Recognising our members

The Pinnacle Foundation provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTQIA+ Australians to realise their full potential.

We rely on the generosity of our individual donors, philanthropic and corporate partners, the passionate contributions of over 200 volunteers, and a fulltime-equivalent staff of less than five, to deliver our program across Australia.

Your support will help to transform the lives of young scholars. The gift of education is one that impacts every aspect of a young person’s life to substantially enhance their future, and the contribution they make to our community.

Thank you to our major donors, whose generous support we recognise at the relevant membership level.

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Cornerstone Members

Donation of $50,000+ upfront or over three years
  • Alan Joyce AC & Shane Lloyd
  • Andrew Hoppe & Tom Hoe
  • Andrew Staite
  • Bill Chambers
  • Brian Terrence Reilly
  • Dr Craig White & Rod Anderson
  • Duncan Peerman & Paul Zahra
  • David Anthony & Ian Whitney
  • Elizabeth Jameson AM & Abbe Anderson
  • Geoffrey Smith & Gary Singer
  • Georgina Byron AM & The Snow Foundation
  • Gorm Kirsch
  • Greg Livingstone
  • Ian Dickson AM & Reg Holloway
  • James Collins & Tony Nelson
  • Jeff Weeden & Gareth Bowler
  • Jeremy Roth & The Yarranabbe Foundation
  • Jessica Bastow
  • John Allan & Darren Howard
  • John Douglass & Warren Stanborough
  • John Goldbaum
  • Justin D’Agostino MH & KC Yeo
  • Kirby Adams & John Healy
  • Louise Daley & the Daley family
  • Martin Dickson AM & Susie Dickson
  • Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch
  • Peter Maher & Louise Fisher
  • Michael Gorman
  • Mike Gordon
  • Pippa Downes
  • Rob Grant
  • Rosalind & Diana Coffey
  • Sam Harvey
  • Shane & Odaria Finemore
  • Shelley Argent OAM
  • Tea Uglow
  • The Berg Family Foundation
  • The Selig Family
  • Tom Snow
  • Dr Vinay Kumar
  • Vitaly Osipov

Foundation Members

Annual donation of $10,000+
  • Jenny Carmichael
  • Mark Henry
  • Shannon Spriggs & Hugh Morgan
  • Suzanne Jones & Leone Cohen
  • Wayne Woolley

Foundation Supporters

Annual donation of $5,000+
  • Claire Spencer AM & Andrew Spencer
  • Colin Tate
  • Dr Glen Lo & Daniel Scarparolo
  • James Vivian
  • Jerome Tse & Adrian Lotrean
  • Joseph Muraca
  • Karen Brown & Carmel McLure
  • Kristi Barrow
  • Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM & Family
  • Dr Matthew Collins AM KC & Leonard Vary
  • Peter Waters
  • Rebekah Gay
  • Stephen Ryan & David Smith
  • Steven Deveraux Stanford
  • William Jones

Foundation Associates

Annual donation of $1,000+
  • Amanda Pullinger
  • Andrew Butcher
  • Andrew Robertson
  • Annette Mullen
  • Anton Clowes
  • Benjamin Law
  • Bernard Ryan
  • Brian Barry
  • Brodie McCulloch & Gianni Corrao
  • Charlie Grover
  • Judge Charlotte Kelly
  • Chris Bevitt
  • Conrad Henley-Calvert
  • Dalia Klein
  • Dan Creasey & Scott Druce
  • Daniel Atkins
  • David Spree & Tim Topham
  • Dr Dino Willox
  • Fabiola Gibson
  • Fran Orr
  • Geoff Annabel
  • Glenn Christie OAM
  • Gordon Williams
  • Graham Thorburn
  • Howard Edelman
  • Ita Buttrose AC OBE
  • Jamal Hakim
  • Jeremy Vincent
  • Jessbyte Foundation
  • John Marcard
  • Ken Greenblatt & Peter Walsh
  • Kevin Maczkowiack
  • Laurie Cato-Smith
  • Liam Buckley
  • Linda Herd
  • Lorraine Hall
  • Madeline Richardson & Mardi Conduit
  • Mark Sawyer
  • Mark Stewart
  • Martin Jovic
  • Matt Cooksey
  • Matt Shelmerdine
  • Michael Silman
  • Michael Winchester
  • Nick Perkins & Paul Banks
  • Oliver Boehner
  • Paul Clark
  • Paul Marriott
  • Paul O’Sullivan
  • Paul Sojka
  • Paul Stankovic
  • Penny Wilson
  • Peter Egan
  • Peter Lovell
  • Peter McDonald
  • Peter Welling
  • Phil Schubert & Andrew Barrow
  • Philip Elliott
  • Richard Prunster
  • Robert Walker
  • Sarah Percy-Dove
  • Shaun Bornstein
  • Simon James & Jan Jensen
  • Sue Dahn AM
  • Sylvain Goumand
  • The Honourable Justice Thomas Bradley
  • Tim & Jess Morden
  • Timothy Stutt
  • Tony King
  • Tracey Matkovich
  • Victoria Tavendale
  • Warner Whiteford
  • Wen-Jui Wu

Cornerstone Membership Announcements

October 2023 – The Michael Gorman Scholarship (No. 2)

Michael Gorman has generously bestowed a second named scholarship. The scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

July 2023 – The Olrem Scholarships (x3)

Jessica Bastow has generously endowed a further three Olrem Scholarships, taking the total number of scholarships endowed to nine. The additional Olrem Scholarships are open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

June 2023 – The Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch Scholarship (No. 3)

Peter Brennan AM and Michael Lynch have generously bestowed a third named scholarship to support young scholars ideally studying at The University of Western Sydney. Peter and Michael have previously created The Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch Scholarship and The Sydney Community Foundation, Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch Scholarship.

April 2023 – The Bill Chambers Scholarship (No. 3)

Bill Chambers has generously bestowed a third named scholarship. Bill was born in Ballarat, where he undertook his education and studies to become an engineer. Most of his working life was spent in Western Australia. In retirement, Bill spends his time between Perth and Sydney. This scholarship is open to all Western Australian applicants.

August 2022 – The Anthony-Whitney Scholarship

The Anthony-Whitney Scholarship is open to applicants who are undertaking degree studies in either music or history.

July 2022 – The Olrem Scholarships (x3)

Jessica Bastow has generously endowed a further three Olrem Scholarships. All six Olrem Scholarships are open to Pinnacle scholarship applicants from Western Australia, with one to be specifically awarded to a student from an Aboriginal or Torress Strait Islander background.

April 2022 – The Bill Chambers Scholarship (No. 2)

Bill Chambers has generously bestowed a second named scholarship. Bill was born in Ballarat, where he undertook his education and studies to become an engineer. Most of his working life was spent in Western Australia. In retirement, Bill spends his time between Perth and Sydney. This scholarship is open to all applicants.

October 2021 – The Vitaly Osipov Scholarship

The Vitaly Osipov Scholarship is open to scholarship applicants who are studying in a STEM field (preferably mathematics or computer science).

July 2021 – The Olrem Scholarships (x3)

The Olrem Scholarships are open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants from Western Australia.

June 2021 – The Yarranabbe Foundation Scholarship

The Yarranabbe Foundation Scholarship is open to eligible applicants studying in the fields of business, law or engineering.

June 2021 – The Geoffrey Smith & Gary Singer Scholarship

The Geoffrey Smith & Gary Singer Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

 

May 2021 – The Mike Gordon Scholarships

Mike grew up in rural Scotland. He was bullied at school for being different, smart and not so good at games. Mike’s father disinherited him because he went to university. His mother thought Mike would bring shame upon his family by shooting too high. Education opened Mike’s eyes and he pursued a life of constructive opportunism, seizing opportunities that fit, travelling the world, and deeply appreciating abundance as “one of the luckiest people I know”. Mike’s message, “Standing on the shoulders of giants, imagine further than you can see.”

The Mike Gordon Scholarships (2) are awarded to rural, regional and remote scholars studying: in artistic fields (to be a voice); science, technology, engineering, arts or maths fields (to sustain the land they come from); and humanities fields (enhancing the quality of life in the community).

November 2020 – The Justin D’Agostino MH & KC Yeo Scholarship

The Justin D’Agostino MH and KC Yeo Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

June 2020 – The Michael Gorman Scholarship

The Michael Gorman Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

June 2020 – The Sydney Community Foundation, Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch Fund Scholarship

Peter Brennan AM and Michael Lynch have generously funded a second named scholarship, ideally to be awarded to students who have grown up in Western Sydney.

January 2020 – The Dr Vinay Kumar Scholarship

The Dr Vinay Kumar Scholarship is awarded to students studying either medicine or a performing arts discipline.

December 2019 – The Allan Howard Scholarship

The Allan Howard Scholarship was created by John Allan and Darren Howard and is open to eligible applicants from rural or regional Australia. John grew up in Western Victoria and Darren in Western NSW. They both understand how hard it can be to identify as LGBTIQ+ in these types of settings, and from families that often don’t have the financial means to support a good education.

September 2019 – The Berg Family Foundation Scholarship

The Berg Family Foundation Scholarship is open to eligible applicants who are Indigenous or first in family to undertake higher education or from rural or remote Australia.

August 2019 – The Tea Uglow Scholarship

The Tea Uglow Scholarship is open to trans students who lack family support.

July 2019 – The Murray J. Collins – The City Gardener Scholarship

The Murray J. Collins – The City Gardener Scholarship is funded by Rob Grant in memory of his late partner, Murray J. Collins. Murray grew up in country Victoria. For many years, Murray and Rob ran a highly successful business, The City Gardener. This scholarship is open to students from country Victoria. Ideally, they will seek to study in the fields of agriculture, horticulture or landscape design.

July 2019 – The Frank Ford AM & Sam Harvey Scholarship

The Frank Ford AM and Sam Harvey Scholarship has been created by Sam Harvey in memory of his late partner, Frank Ford AM. Frank was Head of Drama at Adelaide University, Founding Chair of the Adelaide Festival Fringe organisation, and Founder of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Sam managed arts organisations. This scholarship is open to students from South Australia who are studying performing arts, technical theatre or arts management in South Australia.

June 2019 – The Bill Chambers Scholarship

Bill Chambers was born in Ballarat, where he undertook his education and studies to become an engineer. Most of his working life was spent in Western Australia. In retirement, Bill spends his time between Perth and Sydney. This scholarship is open to all applicants.

January 2019 – The Shelley Argent OAM Scholarship

This scholarship is named to honour the tireless work of LGBTIQ+ activist and philanthropist, Shelley Argent OAM. Shelley has committed her life to improve the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community and was a long-term campaigner in the marriage equality movement. This scholarship is open to any student studying at a Brisbane educational facility.

January 2019 – The Maurice Joyce Scholarship

This scholarship is funded by Alan Joyce AC and Shane Lloyd in memory of Alan’s late father, Maurice Joyce. Mr Joyce was a firm believer in the importance of education to up possibilities in a person’s future and enabling them to fully reach their potential. The Maurice Joyce scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants who are studying in the fields of science or mathematics.

July 2018 – The Ros & Diana Coffey Scholarship

The Ros and Diana Coffey Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

June 2018 – The Harvey Milk Scholarship

This scholarship is funded by an anonymous donor to honour gay rights activist and visionary Harvey Milk. The donor, a student of history, wishes to ensure that we remember the history of the LGBTIQ+ movement and honour its heroes. This scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

June 2018 – The Dr Craig White & Rod Anderson Tasmanian Scholarship

The Dr Craig White and Rod Anderson Scholarship is for a Tasmanian, first in family to attend university. Craig and Rod explain “We’ve benefited from vast social and legal changes in our own lifetime and see that the pathway to full and lasting equality will come from leadership arising from within the LGBTIQ+ community. Our Cornerstone donation will offer young Tasmanian LGBTIQ+ scholars the Pinnacle benefits so that they can achieve their own educational and leadership potential as well as for us to provide a visible and positive example within the Tasmanian community.”

November 2017 – The Peter Brennan & Michael Lynch Scholarship

The Peter Brennan and Michael Lynch Scholarship is open to students ideally studying at The University of Western Sydney.

August 2017 – The Greg Livingstone Scholarship

The Greg Livingstone Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

June 2017 – The John Goldbaum Scholarship

The John Goldbaum Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants. John has been a generous benefactor to the LGBTIQ+ community for many years. His reason for bestowing a scholarship is simple: “We need to reward LGBTIQ+ visibility in order to achieve LGBTIQ+ equality.”

June 2017 – The Andrew Staite Scholarship

The Andrew Staite Scholarship is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

May 2017 – The James Collins & Tony Nelson Scholarship

The James Collins and Tony Nelson Scholarship is for students keen to pursue studies in science, digital or aviation either in TAFE or at a tertiary institution. This includes science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) courses, digital and computing, as well as aviation studies, including pilot training.

September 2015 – The Pippa Downes Scholarship

The Pippa Downes Pinnacle Scholarship is awarded either to an athlete competing or training at the national level and aspiring to represent Australia, whilst also pursuing their full-time academic goals in any tertiary faculty or discipline, or to an Indigenous student.

Pippa is a professional non-executive director and was an inaugural non-executive director of The Pinnacle Foundation. Pippa is a keen sportsperson, being a former member of the Australian Swim Team. She represented Hong Kong at the International Rugby Sevens.

June 2015 – The Selig Family Scholarship

Geoff is the Executive Chairman of ASX-listed diversified print and marketing communications business IVE Group Ltd. He has three daughters: Stephanie, Sarah and Amy.

Geoff Selig lauds the tangible support and encouragement that The Pinnacle Foundation provides to young LGBTIQ+ students at what is most often a seminal time in their lives. Geoff said, “I firmly believe that Pinnacle’s support to maximise one’s academic potential and broaden one’s skill base provides a wonderful foundation for the professional journey that lies ahead. At the same time, Pinnacle’s support is a key driver in building positive self-esteem. I am very pleased to be a Pinnacle Foundation Cornerstone Member.”

September 2014 – The Duncan Peerman & Paul Zahra Scholarship

Paul and his husband, Duncan Peerman, hold very dear the values and aims of The Pinnacle Foundation. As a prominent businessman and former CEO of ASX-listed David Jones Ltd, Paul is an outstanding role model for young LGBTIQ+ scholars seeking to forge a career in the commercial world. Paul and Duncan have generously bestowed this scholarship which is open to all Pinnacle scholarship applicants.

November 2011 – The Clark Walton Scholarship

The Clark Walton Pinnacle Scholarship for architecture, design and planning, or visual and creative arts, was the first named scholarship to be announced by The Pinnacle Foundation. Clark was an out and proud gay man from his early twenties until his death aged 61 in March 2011. He was an award-winning architect with many of his designs appearing in leading style magazines. In 2002, Clark was awarded the Energy Efficiency/ESD Architecture Award for the Interactive Learning Centre at Charles Sturt University. Clark was a member of the RAIA and the Master Builders.

Clark started painting when he was at high school, achieving a very high result in Art in his HSC. He continued to paint throughout his working life, something from which he derived great pleasure and recognition from friends, family and colleagues. In later years, Clark devoted more time to painting based on the land and seascape around Coledale, where he spent his retirement. Close friends of Clark’s, Ian Dickson AM and his partner Reg Holloway, said they created an endowment because it was the best way they could celebrate Clark’s life and contribution to urban planning and design.

Ian said: “Clark Walton was an out gay man in the seventies before homosexual acts had been legalised in NSW. He was lucky in that he had supportive and understanding family members who were proud of who he was and what he had achieved. His family understood the importance of education and encouraged his interest in architecture. He was also a great supporter of the LGBTIQ+ community. So, my partner Reg Holloway and I knew that Clark would be happy that his name was being linked to a scholarship to help those in the community who had not had his advantages. We think Clark would have been especially enthusiastic about the concept of each scholarship recipient having a mentor to advise and encourage them in their special field of interest. We are delighted that this scholarship can both assist those who might otherwise not have had the chance to make the most of their abilities and keep the memory of our dear friend alive.”

June 2011

John Douglass and Warren Stanborough were the Foundation’s first Cornerstone Members. John and Warren donated $100,000 over four years, allowing the Foundation to flourish in its formative years. Warren also contributed to the Foundation as a non-executive director and member of the Scholarship Selection Committee.