Philip Wollen
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Philip Wollen | |
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Born | 1950 (age 74–75) Bangalore, India |
Nationality | Australian |
Known for | Australian philanthropist, Animal rights activist |
Spouse | Trix Wollen |
Website | Winsome Constance Kindness Trust |

Philip Wollen OAM (born 1950) is an Australian philanthropist, environmentalist and animal rights activist. He is a former vice-president of Citibank and was also general manager at Citicorp. Wollen is a vegan and funds projects that protect children, animals and the environment.[1][2] At the age of 34, the Australian Business Magazine named him in the "Brightest and Best" top 40 headhunted executives in Australia.[1] In 2005 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia[3] and in 2007 he won the Australian of the Year (Victoria) award.[3][4] Wollen went to school at the Bishop Cotton Boys' School[5] in Bangalore. He delivered the General Thimayya Memorial Lecture at Bangalore, India in 2008. He lives with his wife Trix in Melbourne, Victoria.
Winsome Constance Kindness
[edit]Wollen's main project, Winsome Constance Kindness, is a global initiative whose mission statement is "to promote kindness towards all other living beings and enshrine it as a recognisable trait in the Australian character and culture."[6] The initiative emphasises ethics, compassion and co-operation, and opposes cruelty to humans and non-human animals. In 2020 it had initiatives in 40 countries.[7]
Wollen awards the annual Kindness Gold Medal and cash prize to people who have devoted their lives to the service of others.[8][9]
Kindness House
[edit]"Kindness House," an "incubator" for growing NGOs, provides free use of heavily-subsidized serviced office facilities to activist groups. It is located in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy.[10]
Awards
[edit]Year | Award | Refs. |
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2005 | The Queen's Birthday 2005 Honours List's Australian of the Year Victoria | [11] |
2007 | National Australia Day Council's Australian of the Year (Victoria) | [12][13] |
2013 | Honorary Fellow of the Oxford Centre of Animal Ethics, UK | [14] |
2014 | Old Cottonian of Eminence Award | [15] |
2018 | Peter Singer Prize | [16] |
2021 | Shining World Hero and Compassion Award | [17] |
2022 | Homo Ahimsa Award | [18] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b The Banker Who Gave It All Away: The Age article
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Notable Cottonians". Bishop Cotton Boys School. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ Winsome Constance Kindness Trust homepage
- ^ "About Us - Winsome Constance Kindness". www.kindnesstrust.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Wakonigg, Daniela. "Awarding of the Peter Singer Prize 2018 Veganism as a new enlightenment movement". Humanistischer Pressedienst. 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.