The Players
The Canberra Group.
The Canberra Group.
Hands Across Canberra.
A community foundation launched in 2010. Michael Traill spoke at the launch. Its chair now runs CDC Data Centres. One of its directors works for the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
The Morrison government’s last Budget promised to write it into the tax law by name.
How It Started
- 23 November 2010Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher launches Hands Across Canberra at Exhibition Park. Michael Traill, then chief executive of Social Ventures Australia, tells the 300 guests stories the foundation calls “utterly compelling and relevant”. Allan Williams is the inaugural chair. The CFMEU’s ACT secretary Dean Hall announces $50,000. John Hindmarsh gives $10,000. Alex Sloan is MC.[1][2]
- 27 April 2011Diane Kargas is on the board.[2]
- 2018It takes over the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund.[5]
- August 2019Greg Boorer, chief executive of CDC Data Centres, joins the board.[4]
- March 2022The Morrison government’s Budget says up to 28 community foundations will be listed by name as deductible gift recipients.[6][7]
- June 2024Labor legislates a pathway instead. Hands Across Canberra is on the list of 28.[7][8]
One by One
The board now[4][10]
- Greg Boorer, chair. Chief executive of CDC Data Centres. Before that he ran federal government business at ASI Solutions. Stuart Robert and CDC
- Charles Cramer. Works at the Regional Investment Corporation, a federal government lender. Formerly St.George, Westpac, CBA and NAB.
- Edward Le Quesne. Director at EY Canberra. Involved in setting up Hands Across Canberra.
- John Kalokerinos. Senior public servant since 2011, formerly at Minter Ellison.
- Fiona Hindmarsh. General partner at Significant Ventures.
- Michelle Steele. Chief First Nations Officer at the Paul Ramsay Foundation, which Michael Traill chairs. Follow the Money
- Sammy Williamson. Director of the social enterprise Rosella Street.
The board in 2022–23[5]
- Diane Bray AM, chair
- Charles Cramer, deputy
- Edward Le Quesne, treasurer
- Greg Boorer
- Heather Moore
- John Kalokerinos
- Jo Wood, observer
Questions for a Real NACC
- Who asked for community foundations to be written into the tax law, and who in government agreed.
- What Michael Traill’s role has been with Hands Across Canberra since 2010.
- Whether CDC, the Paul Ramsay Foundation or Aspen Medical gained anything from decisions made by ministers who dealt with the foundation.
- Who the 2010 founders were. The foundation says only “a group of Canberra leaders”.[3]
Sources
- Hands Across Canberra, Hands Across Canberra launch a success, 24 November 2010. https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/hands-across-canberra-launch-a-success/
- Hands Across Canberra, news archive (launch by Katy Gallagher; Diane Kargas on the board, 27 April 2011). https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/home/news/
- Hands Across Canberra, About. https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/about/
- Hands Across Canberra, Board. https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/grant-rounds/canberra-foundations-collaborative/board/
- Hands Across Canberra, Impact Report 2022–23. https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/impact-report-2022-2023/
- Michael Sukkar, Morrison Government backs community foundations with DGR status, 2022–23 Budget. https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/michael-sukkar-2019/media-releases/morrison-government-backs-community-foundations-dgr
- Australian Taxation Office, DGR for community foundations. https://www.ato.gov.au/api/public/content/0-2b90db97-d24f-4eb5-b351-944c755ecdb6
- Andrew Leigh, Backing Australian charities, with the list of 28 community foundations. https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/media-releases/backing-australian-charities
- Genevieve Jacobs, Hands Across Canberra, submission to Treasury on DGR reform for community foundations, 28 November 2024. https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/c2024-597338-hands_across_canberra.pdf
- Hands Across Canberra, home page (Fiona Hindmarsh, Significant Ventures). https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/