“The most rewarding giving comes when you are deeply connected to the work,” says Australian Communities Foundation Fundholder, Chris Miller.
“The impact you can create is significant, but the personal reward you’ll get from being part of that journey is often even greater.”
An investment advisor, mountaineer, and co-founder of the Himalayan Development Foundation Australia (HDFA), Chris has spent much of his life exploring remote corners of the globe. These experiences have shaped a philanthropic philosophy grounded in relationships, trust, and long-term commitment.
An evolution of giving
Chris grew up in a family with a culture of giving and has seen philanthropy grow and change over the last few decades in Australia.
“Back in the 1970s and 80s, a lot of giving went through large institutions and faith-based organisations,” Chris reflects. “Today, philanthropy is much more personal, much more connected, and much more targeted.”
A positive shift, in Chris’s view, which he says creates greater opportunity for families and individuals to align their giving with the issues they care most deeply about.
But with greater choice comes greater complexity. As philanthropy has become more diverse and connected, Chris believes trusted relationships and guidance have become increasingly important in helping funders identify where they can have the greatest impact.
“That’s why ACF as an organisation is so great,” says Chris. “They have the knowledge and connections to help funders find the causes they care about and connect them with organisations doing important work on the ground.”
Finding a global perspective
Chris’s interest in international development began in his twenties. Experiences of traveling through Asia and volunteering with AusAID in remote Cape York indigenous communities shaped both his worldview and his understanding of philanthropy as a responsibility.
“We’re part of a global village,” he says. “The needs outside Australia’s borders have always existed, but today we’re much more aware of them. As members of that global community, I think we have a responsibility to help where we can.”
“As members of a global community, I think we have a responsibility to help where we can.”
Nearly fifteen years ago, Chris and fellow mountaineer Duncan Chessell were trekking through the remote Kanchenjunga region of eastern Nepal when they arrived in the village of Ghunsa. Nestled high in the Himalayas near the Tibetan border, the community was welcoming, the scenery breathtakingly beautiful, but the challenges they faced were significant.
There were limited resources, the local school had no windows and struggled to provide a comfortable learning environment for children living in one of the harshest climates on earth.
They knew they couldn’t just walk away, so Chris and Duncan sat down with community leaders and asked a simple question: What do you need?
Building trust over time
What began as a conversation became a long-term partnership.
Using his ACF Fund, Chris made the first contribution to establish Himalayan Development Foundation Australia (HDFA). The initial investment helped improve the school, and from there the work expanded in response to priorities identified by the community. Over the years, that has included student accommodation, health facilities, training programs, energy infrastructure, and support for local enterprises.
Importantly, Chris says the direction has always come from the community. “We never wanted to tell people what to do,” he explains.
“Our role was to help communities achieve their goals, not impose ours.”
Today, Ghunsa has become an example of what community-led development can achieve when paired with long-term support. School attendance has increased dramatically, health outcomes have improved, and local economic opportunities have expanded.
For Chris, the success of the work is inseparable from the relationships built over time.
“Too often development projects build something and walk away,” he says. “Real change takes years. It takes trust. It takes showing up consistently and being part of the journey.”
That insight has shaped his broader approach to philanthropy.
“Our role was to help communities achieve their goals, not impose ours.”
“If you’re going to support something, commit to it for at least three to five years,” he says. “That’s when you start to see what works, build meaningful relationships, and become part of the story.”
Philanthropy as participation
In Chris’s view, modern philanthropy is about more than funding alone.
“Writing a cheque is important, but there are so many other ways to contribute,” he says. “You can bring your skills, your networks, your expertise, your time. You can sit on a board, mentor an organisation, or simply spend time understanding the people and communities you’re supporting.”
This belief sits behind Himalayan Development Foundation’s Changemaker Journey treks to Nepal, which invite supporters to visit project communities, meet local leaders, and experience firsthand the impact of long-term investment.
For Chris, the experience of visiting the region is transformative. “Everyone should see the Himalayas at one point in their lives – the scale, the majesty, and communities will stay with you forever.”
While trekking through the Himalayas might not be for everyone, Chris believes the underlying principle applies to all philanthropy: go beyond funding, build genuine relationships, and stay connected to the communities and causes you support.
“Learn, listen, build relationships, and stay involved.”
Looking back on more than twenty years of giving, Chris’s advice is simple. “Find the issue that resonates most strongly with you,” he says. “Go a little deeper – learn, listen, build relationships, and stay involved.”
Learn more, meet Chris and join an open conversation about his journey
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