Speakers
Ren Barlow
Siona Hardy
Ian Finlayson
Virginia Bourke
Ren Barlow, Ian Finlayson, Siona Hardy, Virginia Bourke
Most families of significant wealth give. Far fewer would say they give well, and almost none were taught how. This session is a frank conversation across the full span of philanthropy: a Melbourne family office principal who founded her own charities and now sits on the boards of several more; a university leader who is both a major donor and the executive accountable for what donations achieve; the fundraising chief of one of Australia’s largest charities, who has sat across the table from hundreds of families; and a chief executive rebuilding a national charity around a hard impact target. Between them they cover the questions families actually face: how much structure giving needs, how to bring the next generation in without making it a chore, when to found something and when to fund someone else’s, how to tell whether money is working, and how to be the kind of donor an organisation hopes for rather than endures.
Siona has comprehensive experience in health care leadership, operational management and strategy across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Siona joined Canteen’s Executive Leadership Team in 2023. Prior to her time as the Executive Director for Services and Impact, Siona was the Statewide Director for the Queensland Youth Cancer Service, where she played a transformational role in ensuring that adolescent and young adult cancer patients received excellent medical treatment and psychosocial support. In 2022, Siona was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to investigate international models for care for young cancer survivors.
Siona has also applied her highly effective strategic thinking and exceptional people leadership skills at the executive level and other senior management positions within the Mater network of hospitals and large allied health private clinics. In parallel, Siona was also a Visiting Academic at the University of Queensland.
Siona officially started as CEO on 1 July 2025, aligning with the rollout of Canteen’s new strategic plan. Our key ambition for the next four years is to deliver one million meaningful touchpoints to ensure that every young Australian impacted by cancer can access the support and care they need. Under Siona’s leadership, we will achieve this by focusing on growing our reach, deepening our impact and amplifying our voice as an influential force in the cancer landscape.
With more than 35 years’ experience in senior leadership roles across the not-for-profit sector, Ian is a highly regarded fundraising, marketing and communications executive with qualifications in digital marketing, customer experience strategy, and corporate governance.
As Chief Fundraising & Marketing Officer at Vision Australia, Ian leads a national team that generates over $50 million in charitable income annually and oversees the organisation’s fundraising, marketing, brand, and communications strategy. He is passionate about delivering customer-focused outcomes that advance Vision Australia’s mission to support more than 35,000 people who are blind or have low vision across Australia.
As Pro-Chancellor of ACU, Virginia Bourke brings experience as a lawyer and Non-Executive Director across a range of sectors including health, aged care, community services, education, training and publishing. She has particular expertise in the governance of charitable not-for-profit organisations.
Among her Board roles, Virginia is the Chair of Mercy Health, a national health and aged care provider employing more than 10,000 people. She is also a Director of the Mater Group, Catholic Health Australia and Caritas Australia. Virginia was formerly Chair of St John Ambulance Victoria and a director of its national body, St John Ambulance Australia. She holds an advisory role with the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG).
Virginia's Non-Executive Director career has been complemented by her work as a lawyer and consultant in private practice and senior in-house counsel positions for over 30 years. She is currently a consultant with the national health and aged care industry team at MinterEllison Lawyers. Through that work she has developed a breadth of commercial experience, business development skill and a deep knowledge of corporate governance law.
Carly Severino is a strategic philanthropic leader known for combining visionary thinking with practical execution to drive meaningful, sustainable social impact. With deep expertise in philanthropy, intergenerational wealth, social investment and community building, she has led transformative programs across Australia’s most respected organisations. As Director of Community and Philanthropy at Australian Communities Foundation, Carly oversees three national teams and plays a critical role on the Senior Executive, strengthening relationships with more than 700 Funds and Foundations, elevating best‑practice philanthropy, and modernising the Foundation’s approach to education, engagement and storytelling.
Carly previously served as Executive Officer of the Betty Amsden Foundation. Prior to this, she spent seven years with the Private Wealth Network, working closely with families of significant wealth to deepen impact and support next‑generation engagement. Carly is a respected facilitator, speaker and advisor within the philanthropic and family wealth ecosystems. She holds a Masters in Social Investment and Philanthropy from Swinburne University.