About Good Ancestors

Who we are

Good Ancestors is an Australian charity that supports Australia’s leaders to be good ancestors to future generations of Australians. We do this by conducting policy and technical research and communicating key facts and evidence to policymakers and the public. We work to improve the long-term future of humanity by researching and advocating for policies and other actions that minimise catastrophic and existential risks, so we leave a positive future for others. 

Our approach

We operate at the intersection of policy research, public education, and advocacy. We build relationships across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

We conduct original research including legal analysis to identify regulatory gaps, expert surveys and stress testing of proposed legislation, policy white papers and technical research. This research underpins credible and actionable recommendations for policymakers.

When governments conduct formal inquiries on topics that could shape our future, we respond with submissions. We present the problem clearly and recommend impactful policies based on evidence. We also educate and support Australians to have their own voice in these processes through workshops and community engagement. We empower people to advocate for the values that matter to them in a coordinated, strategic way.

Building broad coalitions

For some focus areas, we organise and facilitate coalitions. These bring together experts, communities, and advocates around shared concerns.

• Australians for AI Safety brings together researchers, ethicists, technologists, and concerned citizens to advocate for evidence-based AI governance. Through open letters, policy scorecards, and community engagement, this coalition amplifies Australian voices on AI risks and opportunities.

• Australians for Pandemic Prevention centres public health experts and professionals in advocacy for pandemic prevention. We provide coordination and communication support to help these experts share their knowledge with policymakers and the public.

• CharitiesForImpact unites high-impact charities advocating for nonprofit sector reform and expanded DGR status. This enables greater philanthropic support for organisations working on humanity's most pressing challenges.

This approach allows us to build coalitions across political, professional, and ideological boundaries. It ensures the right voices lead on each issue.

Our values

At Good Ancestors we have chosen values that highlight what we believe in and the standards we want to hold ourselves to.

• Evidence-based. We ground our policy recommendations in rigorous research, expert consultation, and transparent methodology. We quantify claims wherever possible and invite criticism.

• Practical. We focus on actionable recommendations that can be implemented within Australia's existing political and institutional frameworks.

• Forward-looking. We prioritise interventions that protect not just current Australians but future generations who cannot yet speak for themselves.

• Cosmopolitan. We consider Australia's role in the world and value all lives, regardless of nationality, species, or generation.

• Democratic. We believe in empowering all Australians to engage meaningfully with the policy conversations that shape our collective future.

• Collaborative. We work across political spectrums and professional boundaries. We seek common ground and build coalitions for impact.

Our impact

Since our establishment in 2022, Good Ancestors has:

Conducted original research

• Published the Australia AI Policy White Paper 2025-2028, an analysis of AI governance needs and policy recommendations

• Conducted the AI Legislation Stress Test, engaging 64 experts to assess regulatory adequacy

• Identified regulatory gaps through legal analysis, finding gaps in Australia's legislative frameworks

• Developed novel methodologies for expert consultation and policy evaluation

Informed national policy

• Provided evidence to the Senate Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence

• Submitted policy recommendations to major government consultations on AI safety, pandemic prevention, and catastrophic disaster response

• Informed briefings with government ministers and public servants

Mobilised public engagement

• Coordinated open letters signed by leading Australian AI researchers, ethicists, and safety experts

• Enabled Australians to participate in Government consultations through workshops in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and online

• Developed AI Safety scorecards used by tens of thousands of Australians during the 2025 federal election

• Built networks of volunteers and expert contributors across AI safety, biosecurity, and policy reform

Built government relationships

• Established relationships with parliamentarians across the political spectrum

• Provided technical expertise to support evidence-based policymaking on emerging technologies

• Connected international expertise with Australian policymakers and regulators

Advanced systemic reform

• Advocated for expanded DGR status to enable greater philanthropic support for organisations working on existential risks and long-term flourishing

• Built coalitions across the charitable sector

Our governance

Good Ancestors operates through two registered charities with aligned purposes.

• Good Ancestors Policy Ltd (ABN 23 664 195 484) is our primary operating entity. It focuses on policy development, research, direct government engagement and education. The constitution establishes its purpose as promoting activities that better safeguard the world from existential risks and improve the long-term future of humanity.

• The Good Ancestors Project Ltd (ABN 94 660 287 963) has a broader remit, yet a smaller footprint. It currently hosts some of our operations, such as our website.

Both are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and operate under ACNC governance standards.

Our governance framework ensures accountability to donors, stakeholders, and the communities we serve. It provides flexibility to respond to emerging challenges.

Our annual financial reports are available through the ACNC public register (Policy and Project). We operate with a lean team and aim to maximise impact per dollar invested in our mission.

Our funding

The heart of our organisation is our amazing community who engage with our work, volunteer and donate to support our efforts.

In addition to the support from individual donors in Australia we also receive funding from charitable foundations in the US and Europe (because they believe that Australia has an important role to play in managing the risks humanity is facing), and paid research projects for government organisations (such as our technical AI safety research with the UK AI Safety Institute).

Under current Australian tax law, donations to charities tackling existential risks, protecting future generations, or improving long-term wellbeing are not tax deductible. This is something we are working to change through our systemic policy reform work. Read more in our Donation FAQs.

Our team

We operate with a small and effective team. We combine expertise in public policy, technical research, community mobilisation, and technology. We have experience in government, the charitable sector, technology startups, software engineering, law, academia, and policy research.

Staff