Who we are
Groundswell is a community of passionate people who fund and power strategic climate action.
Groundswell was co-founded in 2020 by three friends – Clare, Anna and Arielle – to accelerate climate action in Australia.
We started Groundswell because while we could see no shortage of people deeply concerned about the climate crisis and wanting to be part of change, many were unsure about how to make the biggest impact. We could also see there was no shortage of brilliant climate action out there, ready to scale up and deliver important change, but that most organisations were restricted by a critical lack of funding. So, we created Groundswell to join the dots.
Since our launch, Groundswell has grown into a powerful community committed to funding and accelerating strategic climate action in Australia.
In addition to grant making, Groundswell runs a renowned climate fellowship program for philanthropic, business and cultural leaders working to change the game on climate this decade.
Co-Founders & Team
Arielle Gamble, Co-founder & CEO
Over the past three years, Arielle has nurtured Groundswell into a nationwide community of people committed to funding and accelerating climate action.
She is passionate about harnessing the power of collaboration to create meaningful change, and about bringing new people and communities into the climate conversation.
Prior to Groundswell, Arielle co-founded and curated a group exhibition with some of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, All We Can’t See: Illustrating the Nauru Files. This national exhibition and impact campaign shed light on the unacceptable human cost of offshore detention. In a former career, Arielle was an award winning designer and art director, working between Australia and London.
Arielle is a Fellow of Australian Progress, a TEDx Sydney 2023 speaker, and a member of Arise Leadership circle, an initiative of ActionAid supporting women-led emergency preparedness and response across the Pacific with a long-term, transformative agenda.
Clare Herschell, Co-founder & Board Director
Clare is a connector, community builder, and co-founder of Groundswell. With a unique viewpoint as both a funder and fundraiser Clare is focusing all her energies on addressing climate change. She enjoys convening people for meaningful conversations, catalytic change, and describes herself as a ‘collector of good eggs’.
Prior to Groundswell, she founded the annual Heron Island Fellowship with Anna Rose, in partnership with the Climate Council. Clare has over 15 years experience in philanthropy and promotes the idea that ‘giving’ comes in many currencies, with unique power and purpose. Previously, she was Next Generation Development Manager for the Art Gallery of NSW where she founded the Atelier philanthropy program.
Clare is now a Director of the Art Gallery of NSW Foundation, as well as a Director of of the Board Trust for NSW National Parks. She is a member of the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network and the global Climate Reality Leadership Corps. She was a founding member of New Gen at Philanthropy Australia, and a delegate of the Nexus Global Youth Summit.
Anna Rose, Co-founder
Anna is an author and campaigner who has worked for over two decades to help Australia make progress on climate change. She is a Board member for Farmers for Climate Action, a Governor of WWF-Australia, author of the book Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic and co-star of the ABC documentary I Can Change Your Mind on Climate Change.
Anna is a Churchill Fellow, a former Myer Foundation Innovation Fellow, an Associate at Melbourne University Sustainable Society Institute and a Visiting Fellow at the ANU Climate Change Centre. She is an advisory board member of the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute and The Australian Geographic Society, and a former Director of Solar Citizens, Green Music Australia and the Aussie Farmers Foundation.
She is a former Australian Geographic Society Conservationist of the Year, was a finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards, and is the recipient of the Sierra Club’s Earthcare Award for International Environmental Protection. Anna co-founded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and was head of Earth Hour for WWF-Australia.
Jess Bineth, Head of Communications
Jess Bineth is a creative communicator with over ten years experience in journalism, podcasting and writing. She’s passionate about finding new ways to tell stories that challenge old power.
Prior to Groundswell, Jess co-founded Audiocraft, a podcast production studio, and was an audio documentary producer at the ABC. In these roles she’s told all kind of stories, from digging around Adelaide to get to the bottom of one of Australia’s biggest mysteries, to exploring the edges of our universe in an attempt to learn whether there is life beyond our planet.The podcast she’s most proud of is An Impossible Choice. A series for The Guardian Australia, it tells the stories of Pacific Islanders forced from their ancestral lands by escalating natural disasters. It was created in the lead up to COP26 and won a Covering Climate Now award for journalism.
At Groundswell Jess aims to share stories that inspire meaningful and just action on climate change.
Tishiko King, Caring for Country Grants Manager
Tishiko King is a proud Kulkalaig woman from the Island of Masig, Kulkalgal Nation of Zenadth Kes, and contributes to the Groundswell Giving team as their new Philanthropy and Engagement Officer.
Tish also spends her time working with Australian Communities Foundation as its First Nations Program Manager, and works across the Philanthropy & Impact team. Formerly, Tish worked as Campaigns Director at Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network and now supports the campaign Our Islands Our Home as an organiser. Based in Naarm, Tish is spirited about sharing culture and amplifying social inequality and the rights of First Nations people. During her studies in Ocean Science on the Gold Coast, Tish became passionate and actively involved with grassroots environmental groups and rallies across Australia and overseas.
In her personal time, Tish is a member of the Advisory Group for the Australian Museum Climate Solutions Centre. With experience across different industries at CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the exploration and minerals industry, Tish brings a diverse perspective of First Nations and environmental justice.
Stephen Pfeiffer, Major Giving Circle Manager
Stephen is a climate donor and impact investor, passionate about expanding climate philanthropy in Australia. He funds strategic advocacy and high-impact solutions to help accelerate the clean energy transition, whilst applying a justice-based approach.
Stephen is currently working with Groundswell, developing a Major Giving Circle for new climate action funders. He is also helping to establish an Australian version of Resource Generation, which aims to activate socially progressive young people of privilege to redress traditional power imbalances in philanthropy.
Stephen is a founding member of the Climate Capital Forum and a board member of Solar Citizens. Before changing careers to respond to the climate crisis, he worked in education for 12 years as a high school history and English teacher, then later in university student recruitment and enrichment.
Xanthe Barker, Administration & Events Officer
Xanthe is an accomplished events professional and arts administrator with over 7 years’ experience in the arts and entertainment industry.
Holding a Master of Art Curating, Xanthe has worn a number of hats in art galleries including curator, public programmer and exhibition installer. Xanthe loves community engagement and has a vibrant history of crafting unique activations and events with and for a variety of community stakeholders.
Before Groundswell, Xanthe produced the Yours & Owls Festival and found joy in fostering connections with local do-gooders, especially those championing environmental causes. A highlight was the VIPoo activation at Yours & Owls 2023, a collaboration with the Pootopia team who developed a luxury, educational, waterless toilet experience for festival go-ers.
Deeply caring about people, animals, and the planet, Xanthe brings her committed to seeing positive outcomes and uses her skills in engagement, programming and events to nurture a growing climate-conscientious community.
Board Directors
Anna Cerneaz, Chair
Passionate about the power of creativity and the certainty that natural ecosystem regeneration is doable. Started in oceanography, moved into performing arts management, cofounded Artology in 2011 to develop creative potential through experiential learning in the arts. Currently managing director of the Graeme Wood Foundation, Director of Wedgetail Foundation, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Spring Bay Mill - once home to the world's largest wood chip mill repurposed and rejuvenated as an events space for arts, music, politics and ecology.
Lille Madden, Director
Lille Madden is a proud Arrernte, Bundjalung and Kalkadoon woman from Gadigal Country in Sydney. She is a passionate conservationist, storyteller, and young climate leader. Lille is inspired to build upon the legacy of her grandfather, renowned Aboriginal rights activist the late Dr Charles Perkins AO.
Lille has worked across multiple fields in conservation from being a keeper at Taronga Conservation Society on the Australian Fauna Precinct to studying in Conservation and Land Management. For the past 3 years she has volunteered with Seed Indigneous Youth Climate Network to build a movement of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people standing up for climate justice.
Lille was the presenter and co-writer for a 3 part documentary produced by ABC Indigenous called Healing Country, where she travels around Australia talking to young Traditional Owners. She is currently a member of the Board of Common Ground, a First Nations-led not-for-profit amplifying knowledge, cultures and stories.
Lille has a deep sense of responsibility and love for the protection and preservation of our natural and cultural heritage for a just and sustainable future.
Eleanor Gammell, Director
Eleanor is a Programs Curator, bringing people together to explore impact and ideas defining our time.
Eleanor was most recently the Head of Programs at Small Giants Academy, co-creating immersive learning journeys including the Mastery of Business and Empathy, Impact Safaris to Israel and Palestine, Bhutan and the Tarkine rainforest, as well as various deep dive courses exploring the interplay of wisdom and action required as we work to create a hopeful future.
Eleanor was also the Managing Director of The School of Life Australia, a platform for exploring emotional intelligence through culture and ideas for everyday living which staged ambitious programs with thought leaders across the country.
In addition to two incredible kids, Eleanor and her husband Dan created First Light, a climate-focused impact investing company to support businesses doing transformational work for our planet. She is also co-chair of the Atelier Council at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Tony Albert, Director
Drawing on both personal and collective histories, Tony Albert is one of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary artists. His multidisciplinary practice considers the ways in which optimism might be utilised to overcome adversity. His work poses crucial questions such as how do we remember, give justice to, and rewrite complex and traumatic histories? Albert’s commitment to connecting and collaborating with other Indigenous artists and the wider community within his practice, has made him an integral part of Australia’s visual arts sector and the wider Australian community. This commitment was recently acknowledged by Griffith University who awarded him an honorary doctorate for his achievements in the arts.
Albert has extensive experience in leading projects of scale, working with communities and teams. His experiences include being the first Indigenous artist on the board of trustees for the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a member of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Indigenous advisory, a board member for the City of Sydney’s Public Art Panel and member of the Queensland Children’s Hospital Arts in Health committee.
Hannah Skrzynski, Director
Hannah is the Co-Founder of Better Bribe, an Australian startup providing a range of nutritious, functional and fun snacks for kids. Hannah is also an experienced creative producer, with a strong interest in cross-cultural engagement. She has extensive background working in the Australia – Asia cultural field, and is a fluent Mandarin and French language speaker.
Hannah founded and led Creative Asia- an agency building cultural partnerships, arts projects, and engagement strategies between arts organisations in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Prior to that she held roles with the Culture and Public Affairs Office at the Australian Embassy, Beijing, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Walkley Foundation, and the Woollahra festival of Arts and Ideas.
In the philanthropic sector, Hannah is actively involved with, and passionate about a range of causes across the creative arts, climate action, and human rights.
She is a current Board Director of Groundswell Giving, a committee member of the Atelier, Art Gallery of NSW, and a Director of the Sky Foundation.
Hannah currently lives in Sydney with her husband James Hutchinson, and their three young kids.
Emma Bones, Director
Emma Bones is the General Manager of the Sydney Environment Institute at the University of Sydney. With a background in consulting and the not-for-profit sector, she has broad ranging skills across operations, strategy and finance. She has worked as a management consultant, developing strategies and designing operating models for government agencies and not-for-profits, and held senior roles in charities with a focus on building impactful and sustainable organisations. Emma’s previous roles include as Director, Ideas at the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, in management consulting at Nous Group and in Sustainability and Climate Change consulting at PwC. Emma is also on the board of the Local and Independent News Association and is a registered Chartered Accountant.
Current Grants Advisors
Jane Thomas
Jane has worked across the for-purpose, government and consulting sectors for 25 years. Her current role is Program Manager at The Myer Foundation & Sidney Myer Fund, where she has responsibility for the sustainability and environment program. A grantmaking focus in the current period is supporting organisations that seek to influence action on climate change.
Prior to this role, Jane was Executive Officer of Aussie Farmers Foundation, managing a grantmaking program supporting rural, regional and remote communities across a number of areas including disaster relief and recovery and sustainability.
Jane came to philanthropy after many years working in strategic communications and media management in a range of non-profit organisations including national youth mental health foundation headspace, SunSmart at Cancer Council Victoria, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund and youth homelessness charity Ladder.
Claire O’Rourke
Claire O’Rourke is an author, environmentalist and advocate, with more than two decades working in journalism, communications and campaigns across Australia and around the world. Claire helps others take action on climate change, currently as Australia Program Director for Social Movements at The Sunrise Project. Claire's first book, Together We Can, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2022.
Previously Claire was National Director of Solar Citizens, a community-led renewable energy advocacy organisation. A former journalist, Claire has extensive experience advocating for social impact, including driving communications for the Every Australian Counts campaign for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and as a senior leader at Amnesty International Australia.
Claire’s father worked at coal fired power stations all his career, and now she spends her days working on how we can replace them in time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and ensure that workers, communities and First Nations peoples share the benefits as the world quickly moves to clean, renewable energy.
Hasmukh Chand
Hasmukh Chand is a Strategist for Climate, Energy, Policy and Politics at Climate Action Network Australia.
Hasmukh has over ten years of experience working in the environmental movement in a diverse range of national and global campaigns. He holds a degree in Environmental Science (with Honours) as well as a degree in International Studies, majoring in Government Relations and Environmental Studies.
Hasmukh also volunteers as a frontline responder, and over the last ten years, has assisted many communities affected by natural disasters. He draws on his professional, tertiary and volunteering experiences in his work as Climate Action Network Australia's Climate Energy Policy and Politics strategist, helping to coordinate movement-wide advocacy to help lift and deliver Federal ambition on climate change.
As a Pacifika diaspora, he also seeks to centre climate and environmental justice within the mainstream movement.
Former Grants Advisors
Karrina Nolan
Karrina is from Yorta Yorta nation and is the Executive Director of Original Power.
Eytan Lenko
Eytan is a founder of Outware, one of Australia’s most awarded and fastest growing technology companies. Through his involvement with Beyond Zero Emissions, he has a deep knowledge of the current state of our energy transition.
Dr Rebecca Huntley
Rebecca is one of Australia’s foremost researchers on social trends. She is the author of numerous books including How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference.
Rathana Chea
Rathana is the CEO of Multicultural Leadership Initiative and has spent the last 20 years living and working across 5 continents campaigning at the intersection between human rights and climate change.
Karen Kandur
Karen brings deep experience in financial and operational expertise to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Environmental Leadership Australia.
Andrew Higham
Andrew was in charge within the UN from 2011-2016 in driving the strategy for reaching a universal, legally binding climate agreement. He drafted the Paris Agreement and each of the decisions on the road to Paris from the Durban Mandate at COP 17.