Posted: 8 August 2008 by Kristi

I've not written for a while because I'm deep in the labour pains of bringing the Social Investment Guide to market.  Our launches are happening in Sydney and Melbourne at the end of this month. We've been incredibly busy finalising it all, talking to the media, talking to potential donors and wealth managers.  There's enormous interest.  It feels good to be bringing in a new option to grow giving in Australia.  A new way.

One thing that's been happening a lot lately is I'm meeting people who are completely aligned.  Mostly women. You know, lots of new besties.  You meet someone or even speak on the phone and you know straight away they are in your corner - you recognise you share the same values and a vision for the potential of this time.  I frequently get off the phone or out of a meeting and report to the team, "great call, she's one of us."

My new besties are from all sectors - wealth management and financial services, womens refuges, the arts and the media, private practice and the law. If they are not working, I have met them generally because they are emerging philanthropists and may have inherited wealth or have married someone with wealth.  These are the women who are running families from Rose Bay & Bellevue Hill to Mosman & Palm Beach.  I'm very fortunate to spend my days going from home to home or project to project, learning about what people care about and plotting a way forward together for the future.

I am incredibly encouraged. There's a common theme amongst all these people, particularly women. It is a coming together, eliminating old barriers and finding ways to work together.  It's very important to do so.

Thank you to those women who are working with me and assisting on this journey.  I can't wait for you each to finally meet the others.  You will love it when you do.