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Minderoo Foundation
Minderoo Foundation was established in 2001 by Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO. The couple signed the Giving Pledge as the first Australians and...
Minderoo Foundation
Minderoo Foundation was established in 2001 by Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO. The couple signed the Giving Pledge as the first Australians and directed proceeds from Fortescue share sales into the foundation, including a 2023 transfer of approximately $5 billion in Fortescue equity. The foundation deploys capital through direct investments, co-investments and fund commitments. Confirmed positions include Teal Health, FarmInsect, Planet Protector Packaging, Kalpana Systems and the ReOcean Fund. It also commits to vehicles such as the Working Capital Fund and Adamantem Capital Environmental Opportunities Fund. Activity spans Australia, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, with emphasis on ocean research, sustainable packaging and agtech. The foundation employs 201 professionals and maintains a diversified corpus that includes public securities and managed funds. It owns Minderoo Pictures outright and operates the 58-metre research vessel Pangaea Ocean Explorer. In September 2025 the foundation participated as a speaker at New York Climate Week to discuss ocean innovation and the ReOcean Fund launch. Adjacent vehicles include the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation. Governance separates the foundation from Tattarang while sharing the same CEO. This architecture allows the foundation to pursue grant-making and impact investments without direct overlap with the family's commercial holdings.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2001
Location
Region
Oceania
Country
Australia
City
Nedlands
Corporate office
171-173 Mounts Bay Rd, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
Principals
Andrew Forrest AO
Founder and Non-Executive Director
Nicola Forrest AO
Founder and Non-Executive Director
John Hartman
CEO
Allan Myers AC KC
Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Minderoo Foundation?
John Hartman serves as CEO of both Minderoo Foundation and Tattarang. Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO remain non-executive directors. Allan Myers AC KC acts as chair.
Does Minderoo Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation makes both direct investments and commitments to external vehicles. Holdings include positions in the ReOcean Fund, Working Capital Fund and Adamantem Capital Environmental Opportunities Fund.
What investment stages does Minderoo Foundation typically target?
Activity covers early-stage seed and growth investments alongside co-investments and select buyout exposure. Portfolio companies include startups in healthcare monitoring, agtech and sustainable packaging.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The foundation's corpus originates from mining wealth generated by Fortescue Metals Group. A 2023 donation transferred approximately $5 billion in Fortescue shares to the foundation.
How is Minderoo Foundation related to Tattarang?
Tattarang serves as the Forrest family's private investment group and provides operational backing to the foundation. The two entities share a CEO while maintaining separate mandates.
Does Minderoo Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The foundation operates as the primary grant-making vehicle and is sole member of the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation. Governance documents separate these structures from commercial holdings at Tattarang.
What is Minderoo Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The foundation participates in co-investments and limited-partner commitments through its Strategic Impact Fund. Examples include positions alongside other investors in Teal Health and FarmInsect.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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