Prominent Board named for new Deakin Foundation

Deakin University has named a Board of eminent Australians to support the philanthropic activities of its new Deakin Foundation, to be chaired by the former Victorian Premier The Hon Steve Bracks.

Mr Bracks will be joined on the Foundation Board by the following external Directors:

• Mr Andrew Brookes, Executive Officer of the Colonial Foundation and a great grandson of Alfred Deakin.
• Dr Frank Costa, OAM, Executive Chairman of the Geelong-based Costa Group of Companies, Australia's largest service wholesaler of fresh produce.
• Mr Andrew Fairley, a prominent solicitor and Chairman of the Sir Andrew Fairley Foundation which focuses on supporting leadership, indigenous communities and disadvantaged young people.
• Mr Paddy Handbury, a prominent pastoralist and experienced company director.
• Dr Harold Mitchell, AO, Chairman of Mitchell and Partners, Australia's largest media buying agency and founder of the Harold Mitchell Foundation which distributes philanthropic funds between health and the arts.
• Ms Karen Plant, co-founder and Director of Barry Plant Real Estate, which has 78 franchised offices throughout Victoria.
• Mr Daryl Somers, OAM, one of Australia's best known entertainment personalities and entrepreneurs.

·Mr Bracks said all of the Foundation's external Directors had direct and personal involvement in philanthropic activities and would bring significant collective experience and expertise to the Foundation's work. "Philanthropy is now widely regarded as an investment in a relationship and philanthropists are actively seeking to develop long-term partnerships with the organisations and causes they support. This is consistent with the thinking at Deakin University - the development and nurturing of effective partnerships is a major element in the University's Strategic Plan," Mr Bracks said.

The Foundation Board will also include Deakin University's Chancellor, Mr David Morgan, and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sally Walker. Professor Walker said "The establishment of the Deakin Foundation is another milestone in the growth of our University. We are especially pleased that so many outstanding people have agreed to serve on its Board; this is a measure of their confidence in Deakin and the Foundation. The Foundation will be the flagship of Deakin University's efforts to deliver effective philanthropic partnerships over the coming years."

Professor Walker noted that philanthropy is more important than ever in allowing universities to develop. "Deakin has core commitments to equity and access and to rural and regional engagement and those involved in the Board share those commitments" she said.

Funds raised by the Foundation will initially be applied to providing scholarships for students and to provide funding for health and medical research projects. The Foundation will also support Deakin's Institute of Koorie Education; Deakin University educates the largest numbers of Indigenous students of any Victorian University and is one of Australia's largest providers of tertiary education to Indigenous students.