Andrew Binns, the newly appointed CEO of Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), brings with him a wealth of experience in community development and philanthropy.

Passionate about giving since his childhood, Andrew held numerous senior leadership roles at World Vision Australia before joining ACF.

In this Q&A, Andrew shares insight into his passion for community-driven change, and what drew him to Australian Communities Foundation.

Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to the world of community development and philanthropy.

I’ve spent the past 16 years working across a mix of community development and philanthropy, mainly from an international development context. This has included supporting communities to develop programs that create positive social and environmental change, as well as engaging governments and everyday Australians to build support for the causes they care most about.

Having grown up on a farm in country Victoria, I’ve always known the importance of community, of being part of something bigger than yourself – that sense that you can do more together than you can alone. I also spent three years as a child living on a remote island in Fiji, where my parents worked on an aid project to support the country develop its own domestic sheep industry. I think this experience growing up has really shaped who I am and played a big part in choosing to work within the community development and philanthropic sectors. 

What drew you to Australian Communities Foundation?

I love the role that Australian Communities Foundation plays in making strategic philanthropy accessible. Most Australians wouldn’t see themselves as philanthropists so ACF’s work encouraging people from all walks of life to use whatever resources they have to create positive change was what drew me to the organisation.

ACF is also a leader in supporting and incubating initiatives that seek to shift decision-making to the broader community. This empowerment creates real and meaningful change and is such an exciting thing to be part of.

Why is giving important to you?

I get a real kick out of knowing that by giving, I’m helping create positive change. My giving journey started back as a kid eating barley sugars and reading books during the 40 Hour Famine and MS Readathon. While my personal giving as a kid may have been small, I loved the sense of achievement that came with getting my parents and their friends to sponsor me and posting off that cheque at the end.

While my giving is a little more strategic as an adult, I now use it as a way to engage with my kids to talk about our values and place in the world, and help them understand how fortunate we are.

What causes are you most passionate about?

Having spent time living in Fiji as a child, along with the opportunity to travel widely during my career, I’m passionate about giving internationally. I’ve seen firsthand how where you are born has such an impact on the opportunities you have.

I’m also very aware that, in Australia, we need to be doing more to tackle issues of natural resource management and environmental degradation. There are some amazingly simple yet really effective techniques across Australia and around the world to regenerate land damaged by over-farming, grazing and land clearing. This offers hope for reversing current climate trends, and there is definitely a role for philanthropy to play.

What is your vision for the future of philanthropy in Australia?

I’d love Australian philanthropy to be seen as something more than just the large financial gifts that make the news. Over six million Australians volunteered last year and small-scale donations and community-led fundraising contribute billions to for-purpose organisations. While most of these Australians wouldn’t see themselves as philanthropists, they are an integral part of the philanthropic sector. At ACF, our community gives at all scales, but we are all part of the philanthropic ecosystem and all contributing meaningfully to a fairer and more sustainable future.