The Ross Trust’s Board is in a period of transition with the planned departure of two long-term Trustees, and preparations underway for their replacements.

Jenny Stephens will be stepping down after 12 years as a Trustee, proud of the progressive, creative and systems change focused work of the Trust. “I have been incredibly fortunate to be a Trustee of the Ross Trust. Working with our wonderful granting partners, my wise and committed colleague Trustees and the talented CEO and staff team has been an absolute privilege. I have learnt an enormous amount from them and the wider philanthropy community, and my grateful thanks to all of them”. She is enthusiastic about the appointment of new Trustees and the opportunity this provides to bring fresh thinking to The Ross Trust’s decision making.

A former board member of Philanthropy Australia, among other boards, and with a history of four decades working within social research and senior management in the not for profit and university sectors, Jenny laughed that it will be a big change without any board responsibilities. She has been consistently on boards in some capacity for more than 40 years. 

Reflecting on key issues in her time at the Trust, Jenny said “I am passionate about progressive philanthropy, and as a committed feminist, I am also passionate about bringing a gender lens to giving, to ensure girls and women are impacted positively throughout the grant-making process and the ongoing work. I also strongly believe in applying an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) framework to our investment portfolio. The Trust currently engages in all three of these practices and I am confident it will continue to do so into the future.”

Jenny has been a strong supporter of The Ross Trust’s emphasis that Trustees physically visit groups and organisations being funded to see first-hand what the issues are, how they are being tackled and what impact is being made. “I leave with a sense of appreciation that The Ross Trust is working alongside great organisations and celebrate that we are involved with such inspired, passionate and effective people,” she said.

She has also enjoyed looking for life-changing solutions, not stopgap results. 

“During my time as a Trustee, I’ve had the opportunity to think deeply about how we do philanthropy,” she said. “In my view the focus should always be on progressive philanthropy and systems change. I am personally committed to social change and the fundamental need to shift power imbalances, so for me it has been compelling to be involved in the work the Trust has undertaken.”

Twice Chair of The Ross Trust, following the Trust’s ethos that the role of Chair rotates among the Trustees as a “first among equals” position, Jenny said that it was important for philanthropists not to be afraid of failure, and to continue to take risks that government cannot. 

“I’m always interested in thinking about ways in which projects might eventually be scaled up, to take them to a point where other funders and government can see the value,” she said. “And I’ve welcomed the Trust funding collaboratively with other organisations as we try to solve wicked problems. It’s intrinsic that questions be asked about how we can get to the root cause and impact the issue in a transformational rather than incremental way.” 

As a final act offered to all departing Trustees, the Ross Trust on Jenny’s behalf has made two discretionary grants of her choice, pledging $5000 to Beyond the Bell to support the Koorie Girls Engagement Program in Warrnambool, and another $5000 in support of the Otway's Marine Ecosystem Resilience (OMER) Initiative through the Conservation Ecology Centre.