Shifting power to transform the systems that cause injustice

For the past two decades, Rachel Ball has focused on securing progressive, systemic change in Australia and overseas. She has held senior leadership roles at the Human Rights Law Centre, Oxfam Australia and, most recently, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, where she has supported Assembly Members in negotiating the foundations for Treaty-making in Victoria. Rachel has degrees in politics and law from Monash University and a Master of Laws from Columbia University in New York. Read on for our fascinating interview with Rachel.

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

I started out as a lawyer at a big firm but quickly discovered that I was much more interested in my pro bono files and volunteer work with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, so I took off to study human rights law (and see a lot of live music) in New York. When I returned home I took a job at the newly formed Human Rights Law Centre. The work and the people were fantastic, and I stayed for over eight years, working across a broad range of domestic and international human rights issues.  

After the HRLC I worked at Oxfam Australia, where I was running policy and advocacy projects aimed at to tackling global poverty and inequality. Most recently I worked at the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, where I supported Assembly Members to develop policy and negotiate the foundations for Treaty-making in Victoria. 

My current role with the Reichstein Foundation picks up a common thread running through all my jobs. They’ve all been geared towards shifting power to transform the systems that cause and perpetuate injustice. Whether it be in human rights, international development, or philanthropy, I’ve always believed that if you’re after meaningful change, you’ve got to go to the root of the problem.   

What does this role mean to you?

Over the years I’ve worked with several organisations and campaigns supported by the Reichstein Foundation and admired the Foundation’s feminist principles, willingness to take risks, and commitment to advocacy and systemic change. 

This role gives me an opportunity to be a cheerleader for the issues and organisations I love and support critical work for social, environmental and economic justice.   

Take us through a typical day of work for you 

The Reichstein Foundation is small, so there’s always a good mix of work on my plate. On an average day I’ll meet with a couple of civil society organisations. I might catch up with other funders, or check in with my Chair, philanthropic superstar, Jill Reichstein. 

One of the exciting things that’s dominating my time right now is the development of a new investment strategy to guide how our endowment is invested. There’s so much more that we can do as engaged and activist investors to contribute to the change that we and our civil society partners are working towards. If philanthropy can’t adopt a more rights-based and future-focused approach to how we manage our capital, how can we expect it from the rest of the capitalist world to do it?  

In amongst all that, there’s a good chance I’ll be interrupted at some point by my kids arriving home from school in desperate need of snacks.  

What has working with Reichstein taught you?

I’m having a great time learning about the breadth and depth of civil society efforts to create a more equal, just and sustainable Australia. In the last week alone I’ve learnt about groundbreaking work to protect protest rights, achieve a resounding YES vote in the upcoming referendum, drive progressive tax reform and combat greenwashing. It’s fascinating how interdependent and mutually reinforcing so much of this work is. 

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career? 

Job share! I’m not in a job share at the moment but was in my last role and I loved it. I’m sure we made better decisions and told more jokes than we would have working alone. I hope to do it again one day.  

How do you stay motivated to work in this field?

It’s not hard to stay motivated because my job is fun! I’m energised by the conversations I have with brilliant leaders working to tackle injustice. Hearing about their ideas and plans always fires me up. 

How do you unwind after work?

We moved to the coast a couple of years ago, so whenever I have a spare moment you’ll find me swimming, surfing or just bobbing about in the ocean with family and friends. 

What was the last thing you:

• Watched: Twin Peaks (worth a re-watch every 5-10 years) 
• Read: we’ve got a grant round coming up, so I’ve been reading project plans and strategies from fantastic organisations like ACOSS, the Migrant Justice Institute, Australian Democracy Network and the Economic Media Centre.  
• Listened to: TTTDC’s latest album, III