about
Founded in 1912 by Eliza Hall with a donation of £1,000,000, the original Trust was created to offer meaningful help to people in urgent need.
It was shaped by Eliza and her husband Walter’s deep belief that giving should be personal, purposeful and grounded in the realities of hardship.
That belief continues to guide every decision we make today.
Her vision was simple: direct, practical help for Australians in hardship.
More than a century later, we still believe in the impact of grassroots giving.
Our Vision
An Australia free of acute financial stress.
Our Mission
Continue to provide rapid relief to individuals grappling with acute or chronic financial strain whilst partnering with organisations to address its causes.
Our Purpose
To provide direct relief to individuals experiencing acute financial distress via the provision of small grants.
To partner with organisations addressing the social issues which lead individuals into acute or chronic financial distress.
Team
Anne Schumacher-Carson – Chairperson
Anne has over 40 years of experience in the business sector, including 23 years in banking. Her range of senior and Executive roles whilst at Westpac included Director, Westpac Staff Superannuation Plan (1996-1999) and Trustee of the Buckland Fund/Westpac Foundation (1994-1999). Anne joined the Board in 2016 and took the position of Chair in 2021.
Irene Rusak - Director
Irene was an accomplished General Counsel and Company Secretary for over 20 years in Transport in New South Wales. Prior to that she had a legal career as a Commercial Litigator. Irene now is a Chair and Member of a number of New South Wales Government agencies Audit and Risk Committees. Irene joined The Hall Foundation as a Director in 2022 and is proud to be associated with The Hall Foundation.
Rachel Findlay – Director
Rachel is a philanthropic leader with over 15 years’ experience in Australia and the UK. She currently leads the Next Horizon Initiative at the Siddle Family Foundation, supporting place-based, community-led philanthropy. Previously, she was Executive Director at Philanthropy Australia, leading national engagement across 1,000+ members. Rachel has advised families on high impact giving at Australian Philanthropic Services and held senior roles at Social Ventures Australia, the Social Impact Hub, and NPC in London. A Chartered Accountant (ACA), she began her career at PwC and brings strategic insight, analytical rigour, and deep sector expertise to all she does.
Kristine Anderson - director
Kristine is an experienced leader with a strong track record across purpose-driven and corporate sectors. She has held senior roles at Social Ventures Australia, the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network, and The Nature Conservancy Australia, and previously led Marketing at Strategy&, PwC’s consulting arm, across Asia. Her work spans philanthropy, strategy, and marketing, with a focus on social equity and environmental conservation. Kristine currently serves as a Board Director of Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Business.
Robert Minter – Director
Robert is a solicitor. Prior to setting up his own practice he was a partner of Minter Ellison, Solicitors, a position he held for 30 years. A Trustee since 2000, he continues the Minter family’s dedicated involvement with The Hall Foundation. His father, also Robert, was a Trustee.
Cathy Hockey - director
Cathy has been working in the not-for-profit sector for the past 17 years. Cathy has experience developing and delivering programs for marginalised communities and working directly with vulnerable groups. This includes adults and children with disability, people from rural and remote areas of Australia and First Nations peoples. Cathy has built a jobs-focused social enterprise, Bushlink, and led the growth of Royal Far West’s (RFW) National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) program, Windmill. More recently Cathy spent 3 years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northside Enterprise Incorporated. Cathy started her career in banking and is a certified Organisational Coach, mentor and facilitator.
