Brad Chilcott

Background

About Brad Chilcott

Brad is an advocacy, strategic communications, government relations and alliance-building expert working as a consultant to a range of social change, equality, inclusion and human rights organisations. He is the former Executive Director of White Ribbon Australia, a movement to end men’s violence against women and advance gender equality, leading the movement from the 2020 relaunch until Dec 2021 through the transformational rebuild under the custodianship of Communicare. He is the founder of Welcoming Australia, a national movement cultivating a culture of welcome for people seeking asylum, refugees and other new arrivals to Australia. Brad is now Co-Chair of the Advisory Council and a Board Director. Brad was an Associate Director at Essential Media Communications, helping progressive organisations win campaigns that make Australia more equal, inclusive and sustainable. Brad was the Interim CEO of Australians for Mental Health, the Advocacy and Communications Consultant for Rev Tim Costello and the Campaign for Australian Aid, was on the Board of Reconciliation SA for 6 years, is on the Advisory Board of Food for Education (Kenya) and was the founding Convenor of the Family and Domestic Violence Advocacy Network in South Australia. Brad is the founder of Activate, a progressive and inclusive faith community of activists in Adelaide. In 2022, Brad was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) In 2019, Brad was awarded the Dennis Mutton Medal by the Leaders Institute of South Australia "for excellence in leadership beyond self" In 2018, Brad was named in the 100 Most Influential People in South Australia by The Advertiser. In 2014, Brad was awarded Citizen of the Year for the City of Charles Sturt and the national Award for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding by the International Centre for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding and the Australia Day Council. Preceding the 2014 SA State Election, Brad worked as an Adviser to Premier Jay Weatherill and in 2013 worked as an Adviser to the Minister for Immigration Tony Burke with a focus on helping unaccompanied minors, families and vulnerable adults move from held detention into the Australian community. In 2012, Brad was named as a People of Australia Ambassador by PM Julia Gillard, won a Governor's Multicultural Award (Individual) and was a State finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero). Brad writes regularly for The Guardian Brad has a son Harrison and two daughters, Chloe and Heidi.