The National Library of Australia has partnered with the She Gives campaign to preserve the philanthropic stories of Australian women, with a new oral history project that will ensure 20 female voices become part of the nation's permanent record on Australian giving.
The project, launched at the National Library on Tuesday, will see 20 extended interviews with women philanthropists—each recognised for their impact across diverse sectors including First Nations justice, the arts, health, environment, and gender equality—formally added to the National Library's oral history collection in 2025. These stories will help address gender imbalances in the national archive and ensure future generations understand the legacy and power of women's giving in Australia.
This initiative is part of the broader She Gives campaign, which aims to share 100 stories of women's giving and national stories of collective giving, to any cause, at any level, to grow the culture of giving in Australia. The campaign has been developed as a catalyst for cultural change within philanthropy deliberately timed around the intersection of great need within our communities and with women coming into greater agency, education and wealth. Women are expected to inherit up to two-thirds of Australia's $3.4 trillion wealth transfer over the next two decades.
National Library Director-General Dr Marie-Louise Ayres, who will co-host the event, said the project aligned strongly with the Library's strategic collecting priorities.
"The stories we preserve shape our national identity. Through this project, we are ensuring the stories of women philanthropists—whose acts of giving are deeply entrenched in that national identity—are honoured and preserved in perpetuity," Dr Ayres said. "This collection will serve as a rich and enduring resource to understand the evolving nature of social change in Australia and recognise the important role women play and will continue to play into our future."
The 20 selected women represent a diversity of experiences, contributions and geographic location, and include:
- Tanya Hosch, (SA) a First Nations leader and tireless advocate for constitutional recognition, inclusion and justice.
- Carol Schwartz AO, (VIC) a lifelong champion for gender equality and founding chair of the Trawalla Foundation.
- Paula McLean, (NSW) founding trustee of the McLean Foundation and stalwart supporter of Australian literature, education and domestic violence prevention.
- Deanne Weir, (NSW) founder of WeirAnderson Films, entrepreneur and strategic philanthropist focused on amplifying women's voices and tackling structural inequality through investments in the arts, media and social justice.
- Gina Fairfax, (QLD) philanthropist advocating for rural and regional communities, arts and First Nations.
- Pip Smith and Hayley Baillie, (NSW) Pip is co-founder of the Dick and Pip Smith Foundation. Daughter Hayley supports several initiatives through her family foundation including the Australian Red Cross Society of Women Leaders and Sapphire Project for marine conservation.
The official launch event will include:
- A panel discussion featuring Michelle Steele, Kamilaroi/Gomeroi woman and Chief First Nations Officer at the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Anna-Maria Arabia, CEO, Australian Academy of Sciences and National Library Director-General Dr Marie-Louise Ayres.
- A bespoke viewing of collected materials from iconic Australian women leaders and writers, curated from the Library's national collection.
She Gives campaign founder Melissa Smith said the project was a defining moment in the campaign's mission to elevate the role of women in philanthropy.
"Through the She Gives campaign we've heard inspiring stories from women about their giving that demonstrate extraordinary impact across so many sectors and communities. For too long, women's contributions to social change — often made behind the scenes — have gone unrecognised. Through this partnership with the National Library, we are not only recognising women's role as influential changemakers, but we are saying 'this is part of our national story'.
"This landmark project represents a critical milestone in the campaign and in our collective effort to grow giving in Australia at a time of significant need. It is our hope that through these 20 stories — and the 100 stories of giving shared by the broader She Gives campaign — the Australian community can better understand and be inspired by women's giving now and in the future."
This oral history project on women's giving aligns with the priorities set out in the Library's Collecting Strategy to increase representation in areas including cultural and linguistic diversity, rural and regional development, and First Nations perspectives.
The 20 interviews will be recorded in 2025 and preserved through the National Library.
She Gives is grateful to its supporting partners, Perpetual Limited (Major Partner), Fairground (Major Partner) and the McLean Foundation, Snow Foundation, Ningana and Noble Ambition, as well as for the wisdom and guidance of its advisory group:
- Clare Ainsworth Herschell (Founder of Groundswell)
- Georgina Byron AM (CEO of the Snow Foundation, Chair of Sydney Women's Fund Advisory Group and Co-Chair of Deadly Hearts Limited)
- Natalie Egleton (CEO of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal)
- Caitriona Fay (Managing Partner of Perpetual Private's Social Investment businesses and ESG Strategy, founding board member of GiveOUT)
- Tanya Hosch (Executive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy – AFL)
- Michelle Lin (CEO of Vermillion Foundation)
- Paula McLean (A founding trustee of McLean Foundation)
- Amanda Miller OAM (Co-founder of Impact Generation Partners and Co-Chair of Philanthropy Australia)
- Professor Kristy Muir (CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation)
- Carol Schwartz AO (founding Chair of both Trawalla Foundation and Women's Leadership Institute Australia)
- Melissa Smith (CEO, Noble Ambition & Founder, She Gives)
- Deanne Weir (Founder of WeirAnderson.com and WeirAnderson Films)
