Macquarie announces 2016 David Clarke Social Innovation Fellowships

Macquarie Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Macquarie Group, today announced the 2016 winners of its four David Clarke Social Innovation Fellowships.

Located in the US, UK, Australia and Hong Kong, the four non-profit CEOs are recognised for their focus on improving the work they do with older adults, vulnerable women and children, and in community philanthropy.

The 2016 US David Clarke Fellowship ($US20,000) was granted to Thomas Kamber, Executive Director, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), who will travel to the UK, the Netherlands, Singapore, Japan and Australia to investigate a variety of innovative service programs for older adults, focusing on digital inclusion.

OATS operates 25 free technology centres for senior citizens in New York State, including the Senior Planet Exploration Center, the country’s first technology themed community centre for older adults. OATS also sponsors SeniorPlanet.org, a website with daily content for older adults, serving over a million unique individuals each year.

The 2016 Australian David Clarke Fellowship ($A20,000) was granted to Ann Lansberry, CEO, Community Foundation of Central Victoria (CFCV). CFCV supports and promotes regional philanthropy which enables and supports local communities to invest in their own future.

Ms Lansberry will visit several US states and cities, including Minnesota, Texas, Colorado and Sacramento, to further investigate and manage risks around collaborative online ‘Giving Days’, where local community organisations join forces to raise money. This has been significant in attracting donors in the US in recent years.

The 2016 Hong Kong David Clarke Fellowship ($HK150,000) was granted to Kay McArdle, CEO, PathFinders, who works with pregnant, migrant women and mothers to assist them with self-sufficiency through humanitarian support, and access to healthcare, justice, counselling and educational programs.

By observing best practice in a number of cities, including Bangkok, London, Melbourne, New York, Singapore and Sydney, Ms McArdle will investigate how to most effectively bridge the gap between NGOs and the legal sector, as well as how to best leverage technology platforms without compromising client support or confidentiality.

The 2016 UK David Clarke Fellowship (£7,000) was granted to Jacqueline Williamson, CEO, Kinship Care Northern Ireland, a small charity supporting nearly 800 children, who cannot be cared for by their parents, to live safely and securely within their own families and communities.

Over the last six years, Ms Williamson has been a prominent advocate of children and young people in kinship care arrangements, raising awareness, informing policy and securing cross party support in Northern Ireland. As the 2016 UK fellowship recipient, Ms Williamson will visit the United States to observe best practice activity in leading care centred organisations.

Lisa George, Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation, said the focus on leveraging technology in three out of the four 2016 Fellowships reflected the interest many organisations have in learning how to scale their operations.

“Understanding the risks and benefits around digital platforms is key to any operation, no matter the sector,” she said.

“We’re very pleased Macquarie is able to provide an opportunity for farsighted non-profit CEOs to investigate best practice work in this area and beyond.”

Ms George said the high calibre of submissions received this year meant it was a difficult judging process.

“On behalf of the Foundation Committee and our judges, I would like to commend all the organisations and individuals who participated.”