02/06/2026
Last night I had the honour of attending the opening of Queensland Philanthropy Week at Parliament House, Brisbane, as a nominee for the Emerging Philanthropist of the Year Award at the 2026 Queensland Philanthropy Awards.
It was a humbling experience to be in a room with so many people doing incredible work across Queensland.
The evening was made even more special meeting Christine Ahern and John Ahern, children of the late Mike Ahern, former Queensland Premier, whose legacy is the very foundation of what Queensland Gives stands for today.
A huge thank you to Tara Castle , CEO of Queensland Gives, for everything she does to champion philanthropy across our state and for making the evening so special.
I also had the pleasure of meeting fellow nominee Max Waschka, a young person who has been raising funds for causes since he was just a child. Proof that you’re never too young to make a difference. Keep going, Max.
Philanthropy isn’t just for the wealthy or the well-established. It starts with a decision at any age to use what you have to make a difference for others.
I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way, and I’m just getting started.
