John Hartman looks back on 23 years of Minderoo Foundation making a difference in Australia and abroad.
For 23 years, Minderoo Foundation has made a difference in Australia and abroad.
Now, under our 2030 Strategy, we have the largest commitment for impact in our organisation’s history, with more than $300 million committed to supporting our partners advance our mission to forge a fair future.
Last year, 2024, was a transformative year for Minderoo.
We rolled out our new 2030 Strategy to redefine how we work and collaborate, embracing a partner-led approach and empowering those closest to the challenges to lead the solutions.
We sharpened our focus on three critical areas - Communities, Gender Equality and Natural Ecosystems - while maintaining the ability to respond swiftly to crises.
While focusing on embedding our new strategy in 2024, we maintained our commitment to creating impact, with active commitments for impact totaling more than $210 million at 30 June.
Here at home in Western Australia, that included supporting three iconic partners aligned with our commitment to giving people every opportunity to thrive.
We helped ensure the sustainability of the iconic Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, which provides youth programs to develop life skills, build resilience and make friends.
We also made the largest ever philanthropic contribution to Australia’s performing arts sector, backing the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with a $30 million partnership to deliver cutting-edge theatre spaces at the new ECU City campus and to connect students with world-class artists so they can learn from the very best.
Additionally, we contributed $4 million towards St Pat’s new health centre and 28 social homes in Fremantle to support those in need.
We also supported communities in central Great Southern, Armadale west, Derby and Bidyadanga to drive innovative change to improve the health, development and learning of their children, through an additional $19 million contribution to the Early Years Partnership with the state government.
Our national advocacy for early childhood education and care through the Thrive by Five campaign has resulted in major policy and funding shifts that benefit Australian children and families.
While our priority is our fellow Australians first and foremost, it is impossible to overlook urgent challenges abroad. In a year defined by uncertainty and global crises, the importance of partner-led solutions has never been more clear.
By providing resources to organisations that understand local context and on-the-ground realities, we can support more meaningful and lasting outcomes for the vulnerable communities that need help most.
We put this approach into action in Ukraine, with nearly US$13 million committed to help protect lives and restore livelihoods, with projects including de-mining agricultural land.
In Gaza, more than US$27 million has been committed to partners providing critical aid, services and infrastructure, providing lifesaving support to millions of people.
We also advocate internationally to help shape outcomes and bring those insights home. A clear example is our advocacy for a Global Plastics Treaty, aiming to protect children from the toxic chemicals found in everyday plastics.
We are taking climate science directly to policymakers through the Minderoo-convened Lethal Humidity Global Council, funding research by leading experts on the deadly impact humidity is already having across the world.
As a leading Australian funder of science and evidence gathering, we continue to champion local research and innovation, including the Forrest Research Foundation, which attracts the world’s best minds to conduct research here in Western Australia.
Meanwhile, our groundbreaking OceanOmics program demonstrates how cutting-edge scientific research and innovation can be developed locally with the support of government partners.
Looking ahead, 2025 presents new opportunities, bolstered by our largest commitment for impact and a new approach that backs and empowers those closest to the challenges.
We’re excited to work side by side with our partners to accelerate positive impact and forge a fair future for all people and our natural ecosystems.
- John Hartman is chief executive of Tattarang and the Minderoo Foundation.
