What happens when two entrepreneurs turn decades of business grit into bold, practical philanthropy? In this warm and engaging conversation, host Anubha Rawat sits down with Dave and Kerry Rickards, founders of the DAK Foundation and the DAK International Network. Having worked alongside them for more than a decade, Anubha brings out both the personal and practical sides of their remarkable journey.

Dave and Kerry married in 1971, dropped out of university, and soon after started a small market stall in Sydney. By 1973 they had moved into opals and jewellery, and in 1979 with another couple they co-founded Clints Crazy Bargains. Over the next two decades the discount variety store grew to more than 100 outlets before being sold in June 2000. With four children and a lifetime of entrepreneurial lessons behind them, they turned their attention to giving.

The Rickards then spent ten years travelling the world, meeting hundreds of NGOs across dozens of countries. They saw duplication, wastage and an overemphasis on capacity development rather than capacity utilisation. Most of all, they realised the striking difference in costs, where meaningful change in low- and middle-income countries could be achieved at a fraction of the price. Those insights shaped their philanthropic philosophy: find existing infrastructure, resource it, and get the job done.

Today, through the DAK Foundation and the DAK International Network, their giving focuses on restorative eye surgery, essential medical equipment, women’s health and family planning.

In this episode, Dave and Kerry reflect on how they got started, the lessons they learned along the way, and the people who inspired their giving, including the legendary Chuck Feeney. With warmth and humour, they show that philanthropy can be bold, deeply human, and guided by a simple truth: it’s not just about where your money goes, but how it can create lasting change.

Thank you to Ian at Compact Sound for recording and mixing and our host Anubha Rawat.

Philanthropod is powered by the Australian International Development Network - www.aidnetwork.org.au

To find out more about the DAK Foundation and DAK International Network, visit: https://dak.org.au/ and https://dakinternational.org/

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