The Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Kristy Muir to the role of CEO, effective from August 25, 2022.

Professor Muir is currently the acting CEO, having held the role since June 2022 when previous CEO Professor Glyn Davis departed for the role of Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Upon his departure, PRF undertook a comprehensive, global recruitment process to find its next CEO, led by the team at People for Purpose.

Prior to Professor Davis’ departure, Professor Muir was the Foundation’s Chief Alliances Officer. She joined the Foundation in 2021 from the national multi-university organisation, the Centre for Social Impact, where she held the role of CEO for the previous five years. Here, she was the architect of organisational transformation that steered CSI to sustainability, expansion, and impact. Professor Muir also held a seat on UNSW Sydney’s Council where she played a significant governance role.

Michael Traill, AM, PRF’s Board Chair said that the board were thrilled that Kristy was successful in her application for the role.

“With Kristy, we have someone who deeply understands the needs of the sector and has the unique ability to balance this with the rigour and business acumen required of a CEO. She is immensely respected across all sectors as someone who brings intellect, compassion, insight, and strategic thinking into the room.

“She has demonstrated her capacity to be an effective leader of the organisation and the board looks forward to supporting her in delivering on the Foundation’s strategy to make a real difference.”

Professor Muir said that she feels “honoured and privileged” to be appointed as PRF’s CEO and is “beyond excited” about the opportunity for impact. “We know that people and communities around Australia deserve to have the opportunity to thrive, but it is not a level playing field. PRF is uniquely positioned to help shift the conditions causing these inequities. I’m honoured to be appointed as PRF’s third CEO and to lead the organisation in its next evolution.

“We already have an outstanding team at PRF, an incredible collection of people who are deeply committed to creating positive social change. Together, we now need to look at increasing our impact, deepening engagement across sectors, and ensuring PRF is a highly functioning organisation to deliver on those goals.”

Media Contact: Pia Akerman, 0412 346 746

Bio: Professor Kristy Muir

Kristy Muir is Paul Ramsay Foundation’s CEO. She is a Professor of Social Policy in the Business School at UNSW Sydney, Chair of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia and a Non-Executive Director of ARACY.

Kristy has worked for almost three decades (as a support worker, academic, collaborator, leader and board director) with for-purpose organisations that enable children, families and communities to thrive. She is driven to better understand and find solutions to complex social problems and measure whether and where we are making a difference.

Kristy has undertaken over 100 social impact projects in partnership with governments, not-for-profits, corporates, academics and philanthropists. These projects have worked alongside families and communities, and spanned housing, education, employment, social participation, disability, mental health, financial resilience, wellbeing and the social purpose sector. She has published widely and teaches the AGSM Governance for Social Impact course for non-executive directors and the Social Impact Leadership Australia program.

Kristy was CEO of the Centre for Social Impact (2017-21), served as an elected academic member of UNSW’s Council (2016-2021) and was a NED of the Community Council of Australia. She has a PhD in social history and is a graduate of the AICD.

Kristy joined PRF as Chief Alliances Officer in 2021 and became Chief Executive Officer in August 2022.