Give2Asia, an international nonprofit organisation, has launched a partnership of giving specialists to develop the Asian philanthropy landscape.

The Asian Philanthropy Advisory Network, the new group, is made up of philanthropy leaders in Asia, Australia and the US and executives of prestigious organisations, including the Centre for Global Philanthropy in Massachusetts and the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy in India. Apart from giving advice, the group will also publish original briefs, papers and essays on the industry at AsianPhilanthropy.org.

In a related announcement, Give2Asia has acquired the Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, the independent organisation of giving professionals . The APPC will continue its role as a research provider and thought leader. Former board members of APPC comprise the new network. 

Founding members include Barnett Baron, president and chief executive of Give2Asia for San Francisco, California; Noshir Dardrawal, CEO, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy in Mumbai, India; Christine Edwards, former CEO of The Myer Foundation and Sydney Myer Fund in Melbourne, Australia; Paula Johnson, vice President and director of Center for Global Philanthropy, The Philanthropic Initiative in Boston, Massachusetts; Lawrence Lien, CEO of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Singapore; Mark Sidel, Doyle-Bascom Professor of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin; Priya Viswanath, former CEO of the Charities Aid Foundation India; Erna Witoelar of KEHATI Trust, the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation; and Park Won-soon, executive director of The Beautiful Foundation in Seoul, South Korea.

"Donors often want the kind of counsel and insights available only from philanthropic leaders or scholars. Our new network offers them access to such experts," said Baron. 

Give2Asia has 18 offices and some 60 years of grant-making experience in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its inception in 2001, the group has generated $177 million for charitable giving.