About us

What do we do?

The Heritage Bank Charitable Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in need throughout our community. We do so by giving grants to eligible not-for-profit organisations that provide:

• Positive educational and alternative pathways to help at-risk children and teenagers;
• Health care services for vulnerable Australians and their families; and
• Support for the economic and social wellbeing of people in regional, rural and remote communities, including in times of natural disasters.

Our grants are targeted at making a positive difference to the lives of individuals and their families. We analyse demonstrated outcomes and projected impacts to ensure our grants maximise the benefits they deliver. Our goal is also for our grants to encourage greater collaboration and partnerships between those who share the Foundation’s passion for helping people.

How do we do it?

The Heritage Bank Charitable Foundation was established in 2018 as a Public Ancillary Fund, with seed funding of $2 million from Heritage Bank.

A Public Ancillary Fund is a philanthropic structure established by a trust deed for the purpose of making distributions to organisations who are charities registered as deductible gift recipients (DGRs). This means we are only allowed to provide grants to registered charities, not individuals or non-registered organisations. 

Our Foundation is also a DGR entity, so donations to us are tax deductible.

The Heritage Bank Charitable Foundation’s philosophy is to provide support now while also building a strong corpus that will benefit and build stronger communities well into the future.  We are in this for the long haul and are dedicated to providing the necessary resources to make a difference.

While Heritage Bank has provided seed funding, the Foundation appreciates that many people across the community also want to play a role in helping those less fortunate.

That’s why the Foundation is able to accept tax-deductible donations from members of the public to help us in our mission to support people in need.

We invite you to share our vision of Growing stronger communities, together, where what you do has a real impact on the people around us. Visit our donate page to become a foundation supporter today.

Bill Armagnacq

BCom, FCA, FAICD

Chair

Bill Armagnacq served as Company Secretary and Assistant CEO at Heritage Bank for more than 15 years before retiring in May 2019. He has also held senior roles with Ergon Energy and KPMG in Brisbane. 

Mr Armagnacq brings extensive board and corporate senior executive experience to the Heritage Bank Charitable Foundation as he also serves as chair of the Inner Darling Downs Community Consultative Committee for Inland Rail and as a Director of Empire Theatre in Toowoomba.

Paul Williams 

BA, GradDipAppFin, MA (Cantab), MBA, CFTP

Board

Paul Williams joined Heritage Bank in 2000 and is currently the Chief Financial Officer. Mr Williams has more than 25 years’ experience in the finance and property industries having previously worked in Australia and South Africa for various banks as well as global advisory and commercial real estate services firms. 

He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Queensland, a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge in the UK, an MBA from the University of Southern Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance from the Finance and Securities Institute of Australia.

Paul Olds  

B.Teach, MBA

Executive Officer 

Paul Olds is the inaugural Executive Officer of the Heritage Bank Charitable Foundation.  Paul is an experienced not-for-profit leader who was most recently the CEO of Queensland-based charitable organisation the MND and Me Foundation, which supports people with Motor Neurone Disease. 

Paul brings not only extensive experience in both the commercial and not-for-profit sector but, importantly a passion for philanthropy. He is responsible for developing the Foundation’s strategies, establishing relationships with key stakeholders, guiding our fundraising efforts and setting up the Foundation to make a meaningful impact in the communities we support.

Christine Maher

BA LLB (Hons), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland, MAICD

Board

Christine Maher is a former partner of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Lawyers and an experienced non-executive director. Ms Maher is interested in governance, the financial services sector, education and charitable entities.

She is currently a director of Energy Super and the St Joseph’s College Foundation as well as being a former member of the QSuper, WorkCover Queensland and Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Foundation Boards.

Stephen Davis 

CRV, AAPI, MAICD

Board

Stephen Davis has been on the Board of Heritage Bank since 2011. He is the Managing Director of Toowoomba valuation firm David W. Swan & Associates. Mr Davis is a qualified valuer, and a licensed real estate agent and auctioneer. He has a long history of service to industry, community and sporting organisations in the Toowoomba region.

Mr Davis is the Past President of the Toowoomba East Primary School P&C; the Darling Downs Branch of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland; the Toowoomba East Rotary Club; and the Glennie Athletics Club. He has been the Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of the Toowoomba Hospice Association since 2001.