For over thirty years, Nicola Forrest AO has led transformative advocacy and investments to empower communities to transform from settings of disadvantage into thriving places where children, women and families can meet their full potential.

As co-founder of Minderoo Foundation – one of Australasia’s largest philanthropic organisations – and Owner & Director of Tattarang, one of Australia’s largest private investment groups, Nicola believes in the transformative impact philanthropy and business can achieve in creating positive and sustainable social change.

A proud and active member of the Forrest Research Foundation, Nicola has personally led the selection of world-class Scholars and Fellows to study and reside here, as well as championing our innovative Residency programs.

Nicola’s contributions in thought leadership, social impact and business have seen her recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), an inductee to the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, named the Western Australian of the Year in the Community category and had the honour of serving as chief convenor of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership to drive integration between the philanthropic, community and business sectors.

She has been awarded the University of Canberra Chancellor’s Award for Philanthropy, received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Western Australia and has recently been appointed a UNICEF International Council member.

A proud signatory of the global Giving Pledge, Nicola intends to invest the vast majority of her wealth directly into social causes benefitting those most disadvantaged and has recently set up a unique new organisation, Coaxial, to achieve just that.