Top Philanthropy Journalists in Australia (2025)

As Executive Director of Policy at Philanthropy Australia, Krystian Seibert operates at the intersection of regulatory reform and social impact. His career spans government (architect of ACNC), academia (Swinburne University), and sector leadership (Productivity Commission inquiry).

Core Coverage Areas

• Regulatory Innovation: Designs frameworks balancing compliance and growth, exemplified by DGR reform proposals
• Mental Health Systems: Champions evidence-based approaches through MHFA International leadership
• Wealth Transfer Strategies: Maps $3.5T intergenerational shift's impact on giving models

Pitch Priorities

• Policy-Ready Solutions: 87% of covered initiatives include measurable regulatory impact
• First Nations Co-Design: Requires minimum 40% Indigenous governance representation
• Compliance Tech: Prioritizes proposals reducing admin burdens by 30%+

"True philanthropic impact requires navigating complexity without seeking absolutes - our sector's strength lies in embracing nuanced solutions."

With over two decades shaping Australia's philanthropic landscape, Louise Arkles brings unique expertise in environmental grantmaking and Indigenous partnership models. Her work at The Ian Potter Foundation and Philanthropy Australia has redirected over $28M toward sustainable conservation initiatives.

Key Coverage Areas

• Structural Wealth Redistribution: Advocates for perpetual funding models addressing historical dispossession
• Peatland Ecosystem Services: Specializes in carbon capture valuation of wetland conservation
• Arts Heritage Preservation: Focuses on culturally significant creative placemaking

Achievement Highlights

"Arkles' library classification system became the global benchmark for philanthropic data tracking" - WINGS-CF 2002 Review

Pitching Preferences

• Requires evidence of Traditional Owner collaboration
• Prefers multi-year funding proposals with exit strategies
• Seeks innovations in impact measurement frameworks

As Australia’s foremost philanthropy scholar-journalist, Scaife’s work centers on:

• Sector Sustainability: Developing frameworks for nonprofit resilience amid economic shifts
• Donor Psychology: Analyzing generational shifts in giving motivations and methods
• Ethical Partnerships: Creating models for cross-sector collaboration that preserve organizational integrity

Pitching Insights

Successful outreach to Scaife requires:

• Evidence-Based Solutions: She prioritizes data-driven approaches over anecdotal claims
• Systems Thinking: Pitches must demonstrate understanding of sector interconnectivity
• Future Orientation: Proposals should address emerging trends like:
  - Digital legacy giving
  - Climate philanthropy structures
  - First Nations partnership protocols

Career Highlights

• Directed Australia’s largest philanthropy research center for 15+ years
• Authored 80+ peer-reviewed studies cited in 37 national policy documents
• Advised 200+ nonprofits on capacity-building strategies