Who we are
Our story
The Kathleen Lumley Foundation was established to honour the values and spirit of Kathleen Lumley, whose life was one of generosity and intellectual curiosity with a strong belief in education as a force for good.
What began as a family legacy in the creation of Kathleen Lumley College has since grown into a philanthropic foundation dedicated to supporting people and ideas that contribute to a fairer society throughout our region of the world.
We take a thoughtful, long term view of philanthropy and our role in supporting positive social change.
Our values
Our people are united by a shared belief in:
The power of collaboration and community
Social equity and shared prosperity
The importance of excellence and innovation in the pursuit of impact.
Our people
The Foundation is guided by a volunteer Council and Committees whose members are drawn from Kathleen Lumley’s descendants, South Australia’s public universities and the broader community and bring a wealth of experience to the Foundation’s leadership. Together, they ensure the Foundation operates with integrity, transparency and a strong sense of purpose.
The Foundation is supported by a small executive team responsible for implementing the Foundation’s goals in collaboration with our partners.
Patron
- Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia
Council
Mrs Wendy Wills (Chairperson)
Professor Deborah Turnbull (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Nigel Stevenson (Treasurer)
Ms Nicole Borrelli
Associate Professor Virginie Masson
Mrs Julia McKay
Finance and investment committee
Mr Nigel Stevenson (Chairperson)
Mrs Julia McKay
Mrs Wendy Wills
Mr Ben Wilson
Scholarships criteria and assessment committee
Professor Deborah Turnbull (Chairperson)
Ms Nicole Borrelli
Professor Tim Cavagnaro
Associate Professor Sanjaya Kuruppu
Associate Professor Virginie Masson
Executive
Ms Jennifer Duncan
Ms Amy Orange
Life members
Our life members comprise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Foundation or Kathleen Lumley College.
- Mr Anthony Alfred Barker*
- Sir Henry Bolton Basten*
- Maxwell Richard John Brown A.A.S.A*
- Mr Ray Choate
- Professor David Laurence Clements CGSJ*
- Dr John Hewlett Coates*
- Dr Alex Cowie
- Mr Christopher Guy Gent
- Dr Geoffrey Sinclair Heithersay AO
- Mr Denis John How*
- Professor Charles Angas Hurst FAA*
- Dr John Francis Keeler AM
- Mr Henry Robert Lane Lumley*
- Mr Richard Edward Walter Lumley*
- Associate Professor Kathleen McEvoy
- Dr Edwin Harry Medlin*
- Professor David James Donald Nicholas*
- Dr Anthony Murray Parker
- Mr Colin Rex Phillips
- Dr John Martin Pickles*
- Ms Sue Pitman
- Mr Newell James Platten AM*
- Sir Rutherford Ness Robertson AC CMG FAA FRS FRSE*
- Ms Marilyn Elizabeth Ryan
- Miss Phillipa Barbara Walsh*
- Mr Peter Bayford Wells*
- Mr William John Agnew Wills AM*
*Deceased.
Our logo
The Foundation updated its logo in 2026, taking as the inspiration our original crest and motto ‘Strive to Attain’.
Our original crest was designed with interest and input by Kathleen Lumley. Symbols we have retained in our revised logo are:
- The gum tree (eucalypt): A distinctly Australian symbol of resilience and endurance, demonstrating our commitment to perpetuity and linking the Foundation to the Australian landscape and spirit.
- The sheep: Representing the Foundation’s local grounding and service to the state whilst also it symbolises the Foundation’s connection to charity and giving.
- The crossed torches of learning: Traditional emblems of knowledge, enlightenment, and scholarship, representing the illumination education provides.
- The Piping Shrike: Connecting the Foundation’s identity to its South Australian roots and reflecting its commitment to advancing South Australia’s role in the region.
- The wattle: Signifying resilience, renewal, and strength. As a symbol of the Australian spirit, it represents endurance through adversity, as wattles are known to thrive after bushfires and drought.
- Our motto, ‘Strive to Attain’: This encapsulates the Foundation’s guiding philosophy, which is a commitment to continual improvement, intellectual pursuit, and the attainment of excellence.