Who We Are

Solid governance and independent funding enables us to take risks when backing outstanding people and organisations. It makes it possible for us to make cutting-edge investments that have a real chance of catalysing social change. We call this 'igniting change' and we love what we do.

Our Board

Our Team

  • Kim-Katharina Bezemer

    Works closely with Jane and is a jet. She helps makes sure we use our systems to support our work and has bought us into the 21st century, technologically speaking.

  • Lydia Holly Blue Garrett

    Travelled from the UK to join us and lead some exciting new partnerships and projects. She brings a diverse mix of experience working with business, government and at the grassroots in the UK and internationally and loves nurturing new relationships and collaborating to see what magic can be achieved.

  • Celia Hirsh

    Our amazing podcast host and top notch volunteer.

  • Sarah Lambert

    Supports the team with data entry, and does loads of things to help out.

  • Dr Charles Lane

    A consultant who does occasional work with us, evaluating projects and emerging issues.

  • Nicole Newton

    Our strategic advisor, who helps make sure what we say lines up with what we do, and helps us get where we’re trying to go.

  • David Pledger

    As our artist-in-residence, David provides advice on, and participation in, our many creative adventures.

  • Jackie Polonsky

    Keeps everything ticking along, administratively speaking. Jane sees her as the glue that holds the place together. She works with the agencies we walk alongside and keeps our internal processes humming.

  • Jane Tewson

    Founder and Director of Igniting Change. Jane is an innovator with a global reputation for inspiring individuals and organisations to work together for positive social change. She is ever-curious and drawn to the humanity and courage of people doing it tough.

Our Supporters

Igniters

Sir Richard Branson, Suzi Carp, Emma Backhouse, Dennis Bastas, Bassat Family Foundation, Peter and Suparna Cooper, Ian Darling, Benjamin Duncan Foundation, Richard Earl, The English Family Foundation, Jess and David Frid, Paul and Jane Hallam, Light Warrior, Andrew Mellet and Hayley Chard, Lizzie Murray, Rob and Clea Philpot, The Prior Family Foundation, Chris Sheppard, The Solomon Family Foundation, The Spotlight Foundation, Swann Family Foundation, Tracey Ryan, Tom Snow, Amy Tennent and Utopian Fund.

Our supporters include

Ajaz Ahmed, Arrotex, Mim Bartlett, Matt Berriman, Wendy Bonnici, Sarah Brockhoff, Nick Brunner, George Calombaris, Suzi Carp, Nicky Carp, The Carter Family, Caulfield Grammar, David & Karen Cheah, Michael Christidis, Anne-Laure Cavigneaux, Caroline Creswell, Peter and Suparna Cooper, Cooper Investors Philanthropy Fund, Jennifer Cummins, Cygnet, Ian Darling, Katie Dewhurst, Richard Earl, Natalie Elliott, Allan & Tessa English, Equity Trustees, Martin Flanagan, Chloe Flutter, James Fox, Linda Fox, Jodi Geddes, Mark Gilmour, Tom Gleisner, George Glover, Sandy Grant, Simon Griffiths, Belinda Gruebner, Paul and Jane Hallam, Hardie Grant Books, Have You Been Paying Attention, HERO Agency, Michael & Celia Hirsh, Brooke Horne, Mariam Issa, Emmanuel Jal, Sarah Jessup, Charlotte Jones, Kon Karapanagiotidis, Lisa Keenan, Key Administration Solutions, Kate Kloss, KOGO, Andrew Knight, KPMG, Charles Lane, Jo Lane, Ben Lilley, Macquarie Foundation, March Studio, Andrew Mellett and Hayley Chard, Mary Muirhead, Amy Newling Ward, Nicole Newton, Jean Oelwang, Pinchapoo, Melissa Razuki, Sabina Read, Lee Ridder, Edward Ring, Stephen Ring, Sarah Robinson, Ros & Richard Rogers, Greg Rose, Tracey Ryan, Ryan Cooper Family Foundation, Jane Rowe, Radek & Helen Sali, Chris Sheppard, Social Garden, The Spotlight Foundation, Karson Stimson, Kimberley Swann, Swann Family Foundation, Jane Sydenham-Clarke, Talent International, TBWA Melbourne, Amy Tennent, Matthew Tominc, TRIBE Management, Jane Vadiveloo, Virgin Unite, Wanderlust, Ian & Penelope Ward-Ambler, Phil Weickhardt, Kimberlee Wells, Kit Willow, Bella and Electra Wiggs, Elina Wilson, Tania Wolff, Working Dog Films and many more. Thanks to each and everyone and to anyone we may have missed.

MY JOURNEY WITH IGNITING CHANGE HAS BEEN ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE – FEELING, KNOWING, LEARNING, UNDERSTANDING, RESPECTING, BUILDING BRIDGES. IT DEMANDS THAT EVERYONE SITS AS EQUALS….WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED IS AN AMAZING, RARE THING.

— Jane Vadiveloo, Children’s Ground, Alice Springs

 

THEY TRESPASS THE BOUNDARIES OFTEN SET BY FEAR AND TRADITION AS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THIS IS THE MOST FERTILE TERRITORY FOR IGNITING CHANGE

— Karl Lokko, Former Gang Leader Turned Activist, Poet Infulencer & Public Speaker