Movers & Shakers

Nuz Hameed Fundraising Manager, Taronga Conservation Society Australia There’s a good chance you’ve seen Nuz Hameed before. She was Chair of the 2023 FIA Conference Program Committee (and helped organise the conference in 2022) and in the same year, she presented an interactive Direct Mail workshop at F&P Fundraising Forum. She’s also a FIA NSW State Committee member. Nuz is generous with her knowledge, open and respectful to the opinions and expertise of others, and does it all with the biggest smile.  So, who nominated Taronga Conservation Society Australia’s Fundraising Manager? Her colleague, Divisional Director, Marketing Communications and Fundraising, Leila Davis. Sharing that Nuz’s “forward-thinking approach, data-led decision making, and commitment to…

Laura Kazmirowicz   Senior Manager, Fundraising and Membership, Royal Life Saving Society WA  How would you quantify “demonstrates a willingness to learn” or “gives back to the sector”? We think attending nine FIA conferences and 10 FIA WA fundraising forums (and regularly presenting in those forums), being the current Chair of the FIA WA State Committee, becoming an FIA Awards judge, being part of the 2021 FIA National Conference Committee, mentoring, and participating in, contributing to and attending over 50 state and national industry events over the past decade might cut it. Of course, the person we’re talking about is Laura Kazmirowicz, Senior Manager, Fundraising and Membership at Royal Life…

Alexis Escavy  Planned Giving Specialist — Relationships Manager, Greenpeace Australia Pacific “Alexis has that knack of making you feel like the most important person in the room — not insignificant when you’re a Gifts in Wills Manager for one of the world’s largest environmental NGOs,” says Greenpeace Donor Development Manager, Alana Zerek, sharing she could immediately sense her colleague’s charisma and warmth the first time she met him. These attributes are something the F&P team can attest to, having worked with the Nice-born fundraiser on several editorial and presentation opportunities in recent years, including the highly popular ‘Gifts-in-Wills digital marketing tips and tricks’ session at the Big4 Fundraising conference in 2023. Alexis…

Caroline Ongleo-Calub   Director of Trusts and Foundations, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation Caroline Ongleo-Calub knows what it’s like to secure a big gift. Her strategy and stewardship led to a record-breaking pledge at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation’s 2024 Gold Dinner.  “Traditionally aimed at high-net-worth individuals and corporate donors, Caroline’s strategic creativity revolutionised the event by engaging Trusts and Foundation donors, culminating in a historic $10.5 million pledge — the largest ever received at an SCHF gala,” says Caroline’s colleague, Trusts and Foundations Senior Relationship Manager Christina Butler. It was not only a milestone for the iconic charity event, but also for the donor, Kids with Cancer Foundation (KWCF). The…

Jo Booth The relationship builder Corporate Partnerships Manager, The Smith Family Most valuable fundraising lesson? “The cause should keep you up at night and get under your skin. If it doesn’t move you, then move on.” Jo’s 12-year tenure at The Smith Family is impressive. What is equally admirable is the enduring relationship she has grown with Officeworks for 11 years of that time. Corporate partnerships can be hard to come by and even harder to keep, but Jo understands the power of true engagement. This has included the charity’s team visiting 97% of Officeworks’ 167 stores and a reward and recognition program — a series of badges (worn in-store) that recognise…

Lauren McDermott The supporter superstar Impact Manager, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Most surprising fact? “I’m proof that you can be a little bit awkward, socially anxious and unpolished, yet still perform well in a sector built on relationships.” Lauren joined ‘Perkins’ in 2016 and has been making waves ever since. She was instrumental in launching the Perkins’ FIA award-winning/SOFII-acclaimed regular giving program, creating two digital two-step products, Habit Tracker and Know Your Normal. The program has grown from less than a dozen regular givers to more than 1000, raising $24,000 every month. She has also overseen the implementation of a new CRM, the growth of supporters from 6,000 to over…

Nicola Long The career innovator Head of DTV Australia, DTV Group Biggest fundraising challenge? “Dealing withemergencies. For example, during the Türkiye-Syria earthquake, we had to activate our emergency protocols to ensure our clients could go on air immediately with emergency TV ads.” From the first trial of face-to-face fundraising 18 years ago, to introducing DM as a channel for cash acquisition, spearheading digital innovation, and leading the start of two-step regular giving campaigns, Nicola has been a key player in shaping Australia’s fundraising as we know it. She spent six years as GM of Innovation at Pareto Fundraising (where she built the agency’s digital offering) and, for the last five years, she…

Jes Bland The moderniser Individual Giving Specialist, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Most surprising fact? “I broke my back at 19 and it took nearly a year before I was properly walking. When something like that happens to you, you learn a lot about yourself and just how much strength you have.” “Jes is a true powerhouse of fundraising,” shares her nominator, Laura Holland, referring to her colleague’s implementation of a raft of fundraising initiatives when she joined the Institute in 2021. “She modernised everything, including me!” What does that look like in terms of results? Well, Jes has been pivotal in: implementing digital fundraising and regular giving from scratch; attracting 367…