Latest news with #WedgetailFoundation
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Aussie Billionaire Follows Gates' Lead, Pledges $7 Billion for Environmental Action
The co-founder of multinational software giant Canva has pledged to give away most of his wealth—estimated at nearly $7 billion—for environmental causes. Cameron Adams and his wife Lisa Miller joined the Giving Pledge, a global philanthropic commitment founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett. Their decision was revealed on May 20 in a letter made available to The Epoch Times. The couple will channel their giving through the Wedgetail Foundation, which already backs over 35 environmental projects across 19 countries. With their Canva equity soon becoming accessible, they plan to expand this work in what they describe as a 'critical decade' for environmental action. 'We believe that with good fortune comes great responsibility, and the growth of Canva has unlocked opportunities to scale our impact in ways we never imagined possible,' they wrote. Related Stories 5/8/2025 5/14/2025 Canva is an easy-to-use online graphic design website founded in Australia that has exploded in popularity with over 200 million users, and has made its three co-founders billionaires. Hoping to Protect 30 Percent of the Planet In their letter, Adams and Miller stressed that philanthropy is not just charity, but a powerful tool to address the systemic causes of environmental decline. 'Many of the ecosystems that support our lives are being destroyed—and our future depends on how we choose to save them,' Adams said. They plan to align their giving with global targets like the U.N. Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the 30x30 biodiversity goal, which aims to protect 30 percent of the planet by 2030. The couple also highlighted the need to support frontline communities who are both custodians and stewards of the environment, especially in biodiversity hotspots. A Vision Beyond Business Adams and Miller said their journey with Canva was always about more than building a successful company. It was also about using their platform and resources to do good at scale. 'Nature nourishes us, sustains us, inspires us, and shapes how we live,' they wrote. 'With the right resources and intent, we can restore what's been lost and build a sustainable future.' Joining the Giving Pledge, which includes global figures such as media mogul Ted Turner and Indian tech billionaire Azim Premji, the couple said they hope their commitment inspires others—especially in Australia—to take similar action. 'Philanthropy has a unique ability to drive innovation, restore ecosystems, and create lasting environmental and societal impact,' they said. 'Inaction is not an option.' They concluded the pledge asking other like them to join the cause. 'We hope others will recognise the power of philanthropy to create lasting environmental and societal impact by joining us in this commitment.'
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Canva billionaire vows to donate half of his wealth for 'urgent' cause
Canva co-founder and multi-billionaire Cameron Adams will donate half of his $4.79billion fortune to address urgent environmental issues. Mr Adams and his former zoologist wife, Lisa Miller, announced the move in a letter to global environmental organisation The Giving Pledge. Canva is worth an estimated US $32billion after a share price surge last year. Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates established the group in 2010 for the world's überwealthy to fund global philanthropic ventures. In a letter penned to the group, Mr Adams said he and Ms Miller believed 'with great fortune comes great responsibility'. 'We recognise that the opportunities we have had in life place us in a position to give generously and act with purpose,' he wrote. 'Philanthropy is more than charity; it is a means of addressing systemic issues, driving meaningful change, and ensuring that future generations inherit a world rich in possibility and biodiversity. 'By joining the Giving Pledge, we aim to emphasise this responsibility and commit our resources to the planet that we all rely on. 'And this commitment is critical during the next decade.' Ms Miller has been operating the couple's Wedgetail Foundation, protecting and restoring biodiversity. The couple said they have since grown their confidence 'that these are issues worth fighting for'. The software billionaire said governments and businesses will be important in preventing ecological declines, but philanthropy 'has a unique ability to drive bold action'. 'Through the Giving Pledge we are directing the majority of our wealth toward this, because the alternative – inaction on a dying planet – is unacceptable.'
