ALTERNATIVE FUTURE FOUNDATION
The Alternative Future Foundation began as a fundraising night in 2002 for "Cure Our Kids". Three co-founders of the event – Steve Howell, Damien Hatfield and Kim Ivey - with the assistance of the then CEO of Cure Our Kids, Carolyn Dodds, created a music themed night called 'Hedge Funds Rock'. Its objective was to raise the awareness of the Australian hedge fund community away from internal issues and towards a charity that needed financial assistance, all the while having a fun filled night but convening for a wider social giving purpose.
Over the next sixteen years, the event went from strength to strength in terms of attendees, new formats, new locations and money raised. Nearly $4Million was raised for charitable causes over this period. Cure Our Kids merged with Redkite in 2015 which became the new directed charity of Hedge Funds Rock. It became clear during this time that hedge funds managers and all the service providers in the wider alternative investment industry, supported the single fundraising night, but were keen to broaden and develop the structure into a more sustainable philanthropic organisation.
Planning for the foundation began in 2018 with the knowledge that there was a growing need across the charitable spectrum in Australia for more funding. A decision was made by the Hedge Funds Rock Committee in 2017 to establish guidelines for researching other charities who met the criteria, and these are the ones we see today.
The aim of The Alternative Future Foundation is to help build positive alternative futures for disadvantages Australians and their families. We do this by choosing well governed charities who work at the community level where our donations can make a meaningful and measurable difference in the lives of the beneficiaries.
With the assistance of Hedge Funds Rock's auditor Deloitte and our legal adviser MinterEllison, several months of planning, recruiting and compliance checks resulted in the Foundation being formed and approved as a registered charity with the ACNC in July 2018.
FOUNDING TRUSTEES OF AFF
KIM IVEY
Kim is the Founder of Vertex Capital Advisers, now a family office borne out of the original Vertex Capital Management, Australia’s first Market Neutral hedge fund manager. Kim is the Chairman of the Foundation’s Investment Committee, a co-Founder of Hedge Funds Rock, a founding judge of the Aust. Alternative Investment Awards, and a past Chairman of AIMA Australia.
NELSON LAM
Nelson is Deputy Chairman and one of the Founding Trustee Directors of the Alternative Future Foundation. Nelson is also the Asia Pacific Partner for Berkshire Global Advisors and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
MARK BENNETT
Mark is the Managing Director of Citco Fund Services Australia and member of The Alternative Investment Management Association.
SIMON IBBETTSON
Simon is a Director and Responsible Manager at Eternal Wealth Group.
MICHAEL GALLAGHER
Michael is Director of AIMA Australia and Chairman of Fat Prophets Global Contrarian Fund.
michael@alternativefuturefoundation.org.au
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