Looking for the right fellowship, funding pathway, or leadership development opportunity to strengthen your impact?
Join us for the second edition of this special collective briefing, bringing together leading philanthropic fellowship programs that support purpose-driven leaders across Australia and the region. Whether you are building a social enterprise, leading community change, or exploring your next stage of leadership, this session is designed to help you better understand which opportunities may align with your work, values, and vision.
Hear directly from the people behind these programs
In this practical and insight-rich panel discussion, you will hear from representatives of the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships, the Westpac Social Change Fellowship, and Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity. Together, they will share what their programs are designed to support, who they are looking for, and how purpose-driven leaders can engage with these opportunities more strategically.
Event Details
📅 Date: Wednesday, 20 May
⏰ Time: 12 PM (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne) / 11:30 AM (Adelaide, Darwin) / 10 AM (Perth) / 2 PM (Wellington)
💻 Online
🎟 Cost: Free
What You’ll Learn & Do
• Get a clear overview of three major fellowship opportunities for purpose-driven leaders
• Understand the focus, support offered, and intended impact of each program
• Learn how different fellowships invest in people, ideas, and community-led change
• Hear what program teams are looking for in applicants and how to assess your fit
• Ask questions in a live Q&A and leave with greater clarity about your next step
About the Speakers
👤 Kirsty Allen
Senior Program Manager, Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation
Kirsty oversees the Inclusion & Equality and Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships programs at the Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation. In this session, she will speak about the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships, which support breakthrough solutions to Australia’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
The Fellowship offers recipients 12 months, supported by $180,000, to focus on projects with strong potential to create positive outcomes for society and the environment. The program supports initiatives aligned with themes including inclusion and equality, sustainability and environment, including climate change, and human, civil and legal rights. Fellows receive time, resources, and a tailored program of support to help progress their work and grow their impact.
👤 Lauren Hill
Senior Advisor, Westpac Scholars Trust and Westpac Foundation
Lauren will share insights into the Westpac Social Change Fellowship, which awards up to 10 Fellowships, each valued at up to $50,000, to individuals leading social change across Australia.
Designed to invest in the individual rather than an organisation or initiative, the Fellowship helps experienced changemakers deepen their leadership capability, expand their networks, and accelerate the impact of the work they are already doing. Fellows can use the funding for tailored development opportunities such as global study tours, short courses, coaching, and other learning experiences, while also participating in a group leadership program and connecting across the W100 network.
👤 Matisse Knight
Engagement and Events Coordinator, Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity
Matisse, pronouns she/her, is a proud Wiradjuri Woman who has the privilege of living on Bunurong Country and working on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. In her role at Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity, Matisse supports program delivery, community engagement, and the operational oversight of events and engagement initiatives at the AFSE Hub.
She will speak about the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity program, hosted by the University of Melbourne in partnership with Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. The program supports the leadership journeys of 20 Indigenous social change makers from across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Pacific. Grounded in Indigenous knowledges, lived experience, and values-based leadership, the fellowship supports mid-career, community-focussed people who are ready to turn bold ideas into real-world initiatives that advance social equity for Indigenous peoples.
About the Host Organisations
This collective briefing brings together three highly regarded fellowship pathways that support changemakers in different but complementary ways.
The Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation seek to promote a just, creative, enlightened, caring, and sustainable Australia, with the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships backing breakthrough initiatives responding to major social and environmental challenges.
Westpac Scholars Trust and Westpac Foundation support leaders committed to lasting social impact, with the Westpac Social Change Fellowship investing in the growth, leadership, and long-term capability of experienced changemakers.
Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity supports Indigenous-led and values-based leadership through a deeply relational fellowship experience that draws on collective wisdom, lived experience, and academic learning to shape more equitable futures.
Why Attend?
This session is ideal for social entrepreneurs, community leaders, founders, and purpose-driven professionals who are actively seeking the right support for their next stage of impact. Rather than researching multiple programs separately, you will be able to hear directly from the people behind them, compare opportunities more easily, and make more informed decisions about where to focus your time and energy.
If you are looking for funding, leadership development, community, or a clearer sense of which fellowship may be right for you, this is a rare opportunity to gain practical insight in one place.
Privacy Notice:
By registering for this session, you consent to your registration details being shared with the organisers and participating programs—The Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation, Westpac Scholars Trust and Westpac Foundation, Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity—for the purposes of event delivery, participant follow-up, and sharing relevant information about their respective opportunities.
Your information will be handled in accordance with each organisation’s privacy policy. You may be contacted after the event with additional resources, program information, or invitations to connect. By registering, you acknowledge and accept these terms. If you do not wish to be contacted post-event, please notify the organisers prior to the session or opt out when contacted.
Why Attend?
This session is designed for people who want to make a difference, whether you are just starting out, considering a career shift, or looking for new ways to create impact where you are. You will hear diverse perspectives, learn from real career journeys, and leave with practical ideas for how to grow your contribution to positive change.
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