Foundation History

The Australian Institute of Building (AIB) first established the AIB Building Research & Education Foundation following a sizable donation from Sir Albert Jennings, a past AIB National President. This initial funding became known as 'The Jennings Donation' and was put into a newly created legal trust which clearly articulated the purposes for which the moneys could be used.

The Trust deed is dated 24 July 1968 and continues as the legal instrument from which the AIB Building Research & Education Foundation funds its activities. Under the terms of the initial deed the trust consists of:

• The (initial) Jennings Donation;
• All other donations to the Foundation;
• Other amounts received by the Trustees for the purposes of the Foundation; and
• The income and profits from the investments of the fund.

Over time the amount of money available to the Foundation has grown through contributions from individuals and organisations and also the return on investments. The terms of the Trust deed enable the Foundation to award research grants and prizes in addition to meeting administrative expenses and employing staff for the purposes of managing the Foundation.

Trustees are appointed by the Council of the Australian Institute of Building. Since the late 1970s the practice has been to appoint only past AIB National Presidents.

Since 1968 the Chair of the Board of Trustees had always been the current AIB National President. However at its meeting in September 2005 the Trustees agreed that the immediate past AIB National President would be Chair, a decision based upon the increasing demands of the incumbent AIB National President.

For more than three decades the Foundation has provided grants and prize funding for a range of projects that have had a defined and measurable positive impact on the building profession.

	The Australian Institute of Building Research & Education Foundation
	Mail: E-mail:	GPO Box 1467, Canberra, ACT, 2601 foundation@aib.org.au