SPEAKER - Nicola Forrest

Nicola Forrest

Nicola is the CEO of the Minderoo Foundation which she and her husband, Andrew, established in 2001. Together they have been instrumental in setting the strategy and implementing projects across Australia and abroad.

 

Nicola has led the diversification of the Minderoo Foundation to provide a holistic approach to community development, particularly through education and the arts, believing an integrated approach is essential to build sustainable empowerment in individuals and communities.

 

In 2014 she was awarded the University of Canberra’s Chancellor’s Award for Services and Philanthropy, became the Western Australian of the Year in the Community category and received an honorary doctor of letters from the University of Western Australia. During 2014 Nicola was also appointed as a member of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership. Nicola is Patron for Sculpture by the Sea, the Kimberley Rock Art Foundation and Impact100 WA. Nicola is a Director of the Black Swan State Theatre Company and supports the Jackman Furness Foundation of Performing Arts in an advisory capacity. In 2009, Nicola and Andrew were awarded the Ernst and Young National Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Along with Nicola’s philanthropic work she is also a director of the Minderoo Group, one of Australia’s largest private companies and Managing Director of Minderoo Station’s pastoral operations in the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia comprising 1.2 million hectares and 40,000 head of cattle. Nicola’s priorities remain her family and supporting the wonderful team that manage the Minderoo Foundation.

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