Philanthropy Australia Announces New President
20 June 2014 at 2:11 pm
Philanthropy Australia has announced the appointment of Alan Schwartz as the new President of the national philanthropic peak body – six months after long-time President Bruce Bonyhady resigned.
Schwartz who will take up the position in August 2014 for a three-year term is the Managing Director of the Trawalla Group.
Philanthropy Australia Acting President Robert McLean said the appointment was the next major milestone to shaping the organisation's future.
"On behalf of Philanthropy Australia Council and Members, we're delighted to have Alan Schwartz leading our organisation in the next stage of our development," he said.
"He brings extensive experience from the philanthropic, Not for Profit and community sectors to the role that will complement other skills and experience already represented on Council and management."
Schwartz contributed to the creation of Jewish Care, a merger of Jewish Community Services and Montefiore Homes, and was appointed its inaugural President. He has held a number of other senior Not for Profit board positions including Volunteering Victoria (Treasurer) and Philanthropy Australia (Treasurer, 1998-1999). He was the founder of SEAL Force, one of Australia's first 'social ventures', which developed the technical and interpersonal skills of corporate executives by challenging them with Not for Profit projects.
In recognition of his contribution to the community and business, Schwartz was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003, followed by an Order of Australia (AM) in 2007. In 2006, he and his wife Carol Schwartz also established the Trawalla Foundation – a Private Ancillary Fund that invests in the arts, ideas, scholarship and innovation.
"The CEO, management and staff at Philanthropy Australia look forward to working with Alan Schwartz," McLean said.
The long-time President of Philanthropy Australia, Bruce Bonyhady resigned and stepped down from official duties in January 1, 2014.
The resignation came four months after Bonyhady took on the role as inaugural Chairman of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which manages the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
“While I knew my workload would increase significantly, even though I had resigned as Chairman of Yooralla, my expectation and desire was to be able to combine my new role as Chairman of the NDIA with being President of Philanthropy Australia,” Bonyhady explained in a letter to Philanthropy Australia members.
