Philanthropy Australia's 2022 conference was an exciting and thought-provoking event, with over 900 attendees coming together to discuss the theme "For the Love of Humanity: People, Place and Planet”. 

The conference was held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney and included both in-person and online participants.

Keynote speaker, Professor Kristy Muir, CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, kicked off the conference by reminding us that in a complex world, we can't make a difference alone. We need to work together to create a different future for all of us.

Throughout the conference, there were many takeaways that were both insightful and inspiring. Here are just a few of the highlights:

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1. Trust is essential in philanthropy, not just from charities to donors, but also from donors to other donors. This was a refreshing addition to the conversation about what a healthy sector looks like.
2. Impact investing is crucial for philanthropists, foundations, and not-for-profit organizations to achieve social and environmental goals. It's essential to maintain their social license to operate.
3. We must be accountable for impact, just as investors are accountable for profit. If we want to create a better world, we need to commit to funding for impact and learn how to do it well.
4. First Nations people and organizations are essential to fund, so if you aren't doing so, ask yourself why not?
5. Don't get sucked into only funding initiatives that are sure to be successful. We need to take risks and support innovative ideas.
6. If we want to diversify our giving, we need to diversify our teams. A diverse team can bring new perspectives and ideas to the table.
7. Finally, we need more "we" and less of "me." We need to work together to create positive change.

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Overall, the Philanthropy Australia Conference 2022 was an enlightening event that challenged attendees to think critically about their philanthropic endeavors. It's clear that to create real change in the world, we need to work together, take risks, and be accountable for our impact. Let's commit to doing just that!

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