Australian Communities Foundation is pleased to announce that Fiona McLeay has joined its Board as Chair Elect. Fiona steps onto the Board as part of a transition to replace current Chair, Eric Beecher, who will retire after six years in the role.

Fiona, who is currently Victorian Legal Services Board CEO and Commissioner, will commence her tenure as Chair of the Australian Communities Foundation Board in September 2024.

“Throughout my career I have been committed to supporting effective philanthropy that advances systemic change and helps people directly and Australian Communities Foundation certainly does this,” Fiona says of her decision to join the Board.

“In my current role, I have seen the benefits of applying a strategic approach to funding and investment and I’m looking forward to working with the Board and the excellent team at Australian Communities Foundation to help people think more strategically about how they give.”

Fiona commenced in the dual role of Victorian Legal Services Commissioner and CEO of the Victorian Legal Services Board in 2018. She is currently Interim Chair of Equality Australia and was formerly Board Chair of Health Justice Australia, inaugural Deputy Chair of the Australian Not-for-Profit and Charities Commission Advisory Board, and a Board member of the Human Rights Law Centre.

Fiona’s legal background spans private practice and the not-for-profit sector. She was formerly CEO at Justice Connect and held executive roles at World Vision Australia. She practiced law for several years, including as Special Counsel at Clayton Utz.

Fiona has an LLB from the University of NSW and holds LLMs from both New York University and the University of Melbourne. She has also studied at the Stanford and Harvard Business Schools.

With Australian Communities Foundation set to continue its significant growth trajectory, outgoing Chair Eric Beecher said his two terms as Chair had been deeply satisfying.

“It has been inspiring to participate in the organisation’s growth in both size and impact,” Eric says.

“Australian Communities Foundation is at the leading edge of Australia’s philanthropy revolution, creating a culture and highly accessible mechanism for people to contribute meaningfully to making this a fairer and more egalitarian country.”

Australian Communities Foundation CEO, Maree Sidey, says she is looking forward to welcoming Fiona as Board Chair Elect as the organisation enters its next cycle of growth.

“I am delighted at the news of Fiona’s appointment and look forward to welcoming her as she steps onto the Board and into the position of Chair in September.”