About Adara

We see a world in which each and every person has access to quality health, education and other essential services, no matter where they live.

Our mission is to bridge the world of business and the world of people in extreme poverty, and to support vulnerable communities with health, education and other essential services.

Our Model

The first part of the Adara Group is an international development organisation called Adara Development that has expertise in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, and Remote Community Development. Adara Development has worked in Nepal and Uganda since 1998.

The second part of the Adara Group consists of two businesses, Adara Partners and Adara Advisors, which are ‘for purpose’ rather than for profit. Their sole objective is to fund Adara Development’s administration and emergency project costs. This allows 100% of donations received by Adara Development to go directly to project-related costs.

Since Adara’s inception to May 2022, the Adara businesses have donated more than AUD $20 million to Adara Development. In addition, our donors have contributed more than AUD $40 million.

We touch the lives of more than 200,000 people living in poverty each year and countless more through knowledge sharing.

Mother in Adara-Kiwoko NICU
Adara founder & Chair, Audette Exel, in Nepal

Our Story

We have been bridging worlds since 1998 when our founder, Audette Exel AO established Adara Development alongside our first business, Adara Advisors. Our goal was to demonstrate the power of business and partnership to accelerate transformation for communities in need.

Read our full story

Our Values

Compassion

We exist to provide support to vulnerable women, children and their communities living in extreme poverty. We believe everyone has a right to health and education services no matter where they live.

teamwork

We work as a team and support each other. We are open, honest and kind. Failure and mistakes are OK – this is how we learn and grow. We make Adara a happy and productive place to work.

mutual respect

We listen to other people’s points of view. We celebrate and promote diversity. We abhor discrimination in any form.

Integrity & excellence

We act with deep respect, integrity and humility. We strive to be fair to everyone on the team. We work to a standard of excellence.

passion

We work hard. We laugh and have fun. We are optimistic and positive. We don’t count hours, we measure outcomes.

unconventionality

We think outside the box. We are not afraid to be different.

Woman in Ghyangfedi, Nepal

Our Strategy

Impact. Influence. Inspire

These three simple concepts signify the difference Adara seeks to make to our world. We strive to impact hundreds of thousands of lives every year through best-practice service delivery. We influence change through our deep commitment to knowledge sharing and our networks. And we strive to inspire others to use their skills, resources and voices to make our world a better place.

Read our strategy

Our People

Members of the Adara team
Meet our team
Members of the Adara Board
Meet our board
Adara Partners Panel Members
Meet our Panel Members

Join us

…to bring quality health and education services to people living in some of the world’s remotest places.

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Child in Nepal