About Us
What we do
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) is Australia's longest running HIV charity.
Founded in 1984, when a group of friends got together to give their dying mate Bobby Goldsmith the care he needed in the comfort of his home, BGF has gone on to provide that same individualised care to thousands of Australians.
And while HIV treatment has come a long way since 1984, the need for support remains.
Every week we’re seeing more and more people from diverse backgrounds walk through our doors. Young. Old. Gay. Straight. Male. Female. Every race. Every religion. Many of them isolated, all of them in need of support.
From the first generation to age with HIV, to a diverse new generation of people facing stigma within their communities reminiscent of the 80s - we’re here to help. For life.
BGF has no political or religious affiliations, just a deep-seated desire to help people live well on their terms through practical, tailored assistance.
We’re also an equal opportunity employer dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive workplace and services.
And last but not least, we’re a registered not-for-profit. So every donation is tax deductible.
Together we can ensure no one has to face HIV alone.
Who we are
We help people living with HIV to thrive.
Each year we report on the programs and services we provide.
Read our reports here.
Get up to speed on all the latest developments at BGF and news across the entire organisation.
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Patrons
Hamish Macdonald
Hamish Macdonald is an award-winning journalist who has covered wars, disasters, and major world events. He is co-host of ‘Global Roaming’ on ABC Radio National and ‘The Project’ on Channel Ten.
Hamish has won numerous awards including a Walkley for current affairs journalism and was named Young Journalist of the Year by Britain's Royal Television Society.
Hamish joined BGF as Patron in August 2024.
Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG
The Hon. Michael Kirby is an Australian jurist and academic who is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia. With the advent of HIV, Michael Kirby became involved in a number of national and international activities, including the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights.
Michael Kirby became BGF’s Patron in 2002.
Ita Buttrose AC, OBE
Ita Buttrose is a legendary media icon, business woman, the 2013 Australian of the Year and the current Chair of the ABC.
Ita had a leading role in the development of Australia’s AIDS policy in the 1980s as Chair of the National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS) and over the last 40 years, she has shown an enduring commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Ita became an Honorary Life Member in 2013 and BGF Patron in 2023.
Watch It'a message to Corporate Partners
Read Ita's speech on becoming Patron of BGF
Community Ambassadors
Board of Directors
President
Mathew Paine
Mathew is an Executive Director, Human Resources at the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Mathew brings over 20 years of senior HR experience within the private, not for profit and government sectors in Australia and the UK.
Mathew joined the BGF Board in 2017 and is Chair of the Risk & Compliance Committee.
Vice President
Linda Bracken
Linda runs her own digital strategy and creative leadership consultancy and is an experienced Non Executive Director.
Previously, Linda was a Senior Executive at the ABC leading audience strategy and digital experience. She has also been the Manager of their youth network triple j and the Head of Content for ABC Radio.
Linda has been a Member of the Advisory Council of the Centre for Social Research (formally the National Centre for HIV Social Research) at UNSW.
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors course and the Deputy Chair of The Australian Horse Industry Council.
Linda joined the BGF Board in 2019 and is Chair of the BGF Fundraising & Marketing Committee
Treasurer
Ramon del Carmen
Ramon is the CFO of Sydney North Primary Health Network (SNPHN). He is also currently a director of Northside Community Forum. Ramon is a Chartered Accountant, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ramon joined the BGF Board in 2017 and is Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee.
David Kay
David has more than 20 years’ experience as a consultant, working across the human services and disability sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
David advises government agencies and large not-for-profit organisations on human services and disability sector reform, program review and evaluation, strategic and operational planning and improvement.
David joined the BGF Board in 2022.
John Walton
John has worked for over 20 years in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Currently John is employed in sales and marketing at ViiV Healthcare. He has an MBA (marketing) and a Masters of Business from the University of Technology Sydney.
John is passionate about social justice, diversity, access to healthcare, and supporting marginalised populations.
John joined the BGF Board in July 2019 and is a member of the Fundraising & Marketing Committee.
Tina Eggers
Tina is the Head of Industry for BESydney, which is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by the NSW Government to attract international conventions to Sydney. Tina has over 20 years of experience in business events, client engagement, and leadership.
Tina joined the BGF Board in May 2023 and is a member of the Fundraising & Marketing Committee.
Carla Treloar, AM
Carla is Scientia Professor at UNSW Sydney. She was previously the Director of the Centre for Social Research in Health and the Social Policy Research Centre. She has researched social issues, especially stigma, about HIV and other conditions for more than 20 years.
Carla Joined the BGF Board in 2023.
Dan Holland
With more than 20 years leading teams in Corporate Affairs, Reputation and Sustainability, Dan is currently Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at the Endeavour Group overseeing ESG and stakeholder relations across a range of sectors from wine production, retail and hospitality.
Working chiefly in the drinks and hospitality industries, his sustainability and ESG work has centered on social aspects and community practices. He’s performed various volunteer roles at NGOs and Social Aspect Organisations in the alcohol and harm space, including DrinkWise Australia, as well as being involved in key circular economy projects and the establishment of container deposit schemes in a number of states.
Dan joined the Board in 2023 and is a member of the BGF Fundraising & Marketing Committee
Michael Harrison
Michael is the Governance and Regulatory Advice Lead in the Group Accountability function at the Westpac Group, where he is responsible for frameworks and policies to support compliance with executive accountability obligations. He is an experienced risk and compliance leader, specialising in regulatory engagement, and the implementation of complex regulatory change programs.
Additionally, Michael has held several senior governance roles in not-for-profits across Australia. His experience to date has focused heavily on social justice, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and reducing stigma for communities experiencing marginalisation.
Michael joined the BGF Board in 2023 and is a Member of the Risk and Compliance Committee.
Dr JR Baker
Dr JR Baker is an experienced executive with 20 years’ experience strategically leading health organisations to achieve cutting-edge service delivery. He has consistently introduced industry leading service improvements that always keep the client at the centre of change. He has led Primary and Community Care Services to become an Australian leader in social prescribing, complex care coordination and link work services. JR is driven by his ideas on providing optimal health services through innovation in the not-for-profit, health space.
Dr JR Baker joined the BGF Board in 2023.
We Remember
TW: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following contains the name and image of a deceased person.
Terrilee Simpson
In Memoriam: Terrilee Simpson
Terrilee Simpson was a proud First Nations Wiradjuri woman and long-term survivor of HIV.
Twenty five years ago, Terrilee discovered she was HIV positive after the death of her daughter from an HIV brain infection. Terrilee wasn’t tested during pregnancy because she wasn’t considered a risk – she has been fighting to change this way of thinking ever since.
Terrilee was a Community Support Worker at BGF and passionate about advocacy and leadership for all people living with and affected by HIV, particularly First Nations people, heterosexuals, women and families.
Sadly, Terrilee passed away in December 2023.
Simon Dunn
In Memoriam: Simon Dunn
Simon was BGF's inaugural Community Ambassador, a former Australian athlete and a prominent voice in the LGBTQI+ community.
Sadly, Simon passed away in January 2023.
He was an incredible ally to people living with HIV, through his work with us at Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in the UK.
In 2018, he was the national face of THT’s National HIV Testing Week Campaign and in 2020, Simon came on board as a BGF Community Ambassador.
Simon believed that the message about HIV was ‘not getting through’ to younger generations and wanted to use his profile to help raise HIV awareness.
He was a selfless, compassionate and kind individual who treated everyone equally, stood up for marginalised and vulnerable people and called out injustice. His legacy will live on through BGF and the lives he touched.
Who was Bobby Goldsmith?
Bobby Goldsmith was one of the first Australians to die from an AIDS-related illness.
That was in June 1984, when Bobby was just 38 years old.
Bobby died with dignity, at home, where he wanted to be. All thanks to the help of his friends, who rallied together money and equipment to make his final weeks as comfortable as possible.
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is the legacy of that dedicated group of friends – a legacy born out of love, which has continued for over 30 years, and will continue until HIV is a thing of the past.
Our brand. Our message.
The face of HIV is changing. Not only are more and more people from diverse backgrounds walking through our doors, the people we support are now able to lead long, healthy and colourful lives.
And, we felt that our look should reflect that.
From a colour palette as diverse as our community, to photography that captures their humanity – this is the face of BGF.
While our branding has changed, our approach has not. Just as Bobby’s friends rallied around him in 1984, we have and always will remain a group of friends helping people as individuals – meeting them where they’re at, and helping them to move forward through practical and emotional support.
A huge thank you to our friends at BMF, our creative design agency, for making this happen at no cost to us and to Joel Pratley for donating his beautiful photography skills.
