2024 Queensland Philanthropist Award winners revealed
The state’s leading philanthropists have been honoured at ceremony filled with well-known Queenslanders, including a rare public appearance from tennis great, Ash Barty.
QLD News
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A former Queensland Mayor and state MP has been recognised as being the most generous man in Queensland.
The 2024 Queensland Philanthropy Awards honoured seven of Queensland’s leading individual and corporate philanthropists at a ceremony at Brisbane City Hall on Friday.
The Community Philanthropist award was given to property developer and former politician Clive Berghofer OAM, who has donated over $100 million to charitable causes to date.
He was also acknowledged as having inspired many with his holistic approach to philanthropy and his previous roles as a Councillor, Mayor, and State MP.
Queensland Gives CEO Tara Castle congratulated this year’s winners and said in her eyes, every nominee was a winner having demonstrated incredible commitment to supporting and promoting charitable causes throughout Queensland.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to highlight and celebrate the good work being done day-in, day-out by individuals, businesses, charities and community groups,” she said.
“Every day, thousands of Queenslanders do amazing work supporting their communities and our judges had a hugely difficult task in deciding on our winners, all of whom have done incredible work to support their chosen cause and make Queensland a better place to live.”
Auto & General Insurance Company accepted the Corporate Philanthropist award with a focus on their support of Act for Kids who provide therapy for children victims of abuse, totalling over $5 million.
Founder of No More Butts (NMB) Shannon Mead took home the environmental honour focusing on the removal of the most littered item in Queensland and around the world.
NMB’s work with James Cook University on researching potential uses for collected cigarette butts was highlighted as was Mr Mead spearheading consideration of the issue of vaping battery disposal.
The ingenuity of donation platform Givit got founder Juliette Wright OAM the Innovative Philanthropist of the Year award.
Givit began to connect donors and those in need and now facilitates over 37,000 donations per week, collaborating with over 4,500 support organisations as well as the Queensland, NSW, Victoria, ACT and WA Governments during disasters.
Katelyn Aslett from My Giving Table revived the Emerging Philanthropist of the Year award.
The platform allows individuals to host dinner parties or small gatherings with a chosen ticket price becoming the charitable contribution.
Having recognised the cost of hosting charitable events eating up most donation Ms Aslett and her husband, Chef Kev, generously donate meals and their time to fundraising events, and aim to inspire more chefs to participate in MGT, encouraging them to donate dinners and support their preferred charities.
Also awarded was Shweta Khan and Starfire Diamonds with the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises award and the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation as the Foundation of the Year.
Full list of winners
2024 Queensland Community Philanthropist of the Year
Clive Berghofer OAM
2024 Queensland Corporate Philanthropist of the Year
Auto & General Insurance Company
2024 Queensland Environmental Philanthropist of the Year
Shannon Mead
2024 Queensland Innovative Philanthropist of the Year
Juliette Wright OAM
2024 Queensland SME Philanthropist of the Year
Shweta Khan/Starfire Diamonds
2024 Queensland Philanthropic Foundation of the Year
Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
2024 Queensland Emerging Philanthropist of the Year
Katelyn Aslett/My Giving Table
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