In health and medical research, and in purpose-driven organisations more broadly, the distinction between campaign urgency and campaign readiness is one that boards and executive teams rarely get right, and rarely get a second chance to correct.

Getting it wrong is not merely a fundraising setback. It can damage institutional credibility, exhaust leadership, and erode donor trust in ways that take years to repair.

The retraction of American foreign aid, the dismantling of USAID, and the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization have not merely created funding gaps, they have fractured the institutional scaffolding that the world built, over decades, to protect human health. For Australia, this global crisis arrives at a moment when our own domestic research funding is under quiet but serious pressure. The confluence of these forces makes one thing clear: philanthropy in health and medical research is no longer a generous supplement to government investment. It is an urgent necessity.

Following the sad news of Ted Turner’s death, our Founder and CEO, Ben Morton Wright, reflects on the visionary philanthropist whose landmark support for the United Nations helped redefine global giving, and whose 2017 letter to Talking Philanthropy remains as urgent and resonant today as it was then.

In London on 7th May 2026, Global Philanthropic will bring together some of the most influential voices in philanthropy, policy and humanitarian response for Talking Philanthropy London 2026, marking the first forum in its tenth anniversary year and setting the tone for a decade defined by action, not just intent.

Hosted in partnership with Altrata, this invitation only gathering will explore a central question facing the sector today. In a world of growing complexity, shifting power dynamics and structural inequalities, how can philanthropy deploy capital with greater discipline, purpose and impact?

Under the theme Beyond Aid: The Role of Philanthropy in a New World Context, the forum will examine how philanthropy can move beyond traditional models and embrace its role as risk capital, unlocking new approaches to resource mobilisation and long-term systemic change.

Earlier this year, Jean Sung had the honour of speaking before social workers, practitioners and cross-generational leaders of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, an institution with over seven decades of deep-rooted commitment to community care and social welfare. The challenges we face today, be it inequality, sustainability, or social resilience, are not short-term problems. They cannot be solved through isolated efforts or episodic generosity. They demand something more deliberate and intentional.

Since 2016, Talking Philanthropy has created space for honest, rigorous dialogue about the forces reshaping global philanthropy. Its strength lies in its community; philanthropists, advisers and leaders who are not simply funding change, but actively designing it.

In 2026, Talking Philanthropy enters a new chapter with a multi-city programme across key global markets, including Sydney and London, culminating in an annual summit in Geneva.

Global Philanthropic is pleased to announce that Jean Sung has joined its main board as a Non-Executive Director, effective 11th December 2025.

Jean is one of the most experienced philanthropic leaders in Asia, with a career spanning private wealth, corporate philanthropy, and cross-sector collaboration. This is a strategic and critical appointment for Global Philanthropic as the organisation continues to strengthen and grow its presence across Asia, a region of profound philanthropic ambition, complexity and opportunity.

How do families keep their values alive while everything around them changes?

In this episode, remarkable philanthropists and philanthropic leaders pull back the curtain on what legacy really means and it’s far more than a will or a foundation deed.

They talk about the quiet work: conversations at the family table, councils that keep everyone aligned, the courage to ask awkward questions, and the belief that giving with intention matters more than scale.

It’s a candid, thoughtful and very human look at how generosity is shaped across generations.

Our client, NORTH Foundation’s CEO, Gilbert Lorquet, recently visited 30 organisations across the US and uncovered a compelling model for transformational philanthropy.

We're delighted to share his insights as part of our ongoing commitment to sector-leading thought leadership.

Gil generously contributed a comprehensive article to F&P (Fundraising & Philanthropy) Magazine, where he distils his learnings into ten key insights that together form a blueprint for transformational change in Australian healthcare philanthropy.

Our Asia Pacific team is privileged to be working with the Burnet Institute across projects ranging from medical research to large-scale public health initiatives, for the more than 30 countries in which they work.

While we can’t always give donors a first-hand view of the difference their support can make, helping them feel that impact through powerful storytelling is often the next best thing. A recent first-time visit to Papua New Guinea gave Rob Daly, from Burnet Institute Australia, invaluable insight into two of the organisation’s flagship initiatives. This insight is now strengthening the way Burnet engages supporters and communicates the urgency of its work.