Behind the Impact: Brayden Howie

Behind the Impact.

Creating real change for the children, families and communities ChildFund Australia supports doesn’t happen alone. It takes a team working across borders, timezones and challenges. Our Behind the Impact series gives you a closer look at what drives our team. Here, CEO Brayden Howie shares the piccolo ritual that starts his day, the experiences that shaped his perspective and the lessons that guide how he leads.

The ritual that keeps him grounded

I start every day with a coffee. Actually, that's the second thing I do. The first thing I do is make my wife a piccolo and, whenever I can, take it to her while she's still in bed. Then I make one for myself.

It's a small ritual we've had for as long as I can remember, but it's an important one. It's a reminder at the start of every day that I'm here to serve, not be served. That the small things that matter to the people you love are often among the most important things you can do.

I'm not particularly rigid about routines, but I do value having a clear separation between home and work. It helps me be fully present in both parts of my life.

A career shaped by curiosity

I don't think I had a clear calling into international development. It was more a series of experiences that gradually pointed me in that direction.

The first major turning point came while I was in high school, when I travelled to Thailand through a youth group service program. Growing up in suburban Sydney, I'd lived in a fairly small bubble. That trip showed me a world far beyond my own experience.

What stayed with me most were the children I met. Many had fled war and violence, and hearing their stories firsthand was deeply confronting. Seeing the uncertainty and the conditions they were living in challenged my perspective in a way that's stayed with me ever since.

After finishing school, I returned to Thailand as a volunteer. I was working in education, but I quickly realised I wasn't really a teacher. What drew me in was understanding different communities, building relationships and being part of work that could make a difference.

I realised my strengths weren't about doing everything myself. They were about helping other people do great work. That insight shaped my decision to study international development, and it still shapes how I lead today.

What drew him to ChildFund

As a parent, ChildFund's focus on children in a development context really resonated with me. But what ultimately drew me to the organisation was its reputation, the quality of its work and the impact it was already having.

I also felt ChildFund was at a stage where my background, experience and perspective could make a meaningful contribution in service of its mission: helping every child, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

What being CEO really means

If I was explaining my job to a child, I probably wouldn’t start by saying I’m the CEO. I’d say I get to come to work every day and spend time with amazing people who have dedicated their lives to changing the world for children. My role is to create the conditions where people across ChildFund can do life-changing work for children and build meaningful relationships with our supporters. The impact we create comes from people across the organisation working together – from those delivering programs and strengthening supporter relationships to colleagues across our country offices and operational teams. A big part of my role is listening, understanding what people need and removing barriers so they can succeed. The best organisations are built when people are trusted, valued and connected to a shared purpose.

The conversations that changed his perspective

Some of the most important lessons in my life and career have come from unexpected places.

When I was working in North Korea in the mid-2000s, I was based in Pyongyang, overseeing humanitarian programs across the country. Because my work involved extensive travel, I was assigned an English-speaking translator. He was a scientist who had previously managed a factory and, while his role was to translate, we also worked together to build his project management skills to an international standard. We were often on the road together for weeks at a time and, over that period, developed a genuine friendship.

At the time, mobile phones were banned in North Korea and smartphones weren't yet part of everyday life, so we spent hours simply talking. We talked about everything – our families, our hopes for the future, politics, the global economy and what it was like growing up in such different parts of the world.

What stayed with me most was just how similar we were. When you first arrive somewhere like North Korea, it's easy to focus on the differences. But the more we talked, the more I realised that beneath those differences, we shared many of the same hopes, worries and aspirations. It was a reminder that our common humanity is always greater than what divides us.

The power of commitment

One of the most inspiring parts of my role is being part of an organisation with supporters who have shown such incredible long-term commitment.

When you really think about what that means, ChildFund has become woven into people’s lives – part of their family story and a practical expression of their values and beliefs. That’s an incredibly humbling responsibility.

A bond built on trust

When someone gives their money and asks us to create positive change with it, they’re placing faith in us. Month after month, year after year, supporters choose to stand alongside children and communities through ChildFund, and that commitment carries an immense responsibility.

Trust takes time to build and can be lost in a moment. That’s why accountability, high standards and consistently delivering on our promises matter so much.

When I think about my own life, the things I’ve committed to consistently over many years are the things that matter most to me. So to think ChildFund holds that place in someone else’s life is incredibly humbling.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.