About
The Civic Renewal Foundation stewards the next generation of community-driven precincts where culture, community, and economy thrive together under a shared civic framework.
The world is undergoing unprecedented technological, environmental, and socio-economic disruption. In this landscape, place-based civic renewal—grounded in stewardship, culture, and belonging—is critical to sustaining societal evolution and resilience.
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The Civic Renewal Foundation is an ACNC registered not-for-profit foundation dedicated to building better places, stronger communities, and a future that works for all of us.
Mission
To activate underutilised sites into sustainable impact precincts through long-term stewardship models, portable cultural programming, digital commons, and scalable governance frameworks.
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Activate and scale precinct-based civic renewal through a modular framework.
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Anchor each site under long-term stewardship aligned to community-centric governance models.
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Secure diversified financial models to refurbish the built environment and sustain impact.
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Develop a core cultural and economic development programming engine for each precinct.
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Build a living digital commons connecting sites and programs.
Directors
Shiung Low
Director, Chair
Shiung is a strategist, architect, and systems builder with a career spanning humanitarian aid, social enterprise, public-good property, and urban innovation. A former Director at World Vision Australia, he led large-scale global logistics operations and later founded its internal Skunkworks innovation division. He has since launched a series of values-driven ventures across housing, disability, culture, and civic infrastructure. Drawing from deep cross-sector experience and grounded design practice, Shiung brings a rare ability to bridge imagination and execution — shaping place-based models that are ethical, scalable, and built to last.
Madeline Wilson
Director
Madeline is a seasoned public sector leader with two decades of experience delivering complex programs and systems reform across local government, state agencies, and international humanitarian operations. Earlier in her career, she worked extensively across global crisis zones with the Australian Red Cross and World Vision, coordinating emergency responses in Haiti, Lebanon, DR Congo, and beyond. Known for her clarity, calm leadership, and systems thinking, Madeline has held senior roles with the City of Melbourne, the Department of Health, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
Cheryl Chew
Director
Cheryl is a capital strategist working to rewire the relationship between finance, land, and the public good. A senior investment and asset management professional with over 15 years of executive experience at global firms such as The Ascott Limited and CapitaLand, Cheryl has managed large-scale acquisitions, negotiated high-value joint ventures, and overseen investment portfolios in excess of AUD $3 billion. She is deeply committed to turning capital into community outcomes — supporting ethical property development, accessible housing, and values-based governance models. Cheryl’s leadership bridges commercial acumen with values-based investment — helping the Civic Renewal Foundation navigate complex site transformations with precision and integrity.