Menzies, its Board and staff, mourn the tragic loss of Neil Balnaves AO and extend condolences to his family and staff at The Balnaves Foundation.

Neil Balnaves passed away unexpectedly on 19 February 2022. He was the founder of The Balnaves Foundation and former Chancellor of Charles Darwin University.

The Balnaves Foundation is the lead Philanthropic funder of Menzies Hearing for Learning Initiative. As a result of generous support from the Foundation, Menzies was able to develop partnerships with the Northern Territory Government and the Federal Government to deliver this critical initiative.

As Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, Neil Balnaves understood the impact that disabling hearing loss was having on education outcomes for Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory. He was determined to support practical initiatives, that would have measurable impact and contribute meaningfully to improving education, health and wellbeing.

Neil Balnaves is the much loved husband of Diane, and father of Victoria, Hamish and the late Alexandra; grandfather of Caillean, Leith, William and Matthew; and father-in-law of Marta.