424 Rachel Ball: Economic Justice, Collective Action, and Changing the System

My guest this week is Rachel Ball, CEO of the Reichstein Foundation, where she works at the forefront of social, economic, and environmental justice through collaborative philanthropy and systems-level change. Rachel’s path into this work was shaped early. Growing up in Sydney in a family grounded in education, and later experiencing global inequality firsthand during a Rotary exchange in Brazil, she developed a deep commitment to justice and collective action. Those early experiences, combined with a strong community of peers engaged in activism continue to shape her leadership today. In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore what it takes to create meaningful change in a complex and often fragmented world. We discuss: key themes from the Progress social change conference, including the need for unity across differences why economic justice is foundational to solving broader social challenges how philanthropy can move beyond grant-making to align investment with purpose and the role of tax reform as a powerful (and often overlooked) lever for fairness and redistribution Rachel also shares insights into the Reichstein Foundation’s approach, from funding long-term advocacy work to supporting First Nations-led organisations and treaty processes, and rethinking how over $50 billion in philanthropic capital can be used to drive systemic change. This conversation is a thoughtful reflection on power, responsibility, and what it means to build an economy that works for people, not just markets. It’s also a reminder that lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. It requires persistence, collaboration, and a willingness to work together, even when it feels uncomfortable. 🔗 Explore more from Rachel’s work here: https://reichsteinfoundation.org.au/