Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Before I turn to the work we share in this issue, I want to acknowledge the devastating attacks in Bondi that have deeply shaken us all. Our hearts are with those who were harmed, their families, and everyone affected by this senseless violence. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, and with all those who are experiencing fear, grief or exclusion. We believe in strong communities alive with opportunity, connection and inclusion and remain committed to a society where diversity is respected and social cohesion prevails.

As we wrap up 2025, I’m reflecting on what we've accomplished together with our place-based and national partners, from Wilya Janta’s first culturally safe, climate-smart home in Tennant Creek, to deepening our national work in education and curriculum reform and strengthening collaboration around men’s wellbeing in the ACT. We also introduce you to our third cohort of Snow Entrepreneurs, backed through our social change fellowships to turn bold ideas into practical solutions to social challenges.

Alongside this work, I’m delighted with the recent announcement of Future Generation Women’s Fund first non-profit partners. Their investment model is made possible by leading women fund managers who forgo their fees to support women and girls across Australia. I’m honoured to contribute to their gender equity Advisory Panel with new members Carol Schwartz AO and Serena Grant.

We've also see some recent growth in our team. We are delighted to welcome Professor Maree Meredith, a proud Bidjara woman and respected First Nations leader, as our new First Nations Strategic Advisor. We're also thrilled to have Meg Reckord as our new Communications Coordinator in Sydney. 

Thank you for your support, partnership and interest throughout the year. We hope you enjoy these stories and the impact you make possible.

Warm wishes for a restorative break and a bright year ahead!

Georgina Byron AM
CEO Snow Foundation

Snow Foundation teams in Canberra and Sydney enjoy their end of year celebrations. The Sydney team was fortunate to receive the delicious food made with love and served by refugees at Kabul Social and hear from Plate It Forward's Founder & CEO Shaun Christie-David 

Eleven Bold Founders Announced for Snow Entrepreneurs

We’re delighted to announce the third cohort of Snow Entrepreneurs, welcoming eleven bold early-stage founders developing practical, scalable solutions to some of Australia’s toughest social challenges. This year saw an extraordinary response, with 171 applications for just 11 places, and 38 subject matter experts supporting the selection process and our independent panel.

The cohort will share an initial $4 million over the first two years of a three-year program, with scope for further funding. They will also receive tailored capacity-building support, expert advisory services from the Social Impact Hub network, mentoring, and a vibrant peer learning community. 

This year’s ‘Snowies’ are tackling critical issues including women’s safety, First Nations maternal health, digital safety, disability inclusion, youth mental health and healthy masculinity. It’s an inclusive and diverse group of leaders — First Nations, LGBTIQ+, neurodivergent, and culturally and linguistically diverse founders — each bringing lived experience and fresh insight to entrenched community challenges.

First Climate-Smart, Culturally Safe Home in Tennant Creek

A major milestone is unfolding in Tennant Creek, where Wilya Janta (Standing Strong) is nearing completion of its first Explain Home, a culturally safe, climate-ready home designed with and for Warumungu families. Built using termite-mound mud bricks with high thermal mass, the home stays cool in extreme heat and incorporates solar, battery storage and rainwater harvesting to ensure long-term sustainability.

The project is guided by the Right Way Housing Guidelines, co-designed with community members to establish clear expectations for genuine engagement, cultural safety and durable design. With the Federal and NT Governments committing $4 billion to remote housing, these Guidelines offer a powerful blueprint for community-led investment. As Wilya Janta’s leaders shared, this home is “proof of a better way to build across the Territory” and a model that can be adapted across remote communities.

Congratulations Dr Simon Quilty and Founder Norman Frank Jupurrurla on their long journey with Wilya Janta - pictured here on site with the first Explain Home

Snow Foundation Education Consultant Jess Del Rio, Erica Stanford MP, Snow Foundation Executive Director Scarlett Gaffey, Sir Nick Gibb - discussing curriculum reform and philanthropy's role. Right pic: Scarlett Gaffey at the Curriculum Workshop at Templestowe Heights Primary School

Education Spotlight: Curriculum as a Lever for Equity 

This year marked a deepening of our national work in education equity, with a strong focus on curriculum as a critical driver of student outcomes. Throughout November, our team convened a series of high-impact workshops and school visits, bringing together experts, educators and philanthropists to explore how knowledge-rich curriculum can lift standards and close equity gaps.

A highlight was our Curriculum Workshop at Templestowe Heights Primary School, which brought together funders, school leaders and leading thinkers including the previous UK Minister of Schools Sir Nick Gibb, New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford MP, Natalie Wexler, Ben Jensen and Julie Sonnemann. The discussions underscored the transformative potential of well-designed curriculum and the important role philanthropy can play in supporting innovation and expertise. We’re encouraged by the strong momentum and the growing interest from funders to collaborate on systemic solutions.

Link here to article in EducationHQ - 'Catalytic role': philathropists mobilise for national curriculum reform.

Men's Wellbeing Summit 

How can we work together to support men and boys’ wellbeing in the ACT?

The Men’s Table hosted a dynamic Men’s Wellbeing Summit, bringing together leaders from government, philanthropy and community organisations — including PCYC Canberra, Menslink, Relationships Australia, ACT Police, Hands Across Canberra and Snow Foundation. The summit explored how we can collectively support men and boys’ wellbeing across the ACT.

The conversation was honest and wide-ranging, addressing challenges such as social isolation, negative online influences and high suicide rates. Yet the day also highlighted strengths: the importance of positive role models, strong community connection, and celebrating “everyday good blokes.” The spirit of collaboration was palpable, with a genuine willingness to work together for better outcomes. A working group has since been formed, with plans to reconvene in the first half of 2026 to continue shaping practical, shared actions.

Sydney Women's Fund Community Foundations Gathering 

Sydney Women’s Fund brought together community foundations from across Australia to explore how we can collaborate to advance gender equality.

We were warmly welcomed into their new digs with the full team at Sydney Community Foundation. It's an incredible community space in a beautifully reimagined old church, setting the tone for an open, energising conversation grounded in place-based leadership and shared purpose.

This gathering was an important step forward as we build momentum in the lead-up to the 2026 Women Deliver Conference — where more than 6,500 advocates will come together in Naarm (Melbourne) to shape bold feminist futures. We’re excited to continue working with Australians Investing in Women, alongside partners across the ecosystem, as we prepare for a major opportunity to advance conversations and action on gender equity.