Alex Splitt - Lead, First Nations, private philanthropic trust

Alex Splitt, a Kabi Kabi djan (man) based in Kaurna Yerta (Adelaide, South Australia), is the First Nations Lead for a Private Philanthropic Trust. With 15 years of experience, he specialises in co-designing and implementing strategic policy frameworks that drive social equity and economic prosperity for First Nations Peoples. 

Alex has led major policy reforms, including the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework and RMIT University’s ‘Investing in the Relationship’ framework. He is a Global Atlantic Fellow at the Atlantic Institute (Oxford) and holds a Master of Social Change Leadership and a postgraduate qualification in Education from the University of Melbourne. He also serves as Deputy Chair of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute.

Leeroy Bilney – Regional Manager, Australia, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP)

He is an experienced professional with a proven track record of working with Indigenous communities and advocating for their voices to be heard. With a background in various leadership roles within Aboriginal health organizations, government agencies, and community development projects, Leeroy brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. In particular, his passion has remained the same in working with community people and alongside them in achieving true capacity building. With a background in performing arts, he takes advantage of the opportunities to share his stories, in advancing others to explore their journey.

Leeroy is currently Regional Manager, Australia for International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP), Presiding Member for the South Australia’s inaugural First Nations Voice to State Parliament and Chairperson of the Spinifex Foundation South Australia, formerly known as the First Nations Philanthropic Working Group. He has held positions as a Director of NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled health Organisation). He was the former Chairperson of Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation, and previously held a position as a Director on the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA).

Leah Armstrong – Managing Director, Core Insights Advisory Services; Senior Advisor, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP)

Leah currently serves on several Committees including member of the First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group, an Australian co-representative of the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Co-operation Arrangement (IPETCA) Partnership Council, Creative Australia Impact Investment Advisory Committee, First Nations Governance Committee and Chair of the First Nation Funders Network of Philanthropy Australia (PA) and member of the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance.

Leah has played a pivotal role in national Indigenous affairs as co-founder and Chairperson of First Australians Capital, Regional Manager (Aust) International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, CEO of Reconciliation Australia; Director of Indigenous Business Australia, a member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, and Chairperson of Supply Nation and Chairperson of Aboriginal Housing Office NSW.

Leah lives on Awabakal country in Newcastle, Australia.

Adam Ognall - Executive Director, Partnerships and Practice, Philanthropy Australia

Prior to joining PA, he was Chief Executive of New Israel Fund UK, a charity that promotes democracy and equality in Israel and Palestine through making grants and providing capacity-building services to civil society groups. Before this he was Deputy CEO of UK Sustainable Investment and Finance (UKSIF), the mission-driven peak body committed to growing responsible and sustainable finance, leading their member services and developing their impact investment workstream. Until moving to Melbourne in 2021, Adam was also the Board Chair of the award-winning The Bike Project, a charity that supports refugees.