Welcome to the St Aloysius College Philanthropy Seminar

St Aloysius College warmly invites current families, past parents, and members of our alumni community to an evening dedicated to exploring the evolving landscape of philanthropy. This seminar brings together respected leaders in wealth management, philanthropic advisory, and community impact to discuss how families build meaningful and sustainable giving strategies that endure across generations. 

Guest Speakers

• John McLeod, Co-Founder of JBWere Philanthropic Services Team
• Richard Milroy, Co-Founder of Private Wealth Network (PWN) group
• Julien Playoust, (SAC 1985), Philanthropist & Director of AEH Group

Moderator: Acting Director of Foundation & Director of Communications, Susan Ali

Key Discussion Themes

1. The evolving philanthropic landscape
2. Strategic approaches to wealth management
3. Engaging the next generation and the transfer of intergeneration wealth
4. Building a family legacy of impact
5. Governance, advisory support & best practice

As part of the College’s commitment to fostering generosity and social responsibility, the seminar aims to deepen the community’s understanding of structured giving and long-term charitable impact. Whether you are beginning your philanthropic journey, refining an existing strategy, or exploring ways to involve younger family members, this event provides valuable insight and practical guidance

This event will be conducted under a strict four-walls confidentiality policy, ensuring that all shared insights, conversations, and personal experiences remain within the room. This environment of trust is central to encouraging open and thoughtful discussion.

We also wish to gently reassure attendees that this seminar is a non-solicitation event. The purpose of the evening is education and conversation only—you will not be asked for donations at any stage.

While this event is free for our Aloys community, it is a ticketed event and capped at a maximum of 30. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Expanded Speaker Biographies

John McLeod

Senior Research Consultant, Family Advisory and Philanthropic Services, JBWere Australia

John co-founded the JBWere Philanthropic Services team in 2001. Prior to this John spent 16 years as a financial analyst and manager of the Resource Research group within the firm’s top-ranking strategy team.

John produces the leading research reports into the trends in the for-purpose and philanthropy sectors. In 2013, John co-authored the Impact – Australia report with the Federal Government, highlighting the current practice and growth potential for Impact Investing. In 2017, John co-authored Growing Impact in New Zealand, released at the Social Enterprise World Forum held in Christchurch.

John has also produced the following research insights:

• The Cause Report (2016) examining the evolving shape of the for-purpose sector in Australia;

• The Support Report (2018) focussing on the dramatic trends occurring in Australian giving and the implications for recipients over the coming decade;

• The Corporate Support Report (2022); The evolution of corporate giving and community investment in Australia.

John also compiles the list of Australia’s major philanthropists for the Australian Financial Review’s (AFR) annual special, Philanthropy 50; and the list of Australia’s top 50 companies for corporate community investment published in the AFRs Boss magazine.

John serves on a volunteer basis as;

• Non-Executive Director Liverty Housing; and

• Non-Executive Director Philanthropy Australia.

Richard Milroy

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Private Wealth Network

Richard is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Private Wealth Network and also founded several other specialist events and publishing companies in the areas of wealth management and sustainability. Starting his career at the International Herald Tribune in Paris, he then moved into specialist trade publishing and investment conferences based in London and now Sydney. Richard’s vision is to form knowledge networks where people connect face-to-face at events, then continue their relationships through online platforms. His focus is to assist members to share and gain new knowledge and understanding, and hopefully to inspire them too.

Richard holds a BA (Hons) in European Political Science with Modern Languages, from Newcastle upon Tyne University, UK.

Private Wealth Network (PWN) is a trusted community of more than 150 member families across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe and the United States. Membership spans multiple generations, with the Younger Generation being the fastest‑growing demographic.

Only 38% of younger members plan to continue with existing wealth structures, while 79% wish to be more involved in managing family affairs in the future—an area where PWN provides vital support, education and peer connection.
 

Julien Playoust (SAC 1985)

Julien is a businessman and exhibiting artist. He has more than 30 years' experience as a director in public and private companies, including ASX-100, SMEs, diversified mutuals and social enterprises. He has been a trustee of major public art institutions and environmental organisations for more than two decades. Typically, he chairs the investment and finance committees, and is a member of Audit, Risk & Compliance, People & Culture, and Nominations Committees.

He is passionate about sustainable business models for economic and community good, and he is a proponent of design thinking and cross-disciplinary skills.

He has worked across multiple sectors including property, professional and financial services, media, agriculture, consumer discretionary, energy, technology and the arts.

He is a Director of Australian Unity Limited and AEH Group; Member of the Advisory Board and Chairman of the Investment Committee of The Nature Conservancy; Trustee of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and Chairman of the Investment Committee and; member of the Alumni Leaders Group of the UNSW Business School.

Past appointments include: Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Tatts Group Limited, MCM Entertainment Group Limited, and Australian Renewable Fuels Limited; Director of TimeOut Group Australia and Venutra Health and; Member of the UNSW Art & Advisory Board, and the National Gallery of Australia Foundation Board.

Mr Playoust is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds a Master of Business Administration from UNSW (AGSM), Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Science from Sydney University, and Company Director Course Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.