Philip Wollen
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Philip Wollen | |
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Born | 1950 (age 74–75) Bangalore, India |
Nationality | Australian |
Education | Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bordertown High School, Adelaide University |
Alma mater | Adelaide University |
Known for | Australian philanthropist, Animal rights activist |
Spouse | Trix Wollen |
Website | Winsome Constance Kindness Trust |

Philip Wollen[1] OAM (born 1950) is an Australian philanthropist, environmentalist, animal rights activist,[2][3] and public speaker. He is a former vice-president of Citibank and general manager at Citicorp.
Education and career
[edit]Wollen attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School[4] in Bangalore and later delivered the General Thimayya Memorial Lecture in Bangalore, India, in 2008.[5] He resides in Melbourne, Victoria, with his wife Trix.
Wollen supports projects related to children, animals, the environment, palliative care, and youth development.[6][7][8] In 2005, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia.[9] In 2007, he was named Australian of the Year (Victoria).[9][10] The National Australia Day Council described him as "essentially a private man" who is "not afraid to step into the limelight for a just cause."[11]
Support for Healthcare and Research
[edit]Wollen provides financial support for various health initiatives, including research,[12] medical equipment, and healthcare services. His contributions have supported efforts related to cancer, stroke, neurology, road trauma, and general health,[13] particularly through promoting diet[14] and exercise.
Healthcare Institutions Supported
[edit]Advocacy for Health and Well-being
[edit]Wollen follows a vegan lifestyle[18] and promotes plant-based diets as part of a holistic approach to health.[19] He advocates for general well-being and public awareness regarding the health benefits associated with veganism.[20]
Patron and board memberships
[edit]Since 2010, he has served as a Board Member of Akashinga Zimbabwe.[21] Wollen also holds patronage for several organizations, including Blue Cross of India[22] and Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services.[23] Additionally, he supports Lambcare Australia,[24] an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating lambs, and the Monkey Helpline, which works to protect and rehabilitate monkeys in India.[25] He is also a patron of World Animal Voice.[26] Wollen has been a prominent advocate for veganism, serving as a patron of World Vegan Day.[27][28]
Winsome Constance Kindness
[edit]Wollen's primary initiative, Winsome Constance Kindness, is a global project with the mission "to promote kindness towards all other living beings and enshrine it as a recognisable trait in the Australian character and culture."[29] [30][31][32]
As of 2024, it had supported 850 initiatives in 54 countries.[33][34][35][36]
Kindness House
[edit]Kindness House, based in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, served as an "incubator" for non-governmental organisations, providing rent-free or subsidised office space to groups involved in activism and advocacy.[37]
Awards
[edit]Year | Award | Refs. |
---|---|---|
2005 | The Queen's Birthday 2005 Honours List | [38] |
2007 | National Australia Day Council's Australian of the Year (Victoria) | [39][40] |
2013 | Honorary Fellow of the Oxford Centre of Animal Ethics, UK | [41] |
2014 | Old Cottonian of Eminence Award | [42] |
2017 | Albert Schweitzer Award | [43] |
2018 | Peter Singer Prize | [44] |
2021 | Shining World Hero and Compassion Award | [45] |
2022 | Homo Ahimsa Award | [46] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Who is Philip Wollen?". YouTube.com. Kindness Trust. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ "Emma Hurst chats with Philip Wollen". Let's Go Vegan. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen, Australian Philanthropist, Former VP of Citibank, Makes Blazing Animal Rights Speech". Free From Harm. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Notable Cottonians". Bishop Cotton Boys School. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ "Peace, Ethics, Occam's Razor– and India's Gift of Ahimsa". The General K.S. Thimayya Memorial Trust. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Everyday Vegans Philip Wollen". Vegan Easy. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ Kizilos, Katherine (10 April 2009). "Radical kindness: the banker who gave it all away". The Age. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen Speech: Animals Should Be Off The Menu!". Kinder World. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Philip Wollen's profile on the Wheeler Centre". Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ "National Australia Day Council". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
- ^ "Philip Wollen OAM Philanthropic humanitarian". Australian of the Year. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ Hicks, J. Morris. "Big Picture: Philip Wollen & Colin Campbell". Healthy Eating Healthy World.
- ^ "All Topics Mindset Plant based food Fitness Podcast Philip Wollen, Why A Vegan World Is So Important and Our Moral Responsibility To Help Alleviate Suffering". Healthification Strong Body Green Planet. Healthification Strong Body Green Planet. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
- ^ Eng, M. "Philip Wollen, The Kindness Trust". Responsible Eating and Living. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Philip and Trix Wollen Join the Fight Against Cancer". PeterMac, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "Cabrini Foundation's Post". Linkedin. Cabrini Foundation. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "Shaping the future of blood cancer research" (PDF). Snowdome.org. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Smith, Gary. "The Thinking Vegan interview with Philip Wollen". The Thinking Vegan. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Big Picture: Philip Wollen & Colin Campbell". Healthy Eating Healthy World. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen, Why A Vegan World Is So Important and Our Moral Responsibility To Help Alleviate Suffering". Heathification. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "Akashinga Board + Advisory Committee". Akashinga. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "PHILIP WOLLEN - THE FIRST PATRON OF BLUE CROSS OF INDIA". Blue Cross of India. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Our Patron". Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Lamb Care Australia Patron". Lamb Care Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Team Members". Monkey Helpline. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Kindness Footprints – Philip Wollen – WAV Patron". World Animals Voice. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Organization Governance". VSPCA. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen Patron of World Vegan Day Melbourne". youtube.com. World Vegan Day Melbourne. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ Winsome Constance Kindness Trust homepage
- ^ "Ethics in a meat-free world". Tedx Melbourne. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ "Conversations with Philip Wollen". JAINA : Federation of Jain Associations in North America. JainDigest. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen". Communities in Control. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen". Viva.org.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ "About". Winsome Constance Kindness. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "Winsome Constance Kindness Australia - Winsome Constance Kindness". www.kindnesstrust.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ "Philip Wollen, The Kindness Trust". Responsible Eating and Living. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Kindness House Campus - Winsome Constance Kindness". www.kindnesstrust.com. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours Released". Australian Politics. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen OAM | Australian of the Year". Australia of the Year Awards. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ Tacon, Dave. "Philanthropist and activist Philip Wollen with his three dogs, 29 July 2011". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Australian Pioneer Honoured for Philanthropic Work". Oxford Animal Ethics. 19 March 2013.
- ^ "The Sesquicentennial Archive". The Cottonians. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Philip Wollen - Most Inspiring Speech on Animal Rights!". We Are Impactors. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ Wakonigg, Daniela. "Awarding of the Peter Singer Prize 2018 Veganism as a new enlightenment movement". Humanistischer Pressedienst. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Shining World Hero and Compassion Award Recipient: Philip Wollen (vegan) – A Champion of Noble Causes". Shining World Awards. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "SUNDAY - Philanthropists Philip & Trix Wollen to Receive Homo Ahimsa Award". In Defense Of Animals. Retrieved 5 February 2025.