Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Australia’s independent community foundation, has announced the appointment of Craig Bell as the Foundation’s new Chair. 

Craig is a currently Chief Executive Officer of Foresters Financial, with 28 years’ experience in finance and information technology. He has held senior positions with top tier investment firms both in London and Melbourne, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and various financial positions in the Victorian and South Australian State Governments. 

Craig first joined the Board in 2015 and is Chair of the Board’s Governance, Audit and Risk committee and has chaired the Foundation’s Environment & Sustainability grants advisory panel. 

The Foundation’s outgoing Chair, Andrew Baxter, said “I am very pleased to hand over the Chair role to Craig Bell. Craig has already provided a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Foundation during an exceptional time of growth. I would like to congratulate him on his new position as Chair.”  

On accepting his new position Craig said, “I’d like to thank Andrew Baxter for his service to the Board, staff and donors during his time as Chair. He has successfully steered the Foundation through a tremendous period of development and growth and added an important marketing perspective to the Foundation’s strategic development. 

“It is an honour and privilege to now serve as Chair of Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, one of Australia’s leading philanthropic organisations. I am looking forward to working with the Board and team, as well as our donors and grant partners, to both continue to support positive change through greater Melbourne and strengthen the Foundation’s leadership role in philanthropy.” 

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation works to inspire philanthropy throughout the wider community to influence and support positive social change.  

The Foundation encourages the philanthropic sector to be leaders in innovation and the explore new solutions to tough social and environmental problems.  

They have provided thought leadership on many of the issues facing the community.  We have responded to changing community issues as needs have changed, and we have been flexible and progressive in our response.  

The organisations’s program areas include Education & Employment, Environment & Sustainability, and Healthy & Resilient Communities, and Homelessness & Affordable Housing. 

In 2019, Lord Mayor provided $11.5 million in grants charitable and not–for–profit organisations working on innovative social change projects.