Philip Wollen

Wollen attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School^[4] in Bangalore and later delivered the General Thimayya Memorial Lecture in Bangalore, India, in 2008.^[5] He resides in Melbourne, Victoria, with his wife Trix.

Wollen supports projects related to children, animals, the environment, palliative care, and youth development.^[6][7][8] In 2005, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia.^[9] In 2007, he was named Australian of the Year (Victoria).^[9][10] The National Australia Day Council described him as "essentially a private man" who is "not afraid to step into the limelight for a just cause."^[11]

Wollen provides financial support for various health initiatives, including research,^[12] medical equipment, and healthcare services. His contributions have supported efforts related to cancer, stroke, neurology, road trauma, and general health,^[13] particularly through promoting diet^[14] and exercise.

Since 2010, he has served as a Board Member of Akashinga Zimbabwe.^[21] Wollen also holds patronage for several organizations, including Blue Cross of India^[22] and Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services.^[23] Additionally, he supports Lambcare Australia,^[24] an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating lambs, and the Monkey Helpline, which works to protect and rehabilitate monkeys in South Africa.^[25] He is also a patron of World Animal Voice.^[26] Wollen has been a prominent advocate for veganism, serving as a patron of World Vegan Day.^[27][28]

Wollen's primary initiative, Winsome Constance Kindness, is a global project with the mission "to promote kindness towards all other living beings and enshrine it as a recognisable trait in the Australian character and culture."^{[29][30][31][32]}

As of 2024, it had supported 850 initiatives in 54 countries.^{[33][34][35][36]}

Kindness House, based in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, served as an "incubator" for non-governmental organisations, providing rent-free or subsidised office space to groups involved in activism and advocacy.^[37]