Purpose
The Burrell Family Office exists to steward capital with purpose. Investing in enterprises that advance the circular economy, reduce waste, and create scalable, sustainable solutions. Alongside commercial investments, our philanthropy and venture philanthropy activities focus on humanitarian need and transformational, system strengthening initiatives aligned with global health resilience and food security noted in the SDGs.
What we do
circle economy – investments
intelligent assets – investments
intelligent solutions – investments
philanthropy
venture philanthropy
Alan Burrell, Founder
Alan Burrell is an Australian entrepreneur and impact driven leader who has spent more than two decades working internationally at the intersection of business, philanthropy and humanitarian response.
He co-founded a private family office in Switzerland and the UK, developing an investment philosophy focused on eliminating waste, promoting reuse, and backing technology and business models that regenerate, rather than extract value.
In 2013, Alan returned to Australia to help strengthen and expand support for Mercy Ships, the global hospital ship charity providing free surgery, training and health-system capacity building for some of the poorest nations in the world.
Alan holds a BSc (Hons) and an MBA. He regularly speaks at family office gatherings, philanthropy forums and humanitarian events around the world on topics including purposeful capital, blended finance, systems change, and the future of global health resilience.
He has authored three books on philanthropy, purpose and impact, and previously contributed papers such as Profit and Purpose, Organisational Change and You, Looking for the Next Profit Frontier, and Africa for Philanthropists and Investors.
Alan’s recent thinking explores how everyday generosity, time, talent and financial resources, can be mobilised to create meaningful and enduring change.
Topics Alan often speaks about
• How authentic purpose at the centre of family wealth and business can align values, deepen meaning and deliver durable outcomes.
• A personal journey from transactional giving towards long term, community led impact.
• Why 5 billion people still lack access to essential surgery and what that means for global health (drawing on the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery).
• The implications of rising poverty and fragility in sub-Saharan Africa, and how philanthropy, business and government can work together more effectively.
BOOKS by Alan
Alan has authored a three book series exploring how fear, meaning and generosity shape human flourishing, leadership and social impact.
The Two Spheres
Understanding How Fear and Growth Shape Who We Become
A practical framework for recognising fear driven patterns and choosing a growth centred way of living and leading.
Purpose
How Meaning Is Lived, Not Found
A fresh take on purpose as something embodied daily through values, choices and service, not discovered as a one time “answer”.
The Generosity High
Why Giving Changes Who We Become
An exploration of how generosity transforms people and communities, and why giving may be one of the most powerful habits for personal wellbeing and lasting impact.
alanburrell.com 