Pledge 1% is proud to announce the launch of its first dedicated country team outside of the United States — in Australia, one of the movement’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions.
Australia has been central to the Pledge 1% story from its very inception. The co-founder of Atlassian, Scott Farquhar, now Chair of Pledge 1%’s board, co-founded the movement nearly a decade ago. Since then, more Australian companies, including Atlassian, Canva, Airwallex, Culture Amp, Employment Hero, and many others, have woven social impact into their business models by pledging equity, profit, product, or employee time. Today, over 1,800 companies across Australia are part of a global community of 19,000+ Pledge 1% members in 130 countries — collectively unlocking billions of dollars and tens of thousands of hours of employee time for benevolent causes.
The establishment of a dedicated team signals the next chapter: deepening support for members, accelerating growth, and providing a blueprint for Pledge 1%’s future global expansion. By localizing resources and relationships while leveraging the strength of the U.S. team, the new Australian office will offer an enhanced experience for current and future members, driving greater community impact.
Leadership for the Next Phase
The team will be led by Antonia Ruffell, appointed as Managing Director, Australia, for Pledge 1%. Antonia brings over 20 years of philanthropic leadership experience to the role. She will split her time between this new appointment and her current position as CEO of StartGiving, a nonprofit founded by Daniel Petre AO to inspire a culture of personal giving among Australia’s tech founders and executives.
“I’m excited to lead Pledge 1% in Australia at such a pivotal time,” said Antonia Ruffell. “With more than 1,800 members already active here, the opportunity to deepen support and inspire even more companies to pledge is enormous.”
Building on Strong Roots
The extensive groundwork laid by the longstanding partnership between Pledge 1% and the Atlassian Foundation made this milestone possible, as well as the support of the Skip Foundation (Scott Farquhar’s family foundation). The Atlassian and Skip Foundations continue their commitments to Pledge 1% with this expansion. Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht also recently joined the Pledge 1% Global Visionary Council, further underscoring Australia’s outsized role in shaping the future of corporate impact worldwide.
“When we co-founded Pledge 1%, the idea was simple: make giving back a core part of building a company from day one,” said Scott Farquhar, Atlassian co-founder and Chair of the Pledge 1% board. “I’m proud to see that vision flourish in Australia, with a dedicated team supporting the next wave of founders and companies who will lead with impact.”
A Blueprint for Global Growth
The launch of Pledge 1% Australia is more than a regional investment — it represents a model for how the movement will scale globally in the years to come. By combining the reach of a global movement with the power of localized leadership, resources, and community, Pledge 1% is creating a blueprint for embedding impact into business norms everywhere.
“Australia has always been at the heart of Pledge 1%’s story,” said Amy Lesnick, CEO of Pledge 1%. “With its vibrant startup ecosystem, strong leadership, and appetite to accelerate philanthropy, Australia is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how companies can multiply their impact — a blueprint for how we’ll grow globally.”
As we look to the next decade, Australia’s dedicated team will help unlock even greater potential for companies of all sizes to join the movement, integrate giving into their DNA, and amplify the ripple effects of impact at scale.
