The George Alexander Foundation Mr George Alexander (1910 – 2008) was a man of vision and generosity. His life story is a tale of achievement in the face of great odds and it exemplifies the ethos that has helped build modern Australia. A teenage English immigrant, a farm worker, a mechanic, a lecturer and a businessman, George was, in many ways, a lifelong student and teacher. In the words of his biographer Dr Peter Yule, George Alexander was “a self made man whose life experiences inspired a wish to help others.” His story provides inspiration for anyone who believes that determination and perseverance can overcome adversity.
George established The George Alexander Foundation in 1972 as a way of sharing his wealth, or as he put it ‘planting seeds and hoping they grow into pretty big trees’. In keeping with George’s great interests, the Foundation’s main focus is supporting access to education for all young people, especially those from rural and regional areas, as well as investment in environment and conservation issues.
While his business success brought him considerable wealth, when it came to money and possessions, George Alexander’s attitude was that you do not really own them, ‘you’re just minding them’. He felt that this belief ‘frees up your thinking about how you deal with money’, and it was central to the development of his philanthropy.
These interests continue to guide the Foundation’s giving to this day.
Governors
Staff
The George Alexander Foundation is managed from the office of The Ian Potter Foundation and the two Foundations share the same Board of Governors.
Chief Executive Officer Mrs Janet Hirst
Mr Charles Goode AC – Chairman Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC Mr Leon Davis AO Sir Daryl Dawson AC KBE CB Sir James Gobbo AC CVO Mr John Gough AO OBE Professor Thomas Healy AO Dr Thomas H. Hurley AO OBE Mr Allan Myers AO QC Mr Frank Nelson Lady Potter AC Dr John Rose AO Professor Graeme Ryan AC
Finance Therese Reidy Program Management Caitriona Fay Communications Avalee Weir Administration Gail Lewry Miranda Hartcher-O’Brien Assistant to the CEO Sarah MacNeill
The George Alexander Foundation ABN 58 451 731 162 Level 3, 111 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel. 03 9650 3188 Email admin@gafoundation.org.au www.gafoundation.org.au