The Cranbrook Foundation was established to facilitate the interaction between Cranbrook School and external support helping to promote the future of our School.
The Cranbrook Foundation was created in 1974 to ensure the advancement of Cranbrook. It is a company limited by guarantee, and administered by its Board of Directors. The Cranbrook Foundation’s day-to-day activities are supported by the Director of Development, a member of the Cranbrook School staff and Executive Team.
We rely on the generosity of our community to go beyond and to ensure a reciprocal benefit that sees our School, its quality of education and its legacy remain robust and secure.
Since its inception, the Cranbrook Foundation has been directly involved in the development of new and bold directions to improve Cranbrook School. We are committed to optimising all aspects of our School to ensure that each of our students can discover their potential.
BA (Sydney), LLB (Hons) (Sydney), Dip Applied Finance (SIA)
Vanessa is currently Managing Director of AGP Capital Management Australia, part of the AGP Sustainable Real Assets Group. AGP Sustainable Real Assets is a fund and asset management group that invests in, develops and operates sustainable infrastructure across three investment themes: renewable energy, sustainable communities and infrastructure and green technologies.
Vanessa previously held senior roles in Hong Kong with then NYSE listed Nord Anglia Education, a leading operator of international primary and secondary schools globally, in operations, corporate finance and investor relations. Her experience also includes working for Minter Ellison as a lawyer, before employment with Bank of Scotland in Sydney and Hong Kong.
She has two sons attending Cranbrook in the Senior School and her nephew attends Cranbrook Junior School.
Vanessa was appointed to the School Council as a director, and as a director and Chair of the Cranbrook Foundation, in 2023
BA.LLB (Syd)
Anthony is a lawyer who worked for Clifford Chance based in Paris for over 24 years, including 20 years as a partner in the Clifford Chance global partnership. He managed the Clifford Chance Office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for two years prior to returning to Australia to manage KPMG Legal Sydney’s Construction and Infrastructure Group. He founded Anthony Abrahams Lawyers in 2003.
Anthony was Vice-President of the Association France-Australie, in Paris, throughout most of his years in France, and a member of the Board of Australia France Industrial Round Table. He was a member of the NSW Board of the French Australian Chamber of Commerce from 1998 until 2015.
Anthony was awarded an AM on Australia Day 2020 for services to Australia-France relations and to the legal profession, as well as for his leadership of a stand made during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s by seven Australian International Rugby players against the continuation of sporting ties between Australia and apartheid South Africa.
Anthony joined Cranbrook School in Pre-school and graduated in 1962. His father and brothers also attended Cranbrook as did a number of his nephews. Anthony was the Old Cranbrookian of the Year in 2015
Anthony was appointed as a director of the Cranbrook Foundation in 2015.
BA (UNSW)
Tom has over 17 years’ experience as a marketing executive and is currently the Chief Marketing Officer of ASX-listed Australian Vintage Limited. He is also a director of his family’s charitable foundation, the Dusseldorp Forum, which is focussed on improving education, health and social outcomes for children their families and communities across Australia.
Tom is an Old Cranbrookian and has a son in the Senior School.
Tom was appointed as a director of the Cranbrook Foundation in 2023.
BSc (UWA)
Emily works for the United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF as Head of Philanthropy for Australia.
She has over twenty years’ experience working in marketing, brand, fundraising and partnerships for organisations including the Football Association in London, HSBC Bank in Sydney and Godolphin in Dubai.
Emily has a son in the Junior School.
Emily was appointed as a director of the Cranbrook Foundation in 2023.
Bec BCom (UQ), Dip Applied Finance (SIA), CFA
Doug has over 18 years’ experience as an equities analyst and accountant and is currently the Chief Investment Officer at GCQ Funds Management.
He has three sons attending Cranbrook: one in the Senior School and two in the Junior School.
Doug was appointed as a director of the Cranbrook Foundation in 2023.