The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2019–20 Contents Origins of the Myer Foundation
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The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2019–20 Contents Origins of The Myer Foundation Origins of The Myer Foundation 1 A Sustainable Future 2 The Myer Foundation President’s Address 3 The Myer Foundation CEO’s Introduction 5 Vale Professor Harry Simon 6 The Myer Foundation Directors’ Grants 7 Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships 9 Sustainability & Environment Program 10 Mental Health Program 12 Family Grants Program 13 Front cover: Reach Foundation Biographies of The Myer Foundation Directors 15 Back cover: Four Winds Festival, Welcome The Myer Foundation Committees and Membership 16 to Country from representatives of the Yuin-Monaro Nations. Photo: David Rogers The Myer Foundation Financials 17 Below: Reach Foundation The Myer Foundation was established in 1959 by Sidney Myer’s sons, the late Kenneth Myer AC DSC, and Baillieu Myer AC, as a way to support initiatives and new opportunities arising from contemporary issues. The Myer Foundation was endowed through Kenneth Myer’s estate following his death in 1992. 1 A Sustainable Future The Myer Foundation President’s Address Environmental Sustainability is one of The Myer Foundation and This has been a year in which we through the use of meaningful and have all faced many challenges. It has well-designed deliberative processes. Sidney Myer Fund’s five core values while addressing climate been a year in which TMF’s focus on Philanthropy is ideally placed to support change is one of the two abiding themes of the FY19–23 climate change and innovation has the dissemination of evidence-informed, felt particularly appropriate. It was disinterested approaches to public strategic plan (the other being inequality). the year in which the Kenneth Myer policy and this centre will be critical to Innovation Fellowships were renamed our shared success in addressing The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals can help to acknowledge my father, the late water security. us achieve a better and more sustainable future. The Myer Kenneth Myer AC, DSC. The change of name, to be applied prospectively, Consistent with TMF’s beyond Foundation acknowledges that we all have an imperative to limit is part of a suite of measures to reflect grantmaking strategic pillar, TMF global warming through achieving net zero emissions by 2050. the impact of Ken’s vision and legacy resolved to invest 100 percent of of forward thinking, progressive and its corpus in either environmentally The Myer Foundation is pursuing climate action and courageous philanthropy and on his sustainable, social and governance – so co-founding and endowing The Myer called ESG investments – by the 2022 environmental sustainability goals across its portfolio of Foundation. TMF Annual General Meeting, with 90 grantmaking and investment activities. Funded organisations percent of the portfolio to be invested Penlidis James Photo: We recognise climate change as or committed in accordance with this Martyn Myer AO use a variety of levers including financial markets, political one of the most pressing challenges strategy by December 2020. We can all President discourse, social movements, public policy, education and facing our global community. FY20 do more than award grants in support saw TMF build a portfolio approach of our philanthropy and we are keen awareness, business and industry, and strategic litigation as to grantmaking on climate action and to explore how our approach might pathways to effect systemic change. environmental sustainability by funding inform other trusts and foundations in diverse but complementary means to enlivening their investment portfolios effecting change. The portfolio maps to meet the challenges we face as a out key levers - such as strategic global community. litigation and financial markets – and the organisations that can drive policy As many of you know, on 26 November and decision makers to act. It sees TMF I step down as President of TMF. It continue its support of ClimateWorks has been a great privilege to lead TMF while also championing the newly these past 11 years and I am proud merged Environmental Defenders Office. of the Foundation’s achievements Financial Public over this most recent period. My Markets Policy FY20 was the year in which we term commenced with the 2009 took the important first steps in Commemorative Grants Program, Climate & environment SDGs establishing an independent, national which saw a series of impactful grants water and catchment policy centre to made across our community, but Business & Political Industry Pathway to 50% emissions reduction Discourse catalyse transformative change in the perhaps none more impactful than the by 2030 management of Australia’s freshwater creation of ClimateWorks Australia. Net zero by 2050 systems and catchments. The Myer ClimateWorks was founded to help Foundation and The Ian Potter bridge the gap between climate Foundation have each committed $5 research and action. Recognising Education & Social million over ten years towards the centre this need, The Myer Foundation and movements Awareness (and raised in excess of a further $20 Monash University partnered to create million), which seeks to improve how a new, independent not-for-profit, Strategic Litigation policy decisions are made about water working within the Monash Sustainable management by working collaboratively Development Institute. For the past with governments and key stakeholders decade ClimateWorks has played a 2 3 The Myer Foundation CEO’s Introduction unique role in Australia’s transition I’d like to thank my fellow Directors FY20 has seen a series of cascading TMF Directors’ support of Fair Agenda towards a net zero future. Climate for their work over these past 11 years crises hit Australia. Now, more than in this financial year represents a change is the most pressing challenge and congratulate Rupert Myer AO ever, our community needs leadership. material investment in a campaigning facing us as a species. It’s not our on his election as President of TMF. We need leadership that is fit-for- and advocacy organisation focused planet that’s in trouble; it’s us. The I look forward to TMF continuing to purpose, that is supple when it needs on the safety, economic security, and planet will survive in some form, but we act decisively and progressively to to be and resolute when required. agency of all women over their lives and won’t if humanity doesn’t successfully address our most complex challenges It is time to lean in to our values, to bodies. Such a grant is emblematic of address the climate change challenge. with innovative and success- those qualities and attributes which our organisations strategic pillar and TMF’s persistent focus on addressing orientated thinking. I would also like define us and exist outside of reporting SMF/TMF’s Equality value. climate change continues to evolve to congratulate John Daley on his timelines. I am grateful for the work and explore new and innovative ways appointment to the TMF board and that TMF Directors and SMF Trustees I’d like to acknowledge and thank to effect positive change in the face of thank Leonard Vary, CEO of The Myer have previously completed with Myer Martyn Myer AO for all that has been dire consequences. From the creation Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund and family members to settle our values of achieved under his Presidency of of ClimateWorks to the restructuring of his outstanding team for their sector- Leadership, Creativity, Environmental TMF. Martyn has a perspicacious and TMF’s investment portfolio with a view leading work. Sustainability, Integrity, and Equality; inquisitive mind and an intolerance for to achieving strong financial returns in those values continue to guide our injustice wherever it might be found. His alignment with environmental, social This has been a very difficult year efforts to meet the challenges we face. oversight of the redevelopment of VCA’s Penlidis James Photo: and governance goals, our thinking has for many in our community and our Southbank campus, his persistent and Leonard Vary continued to explore new solutions to recovery from the bushfire crisis and the TMF’s establishment of the water vocal support for marriage equality, and CEO this wicked problem. global pandemic will take many years. and catchment policy centre this the multi-year funding of the Grattan That recovery would not be possible year is one such example of TMF’s Institute’s pursuit of independent, During these past 11 years TMF has without the dedicated individuals leadership in action. This new centre rigorous and practical solutions to helped support some genuinely positive working in the not-for-profit sector and will be a crucial pillar in propagating Australia’s most pressing problems social change in our country. Our focus I extend my thanks to them for their an evidence-informed discussion are prime examples of his leadership. on legal, civil and human rights has tireless work. regarding one of our most precious My congratulations to Rupert Myer resulted in support for organisations resources. I am delighted to have seen AO on his prospective election to such as the Human Rights Law Centre, this initiative, which is being created the presidency – my team and I look which uses strategic legal action, policy by a collaboration of more than a forward to working with Rupert over solutions and advocacy to support dozen philanthropic funders large and the coming years and continuing people and communities to eliminate small from all over Australia, materially TMF’s legacy of bold and impactful inequality and injustice and build a progress towards its funding target and philanthropy. fairer, more compassionate Australia. the appointment of a chair, board It has also afforded us to be one of and CEO. My thanks to the talented and the first large philanthropic entities to hardworking team at Bennetts Lane support marriage equality publicly and Prior to the onset of the global and to the dedicated and passionate financially.