Genevieve Timmons Steps Down From Portland House
20 December 2017 at 5:09 pm
Passionate not for profit advocate and mentor, Genevieve Timmons is stepping down from her role as CEO of the Portland House Foundation at the end of the year after 13 years in the role.
Timmons, who will retire along with board chair Steven Hains, said the decision felt like a “natural conclusion” to her tenure.
“After 13 years, it’s more of a celebration than anything else,” Timmons said.
“Steve and I have had such a tremendous partnership together over the years and it’s very rewarding that he and I are able to sign off together.”
The charter of the foundation is to benefit people in disadvantaged circumstances. Timmons is recognised internationally for her expertise in philanthropy, grantmaking and social investment.
The partnership between Timmons and Hains resulted in several ground-breaking approaches to grantmaking, including the development of a high-trust, low paperwork model that influenced modern philanthropic practice here and in New Zealand.
“When we first started out, Steve said: ‘If we can’t fund a not for profit with a handshake then why are we funding them?’,” she said.
The Portland House Foundation’s high-trust model prioritises face-to-face contact and full and frank communication.
“The systems we developed provided a platform for granting relationships that were characterised by no surprises,” Timmons said.
“It was always an open line of communication between us and our grantees.
“Thanks to Steve’s style and the frameworks he set in place as chair, we’ve been able to demonstrate how grantees can be counted on to bring their best management and acumen to the table with a light touch.”
Timmons said the decision was not the end of her philanthropic story, “merely time for the next chapter”.
She will continue in her roles as Philanthropy Australia council member, director of the George Hicks Foundation and advisory group member of the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership.
Timmons has also been a contributing writer for Pro Bono Australia. In 2013 she published a book called Savvy Giving, commissioned by the Australian Communities Foundation.
