Canva co-founder Cameron Adams and wife Lisa Miller to give away half their $7bn fortune
One of the country’s richest couples has made a bombshell move – and wants other uber-wealthy Australians to follow suit.
A billionaire Australian couple has pledged to give away at least half of their mammoth $7 billion fortune and is calling on other local Rich Listers to follow their lead.
Cameron Adams, who co-founded homegrown tech giant Canva, and his wife Lisa Miller, a former zoologist turned entrepreneur, have announced they’ll funnel huge amounts of their cash to green causes in a bid to address “urgent environmental issues”.
“Nature nourishes us, sustains us, inspires us and shapes how we live,” Mr Adams said in a letter to global group The Giving Pledge. “But today, many of the ecosystems that support our lives are being destroyed — and our future depends on how we choose to save them.
“Lisa and I believe that with good fortune comes great responsibility. We recognise that the opportunities we have had in life place us in a position to give generously and act with purpose.
“By joining The Giving Pledge, we aim to emphasise this responsibility and commit our resources to the planet that we all rely on. And this commitment is critical during the next decade.”
The Giving Pledge was founded by billionaire investment guru Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates. Since then, more 240 wealthy philanthropists from across the globe have pledged proportions of their own fortunes.
Famously, Buffett has long declared he will give away virtually all of his US$160 billion (AU$247 billion) worth. Gates recently made the same commitment.
While Mr Adams’ and Ms Miller’s wealth is predominantly tied up in Canva equity, the company is rumoured to be eyeing a list on the NASDAQ next year.
Canva launched in 2013, the brainchild of a trio of mates and tech heads, and is now worth an estimated US$32 billion (AU$49.5 billion).
“Philanthropy is more than charity; it is a means of addressing systemic issues, driving meaningful change and ensuring that future generations inherit a world rich in possibility and biodiversity,” Mr Adams said.
“Biodiversity – the foundation of life – is at risk as species and ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate.
“We must not only halt nature’s decline but also begin its restoration. Governments and businesses will play vital roles, but philanthropy has a unique ability to drive bold action, fund innovation, and catalyse change at scale.”
The couple also runs eco investment fund the Wedgetail Ventures, which has supported communities and initiatives “on the frontlines of conservation”, he said.
They also own a 5000 hectare property in Tasmania that’s being developed into a conservation research site in conjunction with the University of Tasmania.
“In [the past few years], we have grown in our confidence that these are issues worth fighting for, and that we can make a unique contribution with the funds and skills that we have,” Mr Adams said.
Canva’s other co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht signed on to The Giving Pledge in 2021.
Several years earlier in 2013, mining billionaire Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest and former wife Nicola were inaugural members of a cohort of non-American pledgers and the initiative’s first Aussie backers.
“As a family, we agreed many years ago to give away the majority of our wealth,” the then-couple said at the time.
“We felt that if our children were to inherit considerable wealth, it would only get in the way of them striving for and achieving their best, and truly making a positive difference in other people’s lives.”
The pledge made by Mr Adams and Ms Miller will be split across both The Giving Project and its tech-flavoured counterpart Founders Pledge.
Founders Pledge was established in 2015 and now has 2050 members from more than 45 countries who have collectively pledged US$11.5 billion (AU$17.8 billion) and already donated US$1.5 billion (AU$2.3 billion).
“We believe entrepreneurs are uniquely placed to transform the world, today and in the future, by using their skills, networks, and resources to tackle huge, seemingly insurmountable problems,” the group explained on its website.
“However, they often lack the time, tools, or knowledge to direct their charitable giving where it will do the most good. Founders Pledge exists to bridge this gap. We advise on, facilitate and maximise the impact of our members’ giving.”
Among its members are Magnus Hult, the founding engineer at Spotify and one of the audio streaming giant’s first employees, Culture Amp co-founder Jon Williams, and Niklas Adalberth, founder of buy now, pay later firm Klarna.
Mr Adams encouraged other wealthy figures to get behind initiatives like The Giving Pledge and Founders Pledge.
“We hope others will recognise the power of philanthropy to create lasting environmental and societal impact by joining us in this commitment,” he said.
Originally published as Canva co-founder Cameron Adams and wife Lisa Miller to give away half their $7bn fortune
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