An Update from Lisa and a New Beginning

I thought I might use this forum to share some personal news that at the end of this month, I will be leaving the ADM Capital Foundation after 15 years of building this amazing, collaborative non-profit with a remarkable team of dedicated colleagues, fellow donors and the partners of ADM Capital.

What does this mean for ADMCF? Sophie Le Clue, who has been with the foundation almost from the beginning will step into the CEO role and, supported by our amazing team, will take ADMCF to new areas of action and change. Watch out world!

Who knew all those years ago when we began a journey to build an impact-driven foundation that we would now have a team of 24 across six programs, catalysing action for our climate and to protect biodiversity.

Working with a multitude of partners, we have seen the transformative power of collective action. We have built environmental programs that address water challenges, seek better air quality, aim to stop wildlife crime, provide finance for nature, protect our marine environment and offer solutions to waste.

From our early days, we are exceedingly proud of how Mlop Tapang, Aarambh India (now Rati) and Angkor Hospital for Children have evolved and grown to meet diverse needs of children in their local communities and led change far beyond.

In large part, our impact is thanks to the vision of the ADM Capital partners, Robert Appleby, Chris Botsford and Denys Firth who pushed us to focus on results and not just on giving. They had the vision that what was needed was a convenor – of funding and of NGOs for collective action. They allowed us time and latitude to be creative and take risk. They insisted our work be rooted in research, evidence and data and made us stronger, more targeted as a result.

Special thanks to our local and long-standing co-funding partners, RS Group Asia and WYNG Foundation who have shared our common vision for a better Hong Kong, of a healthy environment for all; to Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which since our earliest days has repeatedly taken chances with us, supporting research and action on water and air quality.

Indeed, there have been so many partners over the years who have made our work meaningful and possible.

ADM Capital Foundation has a big job to do in its next phase with what continues to be a strong team who want to see change, are determined to make change. This is the time for new vision to help push us forward faster. Now from a seat on the ADM Capital Foundation board, I am excited to watch ADMCF and its many partners grow.

What’s next for me? I look forward to taking up a new role helping to build ADM Capital Climate.