Join our Leading Philanthropic Change Action Learning Set

Are you working within philanthropy and seeking to transform how power, resources, and impact are understood and practiced?

The philanthropic space is facing unique challenges that require new leadership to address. Whether navigating the complexities of wealth redistribution, questioning established power dynamics, examining your organization's role in systemic change, or reflecting critically on what true impact looks like beyond metrics.

Joining an Action Learning Set (ALS) creates a confidential space for you to step back alongside trusted peers who deeply understand your context. Together, you'll explore critical questions through reflective practice to develop collaborative approaches and build collective capacity to respond to these challenges. Apply below to join.

What is an Action Learning Set?

ALS are a simple and powerful way for people to learn from each other in community.  

This ALS will bring together peers from across the change-making sector in a confidential space. You will meet regularly (online and during working hours) and be guided by one of our team of skilled facilitators through a process to explore your challenges and hear reflections from people you trust. You’ll build your capability to ask powerful questions and gain fresh insights to bring to any challenge.

There is space for eight leaders in this set. Sessions will run from June - December 2025. Sessions are held online during work hours, for 90 mins each.

  • “Wow, what a powerful framework for learning - being in the hot seat was like nothing I've experienced before.

    It was so incredibly useful to have the group mind supporting to help move the thinking and reflections forward - not to mention the concrete actions I started to take literally the same afternoon and the motivational boost from having support and more clarity on the issue. All in all, it was very useful as a process and empowering for me as a social enterprise leader to drive forward change and begin to unstick a major issue.”

    Kate Clugston, Partnership Manager, Centre for Australian Progress

  •  “I have felt both supported and challenged and have had break-through realisations.

    I really value the non-judgemental and reflective space that is created in the Action Learning Set.  The value of the time, structure and relationships developed is immeasurable and critical to my role, the work of my organisation, and to the broader eco-system.”

    Jane Hunt, then-CEO, The Front Project

  • "My Action Learning Set has singlehandedly been the most significant professional development in my role.

    That wasn’t what I came to it for but that’s been the benefit and from that has come clarity of strategic purpose, shared opportunity and so much more and even to recognise the expertise we are sitting on. My senior team recognise what I’m getting from this group – it’s a huge and quite unique value.”

    Tessa Boyd, CEO ANROWS

What You'll Gain

By joining this ALS, you'll benefit from:

  • Small group, trusted peer support where deep relationships form—consistently highlighted as a key benefit by past participants

  • Evidenced-based expert facilitation helping you explore challenges in new ways, and guidance to step back and consider systems dynamics and the big picture

  • Fresh, actionable insights to apply to your most pressing challenges

  • Enhanced capability to ask powerful questions that unlock new perspectives

  • Confidential, open sharing environment where you can speak freely and learn from others' experiences

Meet your facilitators

May Miller-Dawkins - PRISM Founder

May has over 20 years experience working with community groups, social enterprises, for-purpose organisations, coalitions and social movements to support and understand effective and long-term social change efforts and build collective leadership capability. She is a highly skilled facilitator of catalytic discussions that identify pathways to impact and of action learning amongst leaders within or across sectors. 

May has led learning and impact development processes for Open Government Partnership (Washington DC), Transparency International (Berlin), Yuwaya Ngarra-li partnership between the Dharriwaa Elders Group and UNSW (Walgett & Sydney), The B Team (New York), WEDO (New York), Toitū Tahua (Tamaki Makarau/Auckland), White Box Enterprises (Brisbane) and many more. 

May is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the UNSW and a Fellow of the Centre for Policy Development. She holds a BA (Hons – Politics and International Relations) and LLB from UNSW and an LLM (Legal Theory) from NYU. 

May lives in Whakatū (Nelson), Aotearoa (New Zealand) with her partner, two sons and dog.

Jo Taylor - PRISM Founder

Jo has 25+ years of leading for-purpose organisations. Over her career, she has raised over $100m leading for-purpose organisations and has distributed more than $400m globally through philanthropic organisations. Jo is the inaugural CEO of the Siddle Family Foundation, a non-executive director of Philanthropy Australia, the inaugural Executive Chair of the Pay What it Takes initiative, a Leap Ambassador, and an advisor to numerous philanthropic organisations. 

This experience has given Jo a deep understanding of the challenges of building resilient organisations focusing on impact and a burning passion for leaders to do their best work and look after themselves. Jo has designed and led reflective leadership retreats and action learning programs for social change leaders, LGBTQI leaders, young leaders, social entrepreneurs, women, culturally and linguistically diverse leaders, directors and philanthropic leaders nationally and internationally.

Jo moves between Sydney and Bellingen, and lives on Gumbaynggirr land, with her partner and two sons.

Courtney Collins - PRISM Advisor

Courtney Collins is an author, screenwriter and producer. She has been practicing Action Learning for almost twenty years, applying it in learning environments for social entrepreneurs and creative writers.

Courtney holds a Master of Creative Writing and is completing a PhD titled 'Working Against Whiteness in Creative Literary Production’. Her first novel, The Burial, (Allen & Unwin 2012) was published in ten countries and shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Nita B Kibble Literary Award, NSW Premier's Literary Award for New Writing and the Stella Prize. The Burial is currently being adapted as a feature film. Her second novel, BIRD, will be published by Hachette in August 2024.

Courtney lived in the remote Northern Territory for eight years where she started Ngukurr Story Projects with local Indigenous artists and storytellers, before relocating to Gumbaynggirr Country on the Mid North Coast. Earlier in her career, Courtney worked at the School for Social Entrepreneurs where she facilitated action learning amongst early stage social entrepreneurs from across Australia. She presents and co-produces @areyoustillworkingpodcast and is passionate about storytelling as a driver of social change.

Apply now

There are 8 spaces available in each set. We will be running one or two sets in 2025.

The investment is $2500 AUD or NZD. We have scholarships available, particularly for those joining without organisational finance, or from historically excluded groups.

Please contact us to find out more.

The sessions will run from June - December with eight 90min online sessions, during work hours.