Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Annual Report 2021
The Vincent Fairfax Fellowship™
The Vincent Fairfax Fellowship™ was established in 1994 by VFFF Trustee Emeritus Geoffrey White, to honour Sir Vincent Fairfax. The year-long program supports leaders to develop critical thinking, moral courage, and applied skills to evolve their leadership within an ethical framework.
This year, a digital magazine – (at) the intersection – was published to share the story of the Fellowship’s first 30 years, and highlight its contemporary impact.
Developed by our delivery partner for the Fellowship, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, and based on conversations with the 400+ leaders who are alumni of the program, the publication shared how today’s most significant challenges are those that most urgently demand ethical leadership. Climate change; system reform; a fraying social fabric; and emerging technologies – all require leaders to create genuine space for ethical reflection.
In particular, the ethics around emerging technologies was explored further at the annual Sir Vincent Fairfax Oration event, a public celebration of ethical leadership honouring Sir Vincent. The address, entitled ‘Our history made new: the rise of artificial intelligence’, was delivered by Edward Santow, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner and Co-Founder of the Human Technology Institute.
In his address, Ed made three pertinent observations to consider as AI continues to disrupt our economy, politics, society and environment:
“AI might seem like it comes from the future, but it learns from the past, and so it also anchors us to that past.”
“Our history – or rather our choices about the versions of history that are recorded and remembered – influences how AI takes shape."
"It is not enough that we expose AI systems to a 'more accurate' view of history, we must also draw the right lessons from history, if we are to avoid repeating mistakes and injustices of the past.”
To wrap up the celebrations of 30 years of the Fellowship, following the Oration a special gathering of current Fellows and alumni was held the next day. A highlight of the event was a panel comprising all four of Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy’s children, who shared memories of their father and his leadership philosophy. These reflections made it clear why this program, which seeks to support leaders to enhance their leadership within an ethical framework, is the perfect way to honour Sir Vincent.
Social Impact Leadership Australia
Since its launch in 2021, Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) has become one of the sector's most significant investments in for-purpose leadership development.
Initially funded for five years through a collaboration between VFFF, The Myer Foundation, Sydney Myer Fund and the Paul Ramsay Foundation, FY26 saw Cohort Five complete the year-long program, with participants giving SILA a net promoter score of 95 out of 100, and 19 of 21 respondents rating the program a 10 out of 10.
With the completion of Cohort Five the number of participating CEOs comes to 120. Over the five years, the program has covered every state and territory in the country and has focused on supporting rural and regional leaders, with at least one-third of participating CEOs working for organisations active in these communities – a reflection of VFFF’s commitment to investing in leaders beyond major cities.
As SILA moves into its next phase, the initial funding partners, joined by Snow Foundation, have committed funding for five additional cohorts to be delivered between 2026 and 2031. The VFFF Board approved a grant of $4.1 million to support these new cohorts, adding to the VFFF $3 million grant supporting the development of the SILA program for Cohorts One to Five, bringing the total ten-year commitment from all partners to $26.8 million.
Delivered by the Centre for Social Impact, SILA supports the wellbeing, effectiveness and leadership capability of for-purpose CEOs while strengthening their organisations and contributing to a more connected and resilient sector.
Independent evaluation for cohorts one to five has shown:
- Ninety-eight per cent of participants reported a positive difference in their organisation as a result of the program
- Ninety-three percent of respondents have invested more in the leadership development of their executive team.
- Eighty-seven per cent said SILA had strengthened their organisation’s capability and culture.
In August 2026, 74 CEOs from Cohorts One to Four came together in Adelaide for Fertile Ground, SILA's first cross-cohort alumni gathering. The event created opportunities for participants to reconnect, explore new collaborations, and share stories of impact, highlighting the enduring relationships and system-thinking network SILA has fostered across the country.
