Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Leah Armstrong and Caitriona (Cat) Fay to its Board. Ms Armstrong and Ms Fay bring decades of combined leadership across First Nations economic development, philanthropy and social investment, adding significant depth to the Board as PRF works with communities to stop disadvantage in Australia.
Ms Armstrong, is a Torres Strait Islander woman with more than 30 years of business and not-for-profit experience and has played a key role in advocating for First Nations communities. Her previous roles include CEO of Reconciliation Australia, co-founder and Managing Director of First Australians Capital and Chair of Supply Nation, and she was a member of the Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council. She currently serves on the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance and as its representative on the Commonwealth First Nations Economic Partnership, among a number of national advisory roles, including as the current Chair of PRF’s First Nations Advisory Council.
Ms Fay is a senior philanthropic leader with nearly two decades of experience in social investment and philanthropy in Australia and overseas. At Perpetual Wealth she is Managing Partner of Community and Social Investment and ESG, overseeing over $5 billion in community investments and more than $100 million in community grants annually. Widely recognised as a leader in gender-wise and LGBTQIA+ philanthropy, Cat is a founding member of the Melbourne Women's Foundation, an International Women's Forum member and on the Board of The Ladder Project Foundation.
PRF interim Board Chair Natalie Walker said the appointments, which were part of PRF’s Board succession, would strengthen the Board's expertise in First Nations economic self-determination, philanthropic practice and social investment.
“Leah and Cat each bring outstanding experience and deep relationships across communities, philanthropy, business and government,” Ms Walker said. “Leah's leadership in First Nations economic development and Cat's expertise in philanthropy and social investment will be invaluable as PRF continues to invest in, build and influence the conditions needed to stop disadvantage in Australia. We are delighted to welcome them both to the Board.”
Ms Armstrong said she was looking forward to contributing to PRF's work alongside communities and partners.
“I believe the solutions to many of the challenges we see today can be found within communities themselves,” she said. “Philanthropy is at its most powerful when it recognises that, shifting the balance from those who hold the money to those who hold the solutions and building genuine collaboration between them. For First Nations people, the community is always the best place to address the issues.
“I look forward to working with my fellow directors, the First Nations Advisory Council and the PRF team to support community-led change and greater economic opportunity for First Nations people across Australia."
Ms Fay said she was honoured to join the Board at a pivotal moment for philanthropy in Australia.
“Through my career I’ve seen that the most effective philanthropy backs good organisations for the long term, so they can tackle the root causes of the issues we care about,” she said. “PRF’s work to shift conditions so people and places can thrive reflects a genuine belief in fairness, and I’m delighted to be contributing to it.
“We all have a responsibility to help others at risk of falling through the cracks. I look forward to working with my fellow directors, the PRF team and our partners to help drive positive change.”
