Donor partner profile: Wilson Asset Management

Partner Update, 7 April 2020

Wilson Asset Management (WAM) partnered with FRRR for the first time in September 2019, after seeing the extent of the impact of the prolonged drought and bushfires on rural, regional and remote communities. WAM agreed to match donations from their network, up to $500,000 – resulting in more than $1M being donated to FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund. CEO Kate Thorley shared what motivated the business to donate, and how the partnership evolved.
What was it that drew you to partnering with FRRR?
The reality of the devastation gripping rural and regional Australia became very real to us after we travelled through Queensland at the beginning of our nationwide Shareholder Presentations in November. The sunburnt grass and smoky haze presented a painful image of the suffering that so many Australians were enduring.
Why are you personally passionate about supporting rural, regional and remote communities?
When we saw and heard how our shareholders and their communities were affected by bushfires and drought, including in my hometown of Toowoomba, we wanted to make a real difference. Many of our more than 80,000 shareholders live and work in areas affected by these natural disasters or worry for their family members and friends.
What prompted you to do a matched scheme?
We know that recovering from the devastating bushfires and drought will be a long and difficult road for the families and communities that have been affected. We hoped to make a small difference by supporting our fellow Australians and knew that our shareholders and supporters would want to contribute too.
What is Wilson Asset Management’s corporate mission and vision, and how did working with FRRR fit into your delivery?
At Wilson Asset Management, we are passionate about making a difference for our shareholders, our community and our team and perhaps one of the most rewarding areas of our business is what we are able to give. Working with FRRR was an impactful way for us to show our support and make a small difference to Australians during this time.
What drew you to investing in the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund? Why is investing in building Disaster Resilience amongst rural, regional and remote communities so important?
We knew that the donation to the FRRR Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund would reach communities that are most in need and provide long-term support to those who have lost so much. Rural, regional and remote communities are crucial to our country’s culture and economy, and we need to ensure disaster resilience over the long-term.
What was the response to your matching scheme and what was the outcome?
Our shareholders’ stories of natural disasters resonated deeply with our team and we received overwhelming support for the appeal. Thanks to the generosity of our shareholders and supporters, and our partnership with FRRR, we raised $1 million for Australians affected by the devastating bushfires and drought. While we are shocked at the unprecedented destruction facing Australia, we were also amazed at the number of Australians who have come together and offered support.
Finally, do you have any advice to other organisations / individuals when choosing a not-for-profit to partner with?
These partnerships are an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of Australians. It is important that not-for-profits can articulate their purpose and have measurable outcomes that make significant impact.
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Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford has an extensive career in complex public policy and its intersection across government and communities.

Amy is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils across the nation. Amy holds over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. She has a deep understanding of federal government policies and structures, with over 10 years’ service in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has worked for the federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. Amy has shaped a wide range of policies and programs including regional development, telecommunications, immigration, emergency management, social policy and pandemic preparation.

Amy is a Board Director of Austroads and represents ALGA on the Public Skills Australia Industry Advisory Group, and the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. She is also a Board Director for the Canberra Youth Theatre which provides voice for Canberra’s youth through intelligent and challenging theatre.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Amy was appointed to the FRRR Board in January 2025.

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Kylie Hansen

Kylie brings leadership and management experience from across academic, corporate, not-for-profit, social enterprise and impact investment sectors, having deep dived into a myriad of specialisations and systems. Her six tertiary qualifications are equally as diverse and complimentary, covering commerce, politics, international development, community development, project management and law. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to draw on a number of disciplines and innovative ways of working and thinking, and she is well recognised as consistently delivering work and services of a high quality.

Kylie uses her strong background in sustainability, governance and impact measurement to support collaborative initiatives across sectors oriented at improving social outcomes, and to support socially conscientious businesses to articulate their social impact. As founder and director at Impact Seed she has been instrumental in developing the impact measurement, evaluation, learning and ESG practice which advises numerous corporates, and is passionate about supporting First Nations empowerment particularly in the context of regional economic development.

Kylie is also a Director of the WA Social Enterprise Council, a member of the B Council (B Lab Australia and New Zealand), and a Governor of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

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Hon. John Anderson AC

The Hon. John Anderson AC is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from NSW, who served in the Australian Parliament from 1989 to 2008.

He was a senior Cabinet minister in the government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), including six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the latter role, Mr Anderson played in important role in FRRR’s history, working closely with Baillieu Myer AC and others on a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation to benefit rural Australia. The concept was discussed at the National Regional Summit in 1999 and FRRR was established shortly thereafter.

Mr Anderson currently hosts a regular podcast, where he is in conversation with thought-leaders from around the world, and is a regular media commentator.

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Regina Cruickshank

Partnerships Specialist (WA)

Regina supports FRRR as the WA Partnerships Specialist. With over two decades of experience in partnerships and marketing, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia’s social impact landscape. She brings a strong passion for leveraging purpose-built networks to create positive change.

Regina previously worked with Playgroup WA and founded a Health Promotion Charity dedicated to supporting Social Emotional wellbeing for underserved communities. She’s excited about the opportunity to connect with partners and explore ways to make a meaningful difference in WA.

She lives in Perth with her family and enjoys mindful moments of connection to Country, whether on horseback, on foot or underwater.

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Anna Palmer

People and Culture Manager

Based in Central Victoria, Anna is a senior Human Resources, Organisation Development and Industrial Relations professional, with significant private and public sector experience across every facet of people and culture leadership.

Her most recent roles have been with Don KR in Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council. She has also held senior HR roles with Victoria Legal Aid and the TAC among many others.

From Mildura originally, Anna has postgraduate qualifications in Change Management and a Masters in Organisation Dynamics.

Anna is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to balance her creative pursuits and work as an HR professional.

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Philippa Twaddle

Management Accountant

Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.

She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.