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Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
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  Making small, regular donations to The Smith Family through Workplace Giving is an easy way to help change the lives of young Australians living in poverty.
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Kristy Muir: How to create social change that sticks

the smith family podcast conversations episode how to create social change that sticks with doug taylor and kristy muir

What are the right ingredients for collaboration? ... What's the most material collaboration for change? It's when you can pick the people that have the most care factor in whatever that issue area is and who have the most influence for that change. And they're not always the people we agree with.

Professor Kristy Muir, social impact, philanthropy, and systems change leader

What does it take to shift the systems that shape our lives — so communities can thrive? In this episode, Professor Kristy Muir joins us to explore how real change happens — through purpose-led leadership, listening to diverse perspectives and good collaboration.

Kristy is a social impact, philanthropy and systems change leader who has spent decades tackling tough social challenges that hold us back. Today, she is CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Professor of Social Policy at UNSW Sydney Business School and Chair of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia.

She shares why children, families and communities must be at the heart of every solution — and how valuing local knowledge, first-hand insights and experience leads to better outcomes. From the social justice lessons learned at her grandmother’s kitchen table to boardrooms and beyond, Kristy’s work is driven by a powerful idea: to be a good ancestor — someone building a better future for generations to come.

Conversation highlights

Kristy talks to Doug about:

[1:27] What education means to her
[6:14] The levers for creating real social change
[10:09] Learning to be a good leader
[13:40] The importance of listening to all kinds of perspectives
[15:31] The right ingredients for great collaboration
[20:58] Purpose, what sustains her and being a good ancestor of the future

Watch the full conversation below via YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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