About Foundation 1901
Where the Murray meets the sea (and the outcomes of the negotiated decision making of SA, NSW, Victoria and the Commonwealth can be fully realised)
We, the people of Australia
Foundation 1901 was established in October 2014 to recognise 125 years since Henry Parkes’ Tenterfield Oration speech and to commemorate 200 years since Parkes’ birth on 27 May 2015.
Since 2015, John Downer, Thomas Playford, Robert Garran, George Reid John Forrest, Alfred Deakin, Samuel Griffith and Edmund Barton have seen anniversary dates in addition to various significant Federation-related occasions.
Much more can and should be done to recognise a broader and more diverse representation of our Federation’s past.
Inaugural Directors
Jane Reyonlds
Jane Reyonlds
The Federation’ is Jane’s passion.
She has worked extensively on the practical issues of Federation and she has dedicated the decadeto the research of Australia’s Federation past and present through the eyes of its founders and its many scholars and practitioners across law, economics, politics and history.
The past however is of little value unless we choose to hear its lessons and choose to take responsibility for our futurein our time. Do we keep it, tinker with it or ditch it?Jane is a public policy professional, trained investigator and researcher with a 25 year career in government relations and regulation with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, through industry associations and private consulting.
Through all aspects of her career, Jane has prioritised the key role of stakeholders’ interests in informing these processes. Similarly Jane’s focus for the Federation and through Foundation 1901 is on re-engaging Australians with their Federation and generatingunderstanding and pride intheir role in its achievement in 1901and generating an aspiration for our future.
Jane holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and a Masters of Commerce from the University of New South Wales. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dennis O’Neill
Dennis O’Neill
“But, after all the law claims to be, and is, the sublimation of common sense, and it is an article of faith with me that there is nothing in the Constitution or its history that is incapable of comprehension of an attentive mind really interested in public affairs”
Robert Garran (1958) Prosper the Commonwealth
Dennis O’Neill’s skills and experience perfectly reflect the diversity of perspectives necessary to engage with Australia’s Federation and therefore oversee the objectives of Foundation 1901; large/small, high level strategy/technical detail, public policy/private objectives. Above all, he is committed to the belief that whatever successes have gone before, we must always strive for better.
Dennis has over 50 years experience across technical, policy, commercial and advocacy roles many intersecting with broader consultations of taxation, environment, indigenous affairs, energy, infrastructure, regulation, nuclear policy and disarmament and resource development. His resource sector experience frequently involved him at the interface between State and Commonwealth interests and obligations.
As Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council for Infrastructure Development (AusCID), Dennis took a lead role in transforming public understanding and government attention to the importance of infrastructure to everyday life. He held this position for 11 years.
In an era of professional specialisation, the common thread through Dennis’ career is his ability to ‘translate’ between different interests and perspectives of complex negotiations toward common objectives.
Dennis has previously held directorships in both listed and unlisted public companies and the not-for-profit sector. He is currently the Managing Director of Resource Future Pty Limited providing strategic advisory, project management and advocacy consulting.
Dennis has academic qualifications in science (chemistry and biochemistry).
Allan Castleman
Allan Castleman
Alan Castleman brings extensive governance experience and a commitment to the role of Australians in Australia’s Federation to the Foundation 1901 Board.
He has been a professional company chairman, director and advisor for the last 20 years across listed, mutual, non-listed public, government, private and not-for-profit organisations. This followed a 24 year career with BHP Limited, the last decade as a senior executive in financial and general management roles.
From 1993 to 2012, Alan was the Chairman of Australian Unity, the modern corporate face of the Australian Natives Association (ANA) established in 1871. As “the most historically influential friendly society in Australia”1 the ANA became a driving force for the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901.
He is presently Chairman of The Board Advisory Group and previously, the Australian Unity Foundation and the Australian Centre for Health Research (ACHR).
Alan has academic qualifications in engineering and economics.
Annual Reports
Funding
Consistent with the long-standing Australian folklore of self sufficiency, Foundation 1901 will be funded through majority non-government sources. It was granted charity status in 2014 and non-enduring DGR status in 2019 until 2021. Further DGR arrangements for 2021 onwards have indicative approval.
The establishment of the Foundation, while important, is a starting point in generating a much needed permanent national discussion about our Federation that will, of necessity, include many voices and interests.