The Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) Board is pleased to announce that Carly Severino has been appointed Acting CEO.

Director of Community at ACF since 2023 and a respected leader in the philanthropic sector, Carly will take up the role on 3 May 2024 when outgoing CEO Maree Sidey leaves the organisation.

“Carly has the full, enthusiastic support of the ACF Board and team,” said Eric Beecher, ACF Chair. “While the search continues for our new CEO, we know the organisation will be well held during this transition under Carly’s leadership.”

Carly has worked with Australian Communities Foundation over the last two years, first in a consulting capacity and now as our Director of Community, leading the Fund and Client Services team and overseeing every aspect of the ACF experience for donors.

“I love the work we do here at ACF,” says Carly. “I love what happens when we bring people together – learning from each other, growing community and amplifying impact.”

With more than 20 years’ experience across corporate, consultancy, not-for-profit and tertiary organisations, Carly has spent more than a decade focused on philanthropy and intergenerational wealth.

Prior to joining ACF, Carly was the founding Executive Officer of the Betty Amsden Foundation, and for many years, ran a peer network for families with significant wealth as Membership Director at the Private Wealth Network (PWN). Carly remains a Non-Executive Director of PWN’s parent company, Knowledge Media.

Carly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from RMIT, a Bachelor of Letters (Hons) from Monash University and a Masters in Philanthropy and Social Investment from Swinburne University’s Centre for Social Impact.