Julia Wise

Luke Freeman

Introducing Luke Freeman as Head of Giving What We Can!

Earlier this year, CEA began the process of searching for new leadership for Giving What We Can in order to add capacity and focus. I’m so pleased to say that Luke Freeman is coming on to lead Giving What We Can!

I’ve been honored to lead Giving What We Can since 2017, but I knew it deserved more time and attention than I could give it, even with help from others at CEA. I’m really glad to be able to pass GWWC into Luke’s capable hands, and excited to see how it will grow and develop. In particular, Luke will be working on transitioning GWWC back to operating more independently of CEA, while continuing to receive operational and financial support from CEA. I’ll be continuing my work on community health at CEA.

The first time I remember meeting Luke was when I was leading a workshop on “Making EA groups more welcoming” at EA Global. Most people were there to learn and absorb, but Luke stood out because he was sharing ideas based on what his home group (EA Sydney) was doing to better welcome new members. As I’ve seen him work on other projects over the last few years, I’ve seen that’s typical of him. He’s proactive, always looking for ways to improve things, and a deeply kind and friendly person.

Luke comes with a history of leadership for EA Australia and the EAGx Australia conference, as well as a rich work history in startups and digital marketing.

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming him warmly! Now over to Luke.

G’day from Sydney, Australia – I’m Luke Freeman, the new Head of Giving What We Can.

I am grateful to Julia, the CEA team, board, volunteers, and members who have all played significant roles in spreading the ideas of giving more, and giving more effectively.

Giving What We Can has been a meaningful part of my life since I took the pledge in 2016 (and engaged with the ideas even earlier), and I’m honoured to dedicate my next chapter to motivate people to give more, and more effectively. Effective giving is a way that many people can have an outsized impact. I also believe that creating a culture of effective giving expands our moral circle and increases the number of people taking tangible actions to effectively improve the world.

I grew up engaged with campaigns such as the 40 Hour Famine and Make Poverty History. In 2011, I discovered the charity evaluator 

, which led me to learn more about effective giving, effective altruism, and Giving What We Can. I’ve spent the last 15 years working in marketing and technology roles (most recently leading 

, a startup aiming to improve social science), and I have volunteered on projects like 

, and the Global Shapers Community. I once 

lived on a food budget of less than $2/day for a month

I’ll be meeting with the community, gathering feedback and ideas, and reviewing what’s been done to date. This will help me to put together a plan for growing the pledge and supporting current members.

Giving What We Can is a community endeavour. Our success is defined by taking action and being the change we want to see in the world.

In that light, here’s how can you help:

 to relevant influencers (e.g. podcasters, journalists, corporate social responsibility managers, highly effective charities)

 (Sunday 10:30am BST / 11:30am CEST / 3pm IST / 5:30pm SGT / 7:30pm AEST)

 (Saturday 4pm PDT / Saturday 7pm EDT / Sunday 9am AEST)

I’m so thankful to all of you who have made this community so special, and I look forward to continuing on this journey with you!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing 

Toby Ord's book released: "The Precipice"

, founder of Giving What We Can, has a new book out today! 

The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity

. The audiobook, narrated by Toby, will be available on March 24.

Matthew van der Merwe, who helped with the book, writes:

You can buy it on Amazon now, or at theprecipice.com/purchase

You can download the opening chapters for free by signing up to the newsletter at 

Talk about it with your friends and family, or share quotes you like on social media

If you enjoy it, consider writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads

The Precipice is a landmark book that provides a new way of thinking about our time.



We live during the most important era of human history. In the twentieth century, we developed the means to destroy ourselves - without developing the moral framework to ensure we won't. This is the Precipice, and how we respond to it will be the most crucial decision of our time.



Oxford moral philosopher Toby Ord explores the risks to humanity's future, from the familiar man-made threats of climate change and nuclear war, to the potentially greater, more unfamiliar threats from engineered pandemics and advanced artificial intelligence. With clear and rigorous thinking, Ord calculates the various risk levels, and shows how our own time fits within the larger story of human history. Can we protect the legacy of the hundred billion who have come before us, and secure a future for the trillions who could follow? What can we do, in our present moment, to face the risks head on?



A major work that brings together the disciplines of physics, biology, earth and computer science, history, anthropology, statistics, international relations, political science and moral philosophy, The Precipice is a call for a new understanding of our age: a major reorientation in the way we see the world, our history, and the role we play in it.

Julia was President of Giving What We Can from 2017 to 2020. She serves as a Community Liaison at the Centre for Effective Altruism. Her training is in sociology and social work, and before coming to the Centre for Effective Altruism she spent three years as a mental health worker.

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Introducing Luke Freeman as Head of Giving What We Can!

Toby Ord's book released: "The Precipice"