Keynote 1: "East is East and West is West”: How does philanthropy differ and how can we best work together?

Julia Gillard kicked off her keynote address by noting that the boundaries between East and West have blurred and that neither is monolithic, with each spanning a broad range of societies and styles of philanthropy. Nonetheless, while the modern model of philanthropy is closely associated with the United States and its wealthiest industrialists of the early 20th century, today’s at-scale philanthropists are more likely to be tech entrepreneurs, who focus on metrics and measurements of impact. 

There are also different approaches when it comes to government. Gillard remarked that Western philanthropists often operate independently of governments, although there is also a desire to leverage governments to scale solutions. They have also begun looking beyond their own societies to address challenges in the wider world. In contrast, philanthropy in Asia is generally more community- and individual-focused and integrated with government efforts. 

Gillard posed a thought-provoking question: as wealth grows in Asia and living standards continue to rise, will Asian philanthropy follow the same path as the West? It may be, she said, that the new generation of philanthropists will need to adopt more inclusive, locally driven strategies, and aim for long-term systemic change rather than short-term interventions. Gillard also shared Wellcome's journey, and its vision for a healthier future for everyone through supporting research in communities with the greatest health needs, and generating evidence to inform policy decisions and advocate for change. Looking toward the future, she pondered how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence will shape philanthropy and global health. She concluded by noting that philanthropists can take on more risks and longer-term investments than governments, and underscored the importance of philanthropy serving as "an honest broker, a convener, and a reliable friend."

After Gillard spoke, moderator Laura M. Cha suggested that governments could leverage philanthropists, rather than ceding some of their responsibilities. Collaboration between philanthropists and governments is playing an increasingly critical role in areas such as health and climate change, and global foundations in the East and West have focused on this recently. 

Gillard concluded by acknowledging that we live in an age where people feel easily overwhelmed by the rapid pace of developments in the world. She urged philanthropists to focus on innovative solutions that can instill hope. “At the same time that we shine a light on the problems, I think we have got to be shining a light on the solutions,” she said.