Lipski stepping down as CEO of Pratt Foundation
'The Pratt family is grateful to Sam for his magnificent work on behalf of the foundation’s philanthropic activities in Australia, Israel and internationally'.
ICONIC communal figure Sam Lipski has announced he is retiring from his long-running post as CEO of the Pratt Foundation, but will keep his ties to the foundation from next year in the role of special adviser.
Looking back on 21 years as CEO, and the previous 15 years as an adviser to the late Australian business titan Richard Pratt, Lipski, a former editor-inchief of The Australian Jewish News and acclaimed journalist in print and electronic media, said it had been an especially rewarding privilege to serve the Pratt family.
“The Pratts are a most generous, creative-minded, and visionary family. For more than 50 years, they’ve led by example in their philanthropic responsibilities to society at large, the Jewish community, and Israel,” he said.
Anthony Pratt, chair of packaging giant Visy, stated, “The Pratt family is grateful to Sam for his magnificent work on behalf of the foundation’s philanthropic activities in Australia, Israel and internationally.”
Pratt said he looked forward to Lipski maintaining his long-standing connection with the Australian Jewish community as the foundation’s special adviser.
Foundation chair Heloise Pratt paid tribute to Lipski’s commitment to strategic philanthropy. “Together with my mother Jeanne Pratt and sister Fiona Geminder, we’ve greatly valued Sam’s experience and advice.”
Signalling the ongoing commitment to philanthropy by the Pratt family, Visy, and the Pratt group of companies, Anthony Pratt’s chairman’s office will assume oversight for the Pratt Foundation’s future grant-making from January next year.
Group general manager Robert Kaye will be responsible for this new role, providing counsel and governance to the foundation and reporting to the chairman’s office.
comments