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Lenity Australia is a not for profit philanthropic organisation financing medical research and clinical care projects in Australia.

In addition, humanitarian support programmes and relief for victims of war and natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific. Whilst Lenity does not seek donations from the public, the charity provides funding that meets the requirements of the Australian Government. Lenity is accredited with the Australian Taxation Office for tax deductibility.

Our History

Lenity Australia Ltd changed its name from Chatswood Community Care Association Ltd in 2015. The Association previously operated the Chatswood Community Nursing Home in Victoria Avenue Chatswood, which closed in 2014.

In 1904, Dr W.R. Olver commenced a medical practice at the site when the property was known as “Quarry Lodge”. He renamed the house “Ventongymps” after a village in Cornwall near where he was born. Following his death in 1923, Dr Olver bequeathed Ventongymps for charitable purposes. Kuring-gai Community Hospital opened there in 1927. The hospital became Chatswood Community Hospital in 1965 and closed in 1989. In 1992, Ventongymps re-opened as Chatswood Community Nursing Home.

Our Objectives

Lenity Australia supports disaster relief programs which improve the livelihood of people affected by serious health issues and a range of social issues. It achieves its objectives through the provision of research, health promotion projects, education, and support to the destitute and exploited, particularly women and girls.

Lenity Australia will only support compliant relief and care programs in Australia and developing countries that are approved by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Lenity Australia promotes the prevention and control of diseases in human beings by ;

(a) funding and supporting medical research and scientific advances in the prevention, control and treatment of such diseases;

(b) funding and supporting the training of nurses, doctors and other medical personnel in the prevention, control and treatment of such diseases; and

(c) funding and supporting relief programs, such as clean water, sanitation and hygiene, that promote the prevention and control of such diseases

LENITY BOARD MEMBERS

Geoff Henry

Chairman

In 2015, Geoff Henry undertook the role as a founding director of Lenity Australia and, in 2019 he became the Chairman. Prior to that he was a director of the Chatswood Community Nursing Home and was actively engaged in the proposed redevelopment of the site, which ultimately culminated in the rezoning and sale of the site in Chatswood. He had an honorary role at North Sydney Catholic Parish, serving for six years on its Building Committee, whilst undertaking a significant building programme which included a school hall and administrative centre, housing and restoration of heritage buildings. Geoff studied Civil Engineering at the UNSW and later opened up his own successful Engineering Consultancy practice. His passion for Lenity and the good work the charity does both in NSW and overseas is inspiring and, as Chairman of Lenity, he works tirelessly to ensure the charity grows from strength to strength in order to help as many people in need as possible.

Harry Bunton

Deputy Chairman

Harry is a seasoned strategist and advocate who brings extensive experience to Lenity Australia. Educated at institutions including the London Business School, the Royal Military College of Australia, Sydney University, and the University of New South Wales, Harry believes in the transformative power of research and education in addressing health and humanitarian challenges. Being half Burmese, he has a profound interest in humanitarian support in Asia, particularly Myanmar (Burma). As a father of two young children, Harry is also deeply passionate about children’s health. In addition to his role at Lenity Australia, Harry serves on the board of The Information Rights Project and is a member of the Australian leadership team at multinational management consulting firm, Strategy&.

Lou Collins

Board Member

Lou is an experienced, successful and trusted finance executive. Lou has been a key executive in building company culture, profitability and growth, predominantly in the media industry. Her roles have required management of varied and complex business issues and project management, spanning funding, development, production, operations, finance and government rebates. Lou brings to Lenity her professional experience, financial skills and advanced communication skills. Lou’s appreciation of the importance of project funding, management of funds and ability to communicate with non-financial stakeholders, is key to maximising funding available and is also vitally important in dealing with requests for funding the amazing projects Lenity supports. Lou has a degree in Economics from the University of Sydney.

Bridget Smyth

Board Member

For the last 30 years Bridget, a multi award winner, has pursued a career in urban design/architecture on major public domain and infrastructure projects in Australia and the USA. She has a Masters in Urban Design Studies from Harvard as well as a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Planning & Design from Melbourne University. Currently, she is City Architect/Executive Manager Design and Public Art for the City of Sydney and manages a range of urban design, strategic and special projects, including the Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 vision. She also manages the City’s Design Advisory Panel and Public Art Advisory Committee. Bridget sits on several other boards and is a founding member of the Australian Institute of Architects Venice Biennale Organising Committee. Her experience in managing large-scale projects and advisory panels helps to guide the charity in strategic decision-making.

Ray Kusturin

Board Member

After graduating as a civil engineer with First Class Honours from UTS, I have served the community as a structural engineer and managing director of a successful engineering consultancy for over 40 years. As a structural engineer I was always engaged in the team driven nature of working with varied and diversified professionals, delivering practical and cost effective building solutions to benefit the entire community. As a director of Lenity I am able to leverage from my career in the building industry, to work with my team of fellow directors to deliver positive philanthropic outcomes for our benefactors. As an engineer I have always had a great passion and interest for science and medical research and the ability of science to improve the lives of those less fortunate. It is with great privilege that I am able to engage with my passion and work with the team at Lenity to deliver funding for medical research, clinical care projects and assistance for child welfare programs in developing countries throughout Asia and the Pacific.

Lenity Investment Policy

LENITY AUSTRALIA LTD (ACN 003026515) is an unlisted Non-Profit Australian Public Company, Limited by Guarantee. Lenity Australia Limited was previously known as Chatswood Community Care Association Limited which was established in December 1985.

Lenity Australia Limited’s objectives as set out in Clause 2 of the Constitution (Objects) are to financially support health, harm and care programs within the Australasian area that directly benefit people who are recognizably in necessitous circumstances & need significant benevolence by providing relief from poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, disability, destitution & helplessness with a particular emphasis on:

● Women & children at risk who are in necessitous circumstances.

● Children with disabilities, especially in terms of their access to education & programs aimed at

achieving self-reliance.

● Gender equality, which is a human right and a key to good development moving forward.

Lenity’s Investment and Spending Policy is established to govern the prudent investment of funds and is to be read in conjunction with the Lenity Finance and Investment Committee Charter which establishes the roles and responsibilities of the Board, the Finance and investment Committee, and the Investment Advisers. Each document is subject to annual review and approval by the Lenity Board.

Lenity Australia Limited is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the investment of funds is properly managed. The Board has delegated authority to the Finance and investment Committee for the establishment and execution of investment strategies with respect to these funds as set out in section Responsibilities and in accordance with this Investment and Spending Policy Statement

Investment Funds at the date of this document are approximately $21m.

Lenity’s medium-term objective is to distribute ~4% of Capital per annum

●60% to Health Promotion Charities (HPC) and

●40% to Public Benevolent Institutions (PBI)

Lenity’s commitment to fund charitable causes are not contractual and Lenity’s operating expenses are very modest. As a consequence, the Lenity Board has approved a relatively “high” financial tolerance for investment risk, and can afford a relatively high degree of exposure to illiquid investments.

The objectives of Lenity’s investment portfolio are to protect the asset base in real terms by adopting a prudent investment strategy constrained by acceptable measures of risk. Specifically:

manage the likelihood of a 12% decline to a less than 1 in 20 probability
achieve a Target Net Return of CPI plus 4.0% over a rolling long-term investment horizon
optimise the risk and return characteristics of the portfolio by diversification
maintain a long-term, in perpetuity, investment outlook

This policy is governed by investment beliefs including those of:

thoughtful governance, disciplined process, and tailored strategy
a primary focus on the management of risk
maintaining a static risk level afforded by the long-term outlook with no market timing
diversification
a philosophy regarding fees
managing alignment and conflict

ESG, responsible and impact investment principles. For example, Lenity has allocated to an Impact Fund

The process results in an allocation to approximately 80% Growth Assets and 20% Defensive Assets and represents a risk budget that is expected to be approximately 65-75% of the equivalent risk of equities. Measures of this degree of risk include forward looking measures based on assumptions and backward-looking measures based on history and incorporate risks of illiquidity, currency variation and leverage.

The performance of the portfolio is monitored on a regular basis with formal performance reporting prepared against a relevant, weighted benchmark on a quarterly and annual basis including a review of all assumptions.

Lenity’s financial assets are held in custody. Lenity has engaged an independent external investment advisor as a fiduciary who is able to provide evidence of a sustainable un-conflicted business model and fee structure and demonstrate alignment with Lenity’s objectives. See: https://www.njrpartners.com/