attracts exceptional leaders who are inspired to make a difference.
engages a workforce as diverse as the communities it serves.
is governed by boards who live the principles of effective governance.
fosters innovation, creativity and visionary leadership.
Our team
We are a passionate and capable team driven by a desire to use our skills and experience to drive improved societal outcomes.
“On the one hand I’d seen a wave of people wanting to contribute to something bigger than themselves and, on the other, so many charities needing access to great hearts and minds. We envisaged People for Purpose to play a role in enabling these connections.”
Rachael has consulted to many organisations across the for-purpose and commercial sectors including Greenpeace, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Telstra, Social Ventures Australia, Cure Brain Cancer, Myer Family Company, State Street, The Butterfly Foundation, Westmead Medical Research Foundation and Milk Crate Theatre.
Prior to People for Purpose, Rachael was founding CEO of Australian Philanthropic Services (APS), an organisation also connecting people to the sector through philanthropy. Working closely with the high profile APS board and the boards of 50 philanthropic foundations, she gained key insights about leadership and functional boards. She has also served on the board of the National Centre for Childhood Grief.
Inspired by people around her, including her mother who was raised by the Salvation Army, Rachael made a deliberate move from the corporate to the not-for-profit sector in 2004.
Rachael has consulted to many organisations across the for-purpose and commercial sectors including Greenpeace, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Telstra, Social Ventures Australia, Cure Brain Cancer, Myer Family Company, State Street, The Butterfly Foundation, Westmead Medical Research Foundation and Milk Crate Theatre.
Prior to People for Purpose, Rachael was founding CEO of Australian Philanthropic Services (APS), an organisation also connecting people to the sector through philanthropy. Working closely with the high profile APS board and the boards of 50 philanthropic foundations, she gained key insights about leadership and functional boards. She has also served on the board of the National Centre for Childhood Grief.
Inspired by people around her, including her mother who was raised by the Salvation Army, Rachael made a deliberate move from the corporate to the not-for-profit sector in 2004.
After starting her career at KPMG, Melissa worked for a decade in investment banking before transitioning into the for-purpose space where she found her home.
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.
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.
Grace Atkinson joined People for Purpose in February 2021. Grace is passionate about the for-purpose sector and has been leading executive search assignments at Board and C-Suite level for the past 11 years.
Prior to People For Purpose, Grace established Third Sector People, responding to the need in the sector for strong leadership. She then went on to lead the For-Purpose, Human Services and Charitable Practice at Hattonneale.
Grace’s experience has been both broad and deep encompassing a diverse range of sector and role functions. In particular, she has developed an in-depth knowledge and experience of Aged Care, Human Services, Community Services and Humanitarian organisations
Prior to People For Purpose, Grace established Third Sector People, responding to the need in the sector for strong leadership. She then went on to lead the For-Purpose, Human Services and Charitable Practice at Hattonneale.
Grace’s experience has been both broad and deep encompassing a diverse range of sector and role functions. In particular, she has developed an in-depth knowledge and experience of Aged Care, Human Services, Community Services and Humanitarian organisations
Lindy joined the People for Purpose search and placement team at the beginning of 2018 after working with Third Sector People and Hattonneale. Lindy has spent the last five years working as a recruitment specialist, researcher and consultant in the non-profit sector and is passionate about improving access to talent in this space. Her experience is broad and encompasses a diverse range of sub-sectors and roles spanning the senior management, C-suite and Non-Executive Director levels.
Lindy has Bachelor of Arts with a double major in sociology. Her early career spanned the corporate and entrepreneurial space before moving into the for-purpose arena in 2013 working for the start-up Donate Planet Foundation.
Lindy has Bachelor of Arts with a double major in sociology. Her early career spanned the corporate and entrepreneurial space before moving into the for-purpose arena in 2013 working for the start-up Donate Planet Foundation.
Christine brings a multi-faceted background in operational and people management across various sectors, including financial services, philanthropy, property, and the building and construction industry. She is driven by a keen desire to facilitate successful outcomes for both individuals and organisations.
From delving into research and publishing in Australia’s building and construction industry to navigating the intricate landscape of financial services, Christine demonstrates her expertise shines through in her knack for discerning connections between people and opportunities that align with their goals.
Christine's hands-on experience in growing teams within small businesses and navigating the complexities of managing people through mergers and acquisitions have provided her with invaluable insights. These insights empower her to create meaningful connections between individuals and roles, leveraging their strengths to drive organisational success and impact.
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 George 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 became part of People for Purpose in April 2023, marking the beginning of her journey with an organisation deeply committed to supporting for-purpose causes. Her passion for community involvement has been lifelong calling, dating back to her high school years, and it naturally led her to seek a role that aligns with her values. Yvette initially started her career as a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) recruiter, where she began honing her skills. Her transition to People for Purpose represents a seamless fusion of her professional expertise with her heartfelt dedication to the not-for-profit sector. In her current role, she is supporting the search and placement team throughout the entire search process
Our partners
We believe in the impact and importance of collaboration. We work closely with our partners to create an ecosystem of support that delivers better outcomes for the organisations we work with.
Australian Institute of Company Directors
As part of our commitment to improving the quality of governance and directorship in the for-purpose sector, People for Purpose works closely with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
This partnership allows us to support individuals to become qualified and skilled directors and has culminated in our ‘Boards Seeking Directors’ event twice a year. The evening provides an opportunity for several organisations to present to aspiring directors in a relaxed networking environment. It has proved to be an extremely popular and successful event, with the majority of participating organisations successfully appointing a new director from the evening. To find out more or to register for the next event, visit our Boards Seeking Directors page.
Leadership Space
Leadership Space is a social purpose specialist in the areas of executive leadership development, team leadership and career coaching. They provide sector-specialised coaching and facilitation services at board, CEO and senior management levels, and for those with career development and transition goals.
We join forces with Leadership Space when our client has a need for targeted coaching or mentoring for individuals or teams. For more information on the Lumina behavioural profiling set of tools please view the video.
Australian Graduate School of Management
UNSW Business School AGSM develops intelligent leaders who thrive on new technologies and global career opportunities. We believe that continuous education and real-world experiences create the best outcomes for our students.
We have partnered with and support the AGSM as they deliver impactful education to our for-purpose sector, including their Governance for Social Impact course. People for Purpose sponsor a seat in each of these courses for one of the leaders in our client base.
Good Foundations
Good Foundations has expertise and a passion for the sector that complements ours. They help not-for-profit organisations create effective operational, financial and strategic platforms. Their team are practical and experienced, and like us, they put purpose before profit.
We have partnered with Good Foundations on several projects from workshop delivery to fundraising and governance reviews.
Vollie
Vollie is an online marketplace that connects skilled people to non-profits and charities for skills-based online volunteering. Vollie projects are exclusively online, meaning that people can donate their skills and experience from anywhere in the world, and around their busy personal and professional schedule.
We support the great work that Vollie do and encourage anyone who would like to contribute to the sector to check out their platform.
Strategic Grants
Strategic Grants enables non-profit organisations to establish sustainable, cost-effective grant-seeking strategies to deliver projects that fulfil their organisational missions. They specialise in unlocking investments in trusts and foundations and have a product designed to help organisations secure this funding.
People for Purpose understand the importance of diversifying revenue streams for purpose-led organisations. We partner with Strategic Grants to build the capacity of non-profit organisations to apply strategic thinking to their service delivery and fundraising programs.
Australian Scholarships Foundation
The Australian Scholarships Foundation provides free or discounted executive management, mentoring and training programs and scholarships in a range of management disciplines to directors and staff of not-for-profit organisations.
People for Purpose works with ASF to identify and connect its network to relevant training opportunities and funding.
