Mr Krystian Seibert

Biography

Krystian Seibert is a researcher, educator and advocate focused on public policy, philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector.

He has particular interest in the regulation of philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector, the legitimacy or 'social license' of philanthropy, and the role of not-for profit sector advocacy as a driver of social innovation.

Krystian teaches strategic philanthropy as part of the Master of Social Impact and is an active participant in public policy debates in relation to philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector. Most recently, he played a key role shaping amendments to Australia's electoral laws to ensure that they do not harm the ability of charities to undertake issues-based advocacy, with his comments on the amendments referenced during the debate in the Australian Senate.

He was previously the Advocacy & Insight Manager at Philanthropy Australia, the peak body for philanthropy in Australia. His work there focused on advocating for public policies which support more and better philanthropy in Australia, and contributing to the promotion and sharing of innovative practice within the philanthropic sector. He retains a strategic advisory role with Philanthropy Australia focused on its advocacy and thought leadership work.

Prior to this, Krystian was an adviser to a former Australian Assistant Treasurer. In this role he was responsible for the delivery of major not-for-profit sector reforms including the establishment of Australia’s first independent charities regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), and the passage of Australia’s first comprehensive statutory definition of charity, the Charities Act 2013.

Krystian is a frequent media commentator and is regularly asked to provide expert commentary on philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector in Australia and beyond for print, radio and TV. He has provided commentary for ABC News, The Age, The Australian, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the New York Times. His writing has featured in publications such as The Age, The Australian, The Conversation, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Alliance Magazine and Pro Bono Australia News.

He is a member of the Australian Taxation Office's Not-for-profit Stewardship Group, the Advisory Council of the International Centre for Nonprofit Law, and the Editorial Advisory Boards of Alliance Magazine and the Third Sector Review.

Krystian also serves on the Board of Mental Health First Aid Australia, a Melbourne based organisation with global reach which is focused on providing high quality, evidence-based mental health first aid education to everyone.

He has completed a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science focusing on regulatory policy, and a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from Deakin University. He is currently undertaking a PhD at Swinburne University of Technology focusing on the regulation of structured philanthropy.