Making Every Dollar Count in the Fight Against Extreme Poverty

 

Charbel Ghattas has built a career at the intersection of finance, philanthropy and humanitarian action. After beginning in Sydney's financial sector, a volunteer experience in a Lebanese refugee camp transformed his career, leading him to dedicate more than a decade to international development and high-impact philanthropy.

Today, as Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at The Life You Can Save, Charbel works with philanthropists, family foundations and corporate partners to direct funding towards some of the world's most effective charities. Combining firsthand humanitarian experience with a commercial mindset, he is passionate about ensuring every dollar achieves the greatest possible impact in reducing extreme poverty.

We spoke with Charbel about his unconventional career journey, why evidence matters in philanthropy and the lessons he's learned from working on the frontlines of humanitarian crises.

Tell us about your career journey.

My career has always combined commercial thinking with a passion for international development.

I began in Sydney's finance sector, where I developed a strong foundation in capital allocation and relationship management. Everything changed after I volunteered in a refugee camp in Lebanon one summer. Witnessing that level of human hardship firsthand completely shifted my perspective. I realised I wanted to use my financial background for something with a deeper sense of purpose.

I made the decision to leave corporate finance and move into the humanitarian sector.

That led me to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Middle East and North Africa, where I was able to use my commercial experience to raise significant funding during a period of immense geopolitical instability.

Following the Beirut port explosion, I returned to Australia to support my young family, but I remained deeply committed to humanitarian work, continuing to lead major fundraising initiatives for UNHCR Australia.

Eventually, I joined The Life You Can Save, progressing from Head of Development to my current role as Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships.

Working on the ground in regions experiencing displacement and conflict taught me an important lesson: good intentions alone don't solve systemic problems. Real impact requires evidence, accountability and rigorous measurement.

That's what makes my work today so rewarding.

I now work with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations and corporate partners to help them direct their philanthropy towards highly effective, evidence-backed charities. By applying a data-driven approach to giving, we help donors maximise the measurable impact of every dollar they contribute in the fight against extreme poverty.

What inspires you in your work?

What motivates me is a deep intolerance for wasted impact.

Coming from finance, I've always thought about philanthropy through the lens of efficiency and return on investment. In business, no one would invest millions of dollars without carefully analysing evidence and performance. Yet too often in philanthropy, funding decisions are driven primarily by emotion rather than proven outcomes.

My experience working in refugee camps gave those numbers a human face.

When you've met parents who cannot feed their children or women living with entirely preventable health conditions, you understand that inefficiency isn't just a management issue—it carries a real human cost.

Every dollar that isn't used effectively is a missed opportunity to save a life, vaccinate a child or keep a young girl in school.

That's why I care so deeply about evidence-based philanthropy.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is being able to show donors exactly how their generosity can create the greatest possible measurable impact. By connecting significant philanthropic capital with the world's most effective charities, we can help lift families out of extreme poverty as efficiently and effectively as possible.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If I could go back to the moment I left my finance career and entered a refugee camp for the first time, I'd tell myself:

Don't let the scale of human suffering paralyse you. Feel it—but use it.

Moving from a corporate office into the middle of a humanitarian crisis was an enormous emotional shock. I remember wondering how one person could possibly make a meaningful difference.

I'd remind myself that it's okay to grieve for what you witness, but the best way to honour the people you meet is to transform that emotion into effective action.

I'd also tell myself not to underestimate the value of my finance background.

At the time, I thought I was leaving that part of my career behind. In reality, it became one of the greatest tools I could bring into humanitarian work.

Passion alone doesn't build sustainable solutions. But when passion is combined with strategy, data and disciplined decision-making, it has the potential to transform millions of lives.

Is there a philosophy you live by?

A variation of a quote by John Wesley has become my guiding principle:

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, for as long as you can."

The words that resonate most strongly with me are by all the means you can.

Doing good isn't passive. It requires us to apply our intelligence, experience and best thinking—not just our compassion.

Having worked on the frontlines of humanitarian crises, I know that good intentions alone aren't enough when lives are at stake.

Every day, I try to bring together my commercial background and humanitarian experience to help ensure philanthropic capital achieves the greatest possible measurable impact, one family at a time.

What are you currently watching, reading or listening to?

I'm currently reading Doing Good Better by William MacAskill. It offers a compelling framework for thinking about philanthropy through evidence and scientific reasoning, and it aligns closely with the way I approach my work.

During my daily commute, I enjoy listening to the Huberman Lab podcast. I appreciate its focus on neuroscience, performance and human behaviour.

Weekends are a little different. Whenever we're on a family road trip, the soundtrack is almost always Disney songs—something my wife, son and I all secretly enjoy.

When it comes to watching television, I love sports documentaries such as The Last Dance, particularly because of the leadership lessons they offer. More recently, though, our household viewing has been determined by my son. We've graduated from Bluey to Pokémon, and I've found myself learning far more about Pikachu and Charizard than I ever imagined I would.