A message from FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANdrew EALES
October 16, 2026
Dear friends and supporters,
After more than six years as CEO of the Ballarat Foundation, I've made the decision to move on to a new opportunity, and I wanted to share the news with you.
When I joined the Foundation in early 2020, none of us could have imagined the challenges that lay ahead. The pandemic tested our organisation and our community, but it also reinforced the importance of strong, connected communities and the role we can all play in building them.
Since then, we've grown the Foundation's capacity, strengthened partnerships and taken on some of the bigger challenges facing our community. From the Ballarat Foundation Giving Hub at Hugh Williamson House to initiatives like Respect Ballarat, Ballarat Zero and the Ballarat Civility Exchange, we've worked to move beyond traditional grantmaking and find new ways to create lasting impact.
I'm proud of what we've achieved, but particularly of the relationships and collaborations that have made it possible.
To our donors, fundholders, volunteers, community partners and supporters, thank you for your generosity, trust and commitment to Ballarat. I’m proud of the work the Foundation's team and board have undertaken and take this opportunity to publicly thank them for their support and to recognise the incredible positive impact we've created together for the Ballarat community.
The Ballarat Foundation is a growing organisation with strong values and enormous potential. I believe it couldn't be better positioned to build on its work and deepen its impact in the years ahead.
My decision to move on reflects both a new professional opportunity and my priorities for family and the next phase of my life. I've accepted the role of Director, Foundation and Field Development with Community Foundations Australia, working with community foundations across the country to support their growth and development. It's an opportunity to build on my experience in Ballarat while contributing to the broader community foundation movement.
The search for the Foundation's next CEO is now underway, and the position has been advertised. If you know someone who might be interested in leading the organisation into its next chapter, I'd encourage you to share the opportunity:
Thank you for being part of the journey. It's been a privilege to be involved in the Ballarat Foundation's work and in this wonderful community.
Warm regards,
Andrew
We work on Wadawurrung land
The Ballarat Foundation acknowledges the Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the lands and waterways in our region. We recognise their diversity, resilience, and the ongoing place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hold in our communities. We pay our respects to Elders, both past and present, and commit to working together in the spirit of mutual understanding, respect and reconciliation.
The Ballarat Foundation is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where everyone is welcomed, respected and empowered to thrive.