a legacy of impact beyond the try line
OUR TEAM
WE ARE PART OF SOMETHING THAT MATTERS. IT’S A LEGACy OF IMPACT. ON THE FIELD AND OFF.
PATRON
The Honourable John Howard OM AC
“Rugby in Australia has a special international character. In recent years we have not only held the World Cup but hosted a remarkably successful World Cup competition in 2003. Again we will host that competition in 2027. One of my memorable nights as Prime Minister was to host the world championship Wallabies at The Lodge. Our nation then held the Bledisloe Cup, the Cook Cup (now the Ella-Mobbs Trophy) and was dominant in the tri-lateral of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (later the Mandela Cup), as well as the World Cup itself.
With such a rich history the game will continue to prosper in Australia if it is strongly supported. That is why I am proud to be Patron of the Australian Rugby Foundation. A strong Foundation will help maintain the spread of rugby at a grass-roots level. Support at this level for Rugby demonstrates the best of volunteerism in Australia.”
John Howard
Former Prime Minister
CHAIR
BEN SCOTT
Ben is a seasoned Financial Markets professional with over 30 years of experience including 17 years in Hong Kong and New York with Morgan Stanley. Ben is a Partner at LGT Crestone and was previously a Founding Partner of Barrenjoey Capital Partners in Sydney.
Ben hails from Muckadilla, Queensland and is a lifelong rugby enthusiast having played schoolboy, club and representative rugby in both Queensland and New South Wales. In July 2023 he assumed the role of Chair of the Australian Rugby Foundation bringing his financial expertise and passion for the game to support the Foundation’s growth, philanthropic and strategic development.
Australian Rugby Foundation Board
Tom Millner
Tom has over 20 years experience in investment markets and over 13 years as a Director of Australian public companies. Tom is Director and Co-Founder of Australian funds management business, Contact Asset Management. He is the lead Portfolio Manager of BKI Investment Company (BKI.ASX) and has been deeply involved in the company since its listing on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2003. Tom was a Director of Washington H Soul Pattinson (SOL.ASX) from 2011 until 2023, a period where Net Assets grew from $3.5 billion to over $12 billion.
Geoff Wilson AO
Geoff Wilson AO has more than 45 years’ direct experience in investment markets having held a variety of senior investment roles in Australia, the UK and the US. Geoff founded Wilson Asset Management in 1997, which manages over $5.9 billion on behalf of more than 130,000 investors as the investment manager for eight listed investment companies (LICs) and two unlisted funds: Wilson Asset Management Leaders Fund and Wilson Asset Management Founders Fund.
In 2014 Geoff created Australia’s first listed philanthropic wealth creation vehicles, Future Generation Australia, and subsequently Future Generation Global in 2015.
In 2024 Geoff launched Future Generation Women as the first all-female managed fund in Australia, delivering investment returns and advancing economic equality and opportunities for women and their children in Australia. To date, the Future Generation companies have donated more than $87 million to Australian not-for-profits.
In addition to Geoff’s Directorships with the Wilson Asset Management Group and the Future Generation companies, he also holds Directorships with Staude Capital Global Value Fund Limited (since 2014), Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (since 2018), Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation (since 1997).
Dilshani Weerasinghe
Dilshani is the Executive Director of Queensland Ballet, overseeing the strategic and operational aspects of one of Australia’s most successful and vibrant ballet companies. With a strong background in arts management, she brings a wealth of experience to her role, ensuring the Company’s continued growth on and off the stage.
Passionate about the arts and championing not-for-profit organisations, prior to joining Queensland Ballet, Dilshani held senior positions in various arts and charity organisations including the Royal Opera House (UK), Sydney Opera House, and Brisbane Powerhouse. In addition to her role at Queensland Ballet, she is currently a Director of the Queensland Rugby Union Women’s Committee, and sits on the Board of several arts, cultural and not-for-profit companies.
Edwina McCann AM
Edwina McCann is the editorial director of News Corp Australia’s Prestige Network and Conde Nast titles, previously holding the position of editor-in-chief at Vogue Australia from 2012 to 2022. During her editorship, she was at the helm of the Vogue brand’s strategic digital growth and played an integral role in launching the innovative STEM-focused Vogue Codes event series. In 2015 Edwina topped B&T’s list of 30 Most Powerful Women in Australian Media, and in November 2018 she was presented with the Australian Fashion Laureate’s Lifetime Achievement Award as an acknowledgement of her significant and ongoing contribution to the national fashion industry.
Edwina joined the UTS Business School Advisory Board in 2014. In 2017, she was announced as a board member for The Australian Ballet and chair of The Australian Ballet Foundation Board, from which she retired in 2021. She has served on Westpac Scholars Trust, was co-chair and founder of the Australian Fashion Council and a council member of Australia’s Nation Brand Advisory Council. Today she serves on the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and the St Joseph’s College Foundation board.
LOUISE DUFF
Louise Duff is an accomplished communications expert with over 35 years of experience at the helm of her company, Brilliant Logic. Over the years, she has worked with a range of renowned Australian and international brands, including Special Olympics, Ferrari, St Vincent’s Hospital and NAB, among many others. Her extensive expertise was sought during her involvement in the 2002 Rugby World Cup Business Taskforce, and she was the first woman to sit on an NRL Board.
A passionate advocate for not-for-profits, Louise chaired five Salvation Army boards over 18 years and has played an instrumental role in various media and communications advisory capacities. She also co-founded Black Logic with her Indigenous business partner to deliver communication services for First Nations communities, with a focus on creating greater employment opportunities within the sector.
RICHARD GARDHAM
Richard is the Chief Operating Officer of Rugby Australia, having previously been appointed as Rugby Australia’s Chief Financial Officer in September 2022.
Previously, Richard was the Chief Financial Officer and Salary Cap Auditor of the NRL. Richard is a also a director of Hearts in Rugby Union Limited, a public company limited by guarantee and registered charity that assists players who have suffered a life-changing injury during a rugby game and the Lions Tour Australia Joint Venture with the British and Irish Lions. Prior to working at the NRL, Richard worked as a Management Consultant at Deloitte both in Australia and the UK.
STEVE FLOOK
GENERAL MANAGER
HOLLY KELSALL
Holly Kelsall brings more than 20 years of experience across consulting, financial services, and philanthropy to her role as General Manager of the Australian Rugby Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s strategic direction and operations, connecting donors, Rugby Australia, and the broader rugby community to strengthen grassroots participation, women’s pathways, and high-performance programs across the game.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Holly managed the multi-million-dollar Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre capital campaign and was the founding Director of a successful consulting firm later acquired by an ASX 200 company. Her career has centred on stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, and business growth across both corporate and for-purpose sectors. She works closely with the ARF Board and Rugby Australia leadership to deliver meaningful impact and enduring benefit for the rugby family.
Passionate about the power of sport to unite and inspire, Holly is dedicated to building a sustainable philanthropic legacy for Australian Rugby’s future.dreams are
worth backing.