Australian Philanthropic Services has announced the appointment of Lisa George as its next chief executive officer, with the appointment confirmed on 3 September 2026. George will commence with APS early in the new year, succeeding current chief executive Judith Fiander, who will retire from the role in February 2027 after leading the organisation through a period of significant growth.
APS chair Jan Swinhoe said George brought exceptional leadership experience across financial services, philanthropy and purpose led organisations, with a strong track record of leading growth, building high performing teams and delivering outcomes for stakeholders. Swinhoe said Australia was experiencing one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in its history, creating significant opportunities to grow philanthropy, and that George's combination of commercial acumen, strategic insight and passion for purpose made her the right leader to guide APS through its next phase of growth.
From the boardroom to the top job
George joined the APS board as a non-executive director in July 2026. She has been with Macquarie Group since 2010 and is the global head of the Macquarie Group Foundation, which drives social impact for the group through programs including Macquarie Gives and Future Ready, with employee engagement central to its work. She is a former co-chair and current member of the Philanthropy Australia board and a director at For Purpose Investment Partners. She also chairs the Harvard Club of Australia Ferris Family Non-profit Fellowship, which awards two scholarships annually for Australian non-profit chief executives to attend Harvard Business School. George holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.
George said she was honoured to join APS at an important time for philanthropy in Australia. She said APS had built an outstanding reputation as a trusted partner for generous Australians, their advisers and the charitable sector, and that she looked forward to building on that foundation and working with the team to expand the organisation impact in the years ahead.
A record year for giving
Swinhoe thanked Fiander for her contribution to APS and the broader philanthropic sector, saying she had led the organisation with integrity, purpose and a deep commitment to helping Australians give more effectively. Fiander said she was proud of what APS had achieved during her tenure, including supporting clients to distribute a record 250 million dollars to charity in the 2026 financial year. She said it had been a privilege to work alongside dedicated colleagues, clients and partners, and that she looked forward to supporting a smooth transition.
Australian Philanthropic Services describes itself as the country leading independent, not for profit provider of philanthropic services, helping individuals, families and advisers establish and manage structured giving programs. APS now supports more than 1,200 clients who have committed over 3.1 billion dollars to the community through structures it administers, including private ancillary funds and named giving funds within the APS Foundation.
