Dave Rickards was our founder, family member, mentor, colleague and mate.
Dave Rickards was our founder, family member, mentor, colleague and mate.We are deeply saddened by his passing.
To the wider world, Dave was a private individual who, alongside Kerry, went about the business of giving in their own unique way, always thinking of how to maximize impact. To those fortunate enough to be in their inner circle, Dave was a giant of our sector. He was generous with his time, intellect, and wisdom—and to literally millions of people overseas, generous with his treasure. As a person, Dave was warm, gracious, witty, and irreverent; he was also just so smart. He really listened to you and had a rare gift for making you feel like you were the most important person in the world to him.
Dave was the one who pushed us into action when we were thinking about starting PFE. “Come on mate, let’s get this done,” he said—prompting the rest of us to realize that all we really needed to do was roll up our sleeves and make it happen. Dave’s input was vital to shaping the model that makes PFE what it is today.
Dave did so much more to help others than his contribution to PFE alone, and those stories are for others to share. For us, a bright light has been extinguished from our world, and we will miss him profoundly. But as we reflect on the impact he had on all of us at PFE, it is incumbent on us to continue his great work. As Dave would put it: get it done now—don’t wait around for someone else to draw up the business strategy.
To Kerry, Ben, Tania, Clint, Marnie and all their family, as well as our colleague Anubha and the DAK team – we are thinking of you and sending our love.
To hear Dave in his own words, here are two podcasts where he is interviewed:
