The Pinnacle Foundation
Jennifer Westacott AO currently serves as a Special Adviser at KPMG Australia and Chancellor at Western Sydney University, roles held since July 2024 and March 2023, respectively. With extensive experience in governance, Westacott is the Chair of the Western City & Aerotropolis Authority, the Board of Studio Schools of Australia, and a Non-Executive Director at Wesfarmers. Westacott is also a Council Member at UNSW and a Patron for The Pinnacle Foundation and Mental Health Australia, having previously held the position of Chair at Mental Health Australia from 2013 to 2019. As Co-patron of Pride in Diversity since 2017, Westacott has contributed significantly to various organizations. From 2011 to September 2023, Westacott led the Business Council of Australia as Chief Executive. Academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from UNSW, studies as a Chevening Scholar at The London School of Economics and Political Science, an Advanced Management Certificate from Monash Business School, and being a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, along with an Honorary Doctorate from UNSW.
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The Pinnacle Foundation
The Pinnacle Foundation is Australia's LGBTQIA+ education charity. Our flagship program provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTQIA+ Australians to realise their full potential. Our vision is for a more diverse and inclusive society with visible LGBTQIA+ role models. The Foundation awards multi-year scholarships nationally to students aged between 18 and 26 for fulltime study at public higher education institutions in Australia to achieve educational or vocational qualifications in any profession, trade or the arts. Every Pinnacle scholar is carefully matched with a mentor who will typically share the same academic and professional interests, gender identity and sexual orientation. The mentor acts as a role model. They will have walked the scholar’s path – and provide the encouragement, counsel and inspiration to support the scholar’s rounded development and the successful completion of their studies. Many of the young LGBTQIA+ people that Pinnacle supports have grown up in environments where they have been rejected because of who they are and how they identify. Many have experienced bullying, discrimination and abuse. We know that gaining an education can significantly change life for the better. Education increases our options, enriching and empowering us – it helps us to expand our life choices. Additionally, we ally with The University of Sydney Business School to deliver the LGBTQIA+ Executive Fellowship: https://www.sydney.edu.au/business/study/executive-education/lgbtqia-executive-fellowship.html. The Fellowship, the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, develops senior and executive leadership capabilities within the LGBTQIA+ community.