The Australian Women's Register

Marion Webster was the founding Executive Director of the Australian Association of Philanthropy (now Philanthropy Australia) from 1988-91. She led ANZ Charitable Trusts for over 5 years, first as National Manager, then Manager Corporate Relations.

In 1997, Marion was a founding director of the Melbourne Community Foundation (MCF), Australia’s first independent community foundation. Funds from MCF are directed to meeting areas of community need identified through research, community consultation and discussion. After five years of operation the Foundation could boast a capital of $12 million. By 2006 it had 83 named sub-funds, one of which – EastWeb – is co-managed by Marion’s son, Alistair.

Marion has worked in the areas of child, family, and migrant welfare and advocacy. She serves on the boards of a number of community organisations in welfare, the arts, medical research, international relations and philanthropy. She was a founding director of Community Foundations of Australasia, and now chairs the Disability Employment Action Centre (DEAC).

Marion spent nine months as Locum Director for Community Foundation Network in the United Kingdom and recently completed a Senior Fellowship with the City University of New York, studying community foundation sustainability. In August 2006 she spoke at the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) Congress about opportunities for community sector collaboration.