam, whose groundbreaking investigative journalism collated the 434 Black Deaths in Custody since 1991, and Chloe Cockburn, who leads Open Philanthropy’s strategy for investing in criminal justice policy.

Breakout

Taking a systems approach - philanthropic investment in advocacy

Nick Moraitis (CEO, FYA)
Joseph Skrzynski AO (Co-Founder, CPE Capital)
Stacey Thomas (CEO, The Wyatt Trust), Cassandra Goldie (CEO, ACOSS)

Join an insightful discussion on deconstructing systems change and philanthropic investment in advocacy, including some case studies and the launch of the philanthropy handbook: Investing in Impact: A practical handbook for philanthropic investment in advocacy.

Breakout

Bridging the Divide: Communicating Across Generations

Elizabeth Goldfinch (Director, Mutual Trust)
Clare Ainsworth Herschell (Groundswell Giving)
Rachel English (Co-Chair, NEXUS Aus.)
Lauren Thurin (Gandel Family)

Life and politics is becoming increasingly polarised with people often finding themselves along divided generational lines, and these general differences can be difficult to navigate. However, when divisions between family business and philanthropy is introduced this can create major implications for society. Learn how to talk about the elephant in the room and have a constructive conversation in ways that encourage family unity and social impact rather than conflict. Whether you are a family member or working with family philanthropy and business, hear expert tangible tips from Lizzy Goldfinch and personal stories from Rachel English, Lauren Thurin, and Claire Ainsworth Herschell that transcend from the family BBQ to the boardroom.

Breakout

Accelerating Climate Action

Simon Antony Holmes à Court (Senior Advisor, Climate and Energy College, Melbourne University)
Anna Rose (CEO, Environmental Leadership Aus.)
Doha Khan (Climate activist)

Held back by culture wars, Australia has wasted time in dealing with the climate emergency. The next 24 months are crucial if we are to meet our international agreements by the end of this decade and take part is the colossal collective effort required to stay below scientifically-accepted thresholds. Join us for an in-confidence conversation between the strategists and masterminds working behind the scenes to shift public opinion, mainstream politics and our willingness to act on climate. You will gain rare insight into their story, what they’ve learnt and how they plan to move us rapidly towards a cleaner, safer tomorrow.

Networking

Speed Networking

Networking between NEXUS delegates

For 30 minutes over lunch, connect with other delegates, share your passions and discuss what change you want to see in the world.

Performance

Vocal Performance

Mama Alto (Jazz Artist)

Mama Alto is a jazz singer, cabaret artiste & gender transcendent diva. She is a transgender & queer person of colour who works with the radical potential of storytelling, strength in softness and power in vulnerability. For Nexus 2021, she has selected two songs to perform that speak to solidarity - "I'll Stand By You" - and the power of friendship and community - "That's What Friends Are For," reflecting the spirit and message of the conference's key themes.

Side Event

Yarning Circle (FROM 1:30PM AEDT)

Closed session for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

We have introduced an informal yarning circle ‘Yumob lisin’, to provide a culturally safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be heard and to respond to ideas, reflections, thoughts, and experiences from the Summit. This is a closed session for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Breakout

A healthy democracy in a digital age

Jeff Orlowski (Director, The Social Dilemma)
Chris Cooper (Campaigns Director, Purpose)
Caitriona Fay (Managing Partner, Perpetual)
Alicia Hodges (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

We live in an era where business models of big tech companies – data aggregators, social platforms and online media – expose the public to unprecedented levels of hate speech, disinformation and polarisation, poisoning public debate and weakening democracy. So how do we safeguard our democracies and rights in a digital world and what are the implications to our democracy if we don’t? Join this session to hear insights from the experts about the truth behind big tech companies, the world of tech regulations and their implications for philanthropy, and initiatives working to counter digital threats to democracy.

Breakout

Value For Money: Economic Fairness in an Unfair World

Cara Peek (Co-Founder, Cultural Intelligence Project)
Gigi Foster (Prof., School of Economics, UNSW)
Nicole Seils (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

Although the facts might not be easy to discuss, COVID-19 has shown us that health care is a relative experience in Australia and the vunerable have by far been the worst impacted. Join Cara Peek and Professor Gigi Foster to unpack the the historical underpinnings for today's economic inequality and give practical guidance on how a philanthropic doller can reach the end recipient with impact.

Breakout

Giving away philanthropic power to communities

Sparks (CEO, Masto Foundation)
Sam Turner (Chair, The Aurora Group
Jody Barney (Chair, Koondee Woonga-gat Toor-rong)
Georgia Mathews (Committee, NEXUS Aus.)

Historically philanthropists have been good at giving away money, but not so good at giving away power. If we're serious about tackling inequality we must think beyond funding community-led projects to handing funds over for communities to distribute themselves. Learn how this model achieves greater impact and re-casts the philanthropist's role from decision maker to ally. Hear from a young US philanthropist, Sparks, on how she's leading her family foundation in this direction and meet leaders of two community-led funds here in Australia including Sam Turner and Georgia Mathews.

Plenary

Imagining the future

Ant Moorhouse (Co-Founder, EarthTech)
Lea d'Auriol (Founder and Executive Director, Oceanic Global Foundation)
Jennifer Robinson (Human Rights Lawyer and Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers)
Teela Reed (Criminal defence lawyer and activist)
Emmanuel Kelly (Artist)

Now more than ever, it is so important that we find ways to come together to shape a better world. Join our amazing speaker line up for your daily dose of inspiration as they share 'on the ground' insights and game-changing inititives that are 'Building Tomorrow Today'

Side Event

Closing Drinks

Venue: Madame Brussells (Melbourne) and Slims Rooftop (Sydney)

Build new connections with delegates and reconnect with old friends as we close the NEXUS 2021 Australia Summit in person at Madame Brussells in Melbourne and Slims Rooftop in Sydney.