About Us
Advancing excellence in leadership for social impact
Who we are
We improve capability and optimise performance of social-purpose boards by providing robust governance reviews and advice on placements. succession planning, diversity, and composition.
At People for Purpose, we prioritise sourcing not only the best and the brightest, but also the most passionate candidates. Through our team’s insights and experience, we connect you with Australia’s top business leaders with a passionate social mission.
We improve capability and optimise performance of social-purpose boards by providing robust governance reviews and advice on placements. succession planning, diversity, and composition.
Why clients choose People for Purpose
People for Purpose are social impact specialists, bringing a wealth of experience and hands-on knowledge of the opportunities and challenges of running a for-purpose or social enterprise. Our team has held numerous positions in the for-purpose and commercial sectors, including CEOs, consultants, and board members. This means that we have walked in the shoes of the organisations we work with and understand their unique requirements. Through this experience, combined with our ongoing events, we have access to an extensive network of leaders who are highly skilled and diverse, with a passion to make a difference.
Network
Our network is extensive and continuously growing. It is made up of executives leading their fields who bring both commercial expertise, success and a passionate social mission.
Diversity
We value diversity in all its forms and bring a genuine commitment to drive greater diversity as part of every engagement by embedding it in our search and advisory processes.
Experience
We bring over 20 years of sector expertise to each assignment, alongside insights gained from spending more than 1,000 hours annually with boards to stay updated on emerging themes and challenges.
Results
We are Australia’s leading provider of executive and board directors who want to use their professional skills to strengthen the fabric of society and improve the lives of others.
Value
We deliver a quality, comprehensive and professional service, offering exceptional value at a fixed, flat fee.
What we believe in
“We believe that excellence begins with quality leadership, robust governance and clarity of purpose and impact. We envisage a for-purpose sector that attracts leaders who are inspired to make a difference, with governance by effective and visionary boards.”
MELISSA MACPHERSON
Managing Director and Co-Founder
Our commitment to diversity
At People for Purpose, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and empowered.
Guided by the Diversity Council Australia’s principles, we celebrate diversity in all its forms, including race, culture, gender identity, sexuality, age, and abilities. We place particular importance on the voice of the participant, ensuring those we serve are heard and their perspectives valued. Through our commitment to equity, respect, and unity, we strive to make a meaningful impact both within our organization and in the communities we support.
Our advisory board
Michael Traill is a distinguished leader in the Australian philanthropic and business sectors. With a background in finance, he spent 15 years as an executive at Macquarie Bank before transitioning to the social sector. He co-founded and served as CEO of Social Ventures Australia (SVA), an organisation focused on mobilising investment for social impact. Under his leadership, SVA grew to become a leading social purpose organisation, driving significant initiatives in education, employment, and social inclusion.
Michael has also held various board positions, contributing his expertise to numerous non-profits and social enterprises. His board roles include serving as Chair of Goodstart Early Learning, Australia’s largest provider of early learning and care, and as Chair of the Paul Ramsay Foundation. He is known for his strategic vision, ability to foster cross-sector collaboration, and commitment to driving sustainable social change.
Geoff Stalley is an entrepreneurial senior executive with consistent success in starting, building, growing and improving the performance of businesses, as a senior advisor, a business leader and a director. Initially, as a consultant/business adviser working across major professional services firms (Kearney, Andersen, EY and Deloitte) for global and Australian clients on projects spanning corporate innovation, new business growth, complex transformations and merger integration. More recently, Geoff has transitioned to executive and Board roles with operational and oversight responsibilities for key aspects of business activities in global and Australian listed companies.
In addition to his corporate roles, Geoff is a member of the Council for Southern Cross University; a member of the Board of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, a member of the Advisory Board for NSW Public Service Commission; Chair of Exent Consulting, NED at Sapien Group and previously a NED and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee at iSelect (ASX:ISU). Geoff is a Graduate of the AICD Directors Course, has a Master of Economics (Macq), a Bachelor of Business (UTS), is a CA of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand) and a CPA.
Justin Greiner has 25 years experience in the Australian financial services industry with a strong track record in wealth management and banking. He currently works with Ironbark Group and was previously the CEO of JBWere and NAB Private Wealth. Justin's career includes significant roles in wealth management at Westpac, ANZ and Rothschild Australia.
Justin's leadership is marked by a focus on customer-centric strategies, digital innovation, and people leadership. He has a deep understanding of financial markets and is known for his ability to drive performance and growth in competitive environments. In addition to his executive role, Justin serves on several boards, contributing his expertise in financial services and strategic leadership. His board roles include positions with industry bodies and charitable organisations, reflecting his commitment to both professional excellence and community impact.
Melissa Widner is the CEO of Lighter Capital, the pioneer and leader in revenue based financing for tech start ups and scales ups. Seattle based Lighter Capital is backed by NAB and Silicon Valley Bank as well as US based VCs. Previously Melissa was the Managing Director of NAB Ventures, the VC arm of the National Australia Bank and a General Partner at Seattle based SeaPoint Ventures. She was the founder and CEO of 7Software, a Silicon Valley based enterprise software company acquired by Concur (Nasdaq: CNQR, acquired by SAP). She was also the CEO of Northwest Industrial Supply. Under her leadership, both companies generated over a 10X return to investors.
She is the co-founder and Chairperson of Sydney based Heads Over Heels, an organisation that supports women entrepreneurs running companies with high growth potential.
Melissa served as a lecturer at the University of Washington's Graduate School of Business where she taught courses on venture capital and entrepreneurship. She was previously on the board of the AIC (AVCAL) and has served on the boards of several venture backed technology companies in both the US and Australia.
Melissa holds a Masters degree from Stanford University and a Bachelors degree from the University of Washington.
Our team
Rachael co-founded People for Purpose with Melissa in 2012 believing an opportunity existed to connect passionate, talented leaders to organisations delivering social and environmental impact. She has spent the last decade advising boards on governance practices that relate directly to succession planning.
Previously Rachael was the Founding CEO of Australian Philanthropic Services and has worked in the for-purpose sector since 2000. Prior to that Rachael worked in the commercial sector.
She currently serves on the Board of the Menzies Foundation and on the Patrons Advisory with Raise Foundation. In addition, she has completed the Governance for Social Impact course and is currently completing her MBA in Social Impact with the Australian Graduate School of Management.
After starting her career at KPMG, Melissa worked for a decade in investment banking before transitioning into the for-purpose space. Melissa is a specialist governance advisor having worked with Boards and Directors on leadership acquisition, structure and governance performance improvement for purpose-led organisations for 15 years. Melissa brings her cross-sector knowledge to support Boards to consolidate their foundation and purpose and identify Executives and Non-Executive Directors that align to their goals and values.
Lindy has been with People for Purpose since 2018 and has been placing executive and non executive leaders in the for-purpose space since 2015. As a graduate Lindy worked in Corporate Communication and Management Development/HR in the Finance sector, later establishing and leading a successful import and tech services business with a national scope.
She has also worked within the sector with Donate Planet Foundation and has seen first hand that strong and talented leadership creates tangible impact. Lindy has experience placing leaders across the sector including peak bodies, social enterprise, large and small scale charities and membership organisations.
Kelly has cultivated a dynamic career in consultancy and stakeholder engagement positions spanning diverse sectors, including for-purpose organisations, semi-government, and commercial enterprises. Within talent management teams and recruitment agencies, Kelly has specialised in the recruitment of executive, senior, board and advisory leaders across local, national, and international landscapes.
Kelly has coached executive and business leaders, facilitated career transition programs, and spearheaded community projects, building meaningful partnerships to drive community engagement initiatives.
Research methodologies and engagement strategies applied are enriched by Kelly’s broad tapestry of skills and lived experiences. Kelly is passionate about identifying exceptional leaders for our clients, the People for Purpose network and is committed to building talent acquisition alliances and fostering knowledge sharing in the sector.
Pauline joined People for Purpose in July 2021. Pauline works with the search and placement team to manage the candidate process and oversees People for Purpose’s workshops and events.
Pauline’s early experience was rooted in the for-purpose sector having worked both in Australia and abroad with not-for-profit organisations before she ventured into the corporate sector in 2016. Moving into the Executive Search space, Pauline has been happy to merge her for purpose passion with her current role at People for Purpose.
Yvette works with the search and placement team to manage the candidate process. Yvette will support you to ensure a smooth and robust process. Yvette’s priority is the timely collection and delivery of relevant documents to support this process.
Our Fund
In 2022, to celebrate a decade of commitment to the for-purpose sector, we launched the For Purpose Fund, a public ancillary fund designed to truly “put our money where our mouth is.” The For Purpose Fund empowers impactful organisations by embracing the “pay what it takes” movement, ensuring that charities have the resources they need to create lasting change. In a spirit of intergenerational giving, we invite our children to help select the charities we support, fostering a deep connection to philanthropy and inspiring the next generation of thoughtful funders. Through this fund, we are proud to stand alongside the sector, supporting those who dedicate their work to building a better future. If we can do it, anyone can.
Take the first step in establishing your own fund by talking to the team at Australian Philanthropic Services.