Our Business

Givewell was formed in 1997 to play a key role in fostering a better culture of giving in Australia. We do this by conducting research on charities and generating ideas on better ways to give. We also believe that more informed and generous giving will lead to a more accountable, efficient and effective charitable sector.

Our 3 key strategies are to: -

• specialise in gathering information about charities, foundations and community attitudes to giving;


• ensure that professional advice on donations and bequests becomes a normal part of financial, tax and estate planning services; and to
• help companies and grantmakers implement well constructed giving programs as part of their service to the community.

Our fundamental belief is that people would like to make more of a difference. We provide ideas and information on how this can be achieved, so that making a difference is made easy.

Givewell (Reg No: U410 0242) is the registered business name of Walsh Consultants Pty Limited (ABN: 53 082 145 775). Part of the Lifecraft Group, Givewell operates alongside other Business Units Ethical Investor and Corporate Monitor.

Our People

Michael Walsh is the executive director of the Lifecraft Group and publisher of Ethical Investor magazine. He holds a Master of Commerce at the University of NSW, and has over 30 years business experience which spans accounting, auditing, academic research and includes 15 years in investment analysis. He is also a non-executive director of Small Company Investment Manager Ltd and an executive director of Hunter Hall International Ltd.

Oliver Wagg is the managing editor of Ethical Investor. He previously edited UK-based Corporate Citizenship Briefing and was Europe editor of Agence France Presse's Global Ethics Monitor. Before venturing into sustainability journalism, Oliver held various positions at AFP’s English language financial news service AFX News, including economics editor and New York bureau chief. Oliver is a British citizen and graduate of the University of Kent at Canterbury with a BA and MA in economics.

Margaret Harlow is the Lifecraft Group general manager, and has been a Givewell and Corporate Monitor research analyst for several years before moving onto this role. She previously worked in the not-for-profit sector in the field of marine and coastal conservation and has a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Griffith University, Brisbane.

Janet Hudson is the Lifecraft Group office manager. Janet has a background spanning 13 years in bookkeeping in the childcare industry and four years as a store manager. Janet is the longest serving employee at Lifecraft.

Carolien Aleckson is a Givewell research analyst and arrived in Australia in 2007. She has worked in the Dutch education sector for several years as quality management coordinator at The Hague University. Carolien holds a Bachelor degree in Management, Economic and Law and a Master of Arts in Social & Cultural Science from the Free University in Amsterdam (Netherlands).