Movers & Shakers

Jo Agnew, Chief Advancement Officer, The University of Western Australia “The University of Western Australia is my alma mater and I was delighted to have the opportunity to come back to lead the Development and Alumni Relations Team,” Jo Agnew told F&P. “The University wanted to celebrate its 100-year anniversary by launching the New Century Campaign – its first ever capital campaign. My role was to build the team, develop the campaign, create an alumni engagement portfolio and secure $400 million in donations.” Approaches, achievements and challenges When Agnew assumed her role in 2011, the biggest campaign success The University of Western Australia (UWA) could claim was $25 million. Alumni engagement…

Micah Demmert, Major Gifts Manager, Oxfam Australia A program that exemplifies best practice  major donor fundraising in a non-traditional sector like international aid and development – this is what has made Micah Demmert an F&P Mover & Shaker. In fact, Demmert and his team have increased income to Oxfam by 100% in just three years – from $2 million to $4 million – engaged with donors in a way the nonprofit has never done before and built a culture of philanthropy. In addition, he has performed best practice board engagement, presenting to and engaging with the board and senior management and, most importantly, created a program in which Oxfam’s major…

Kerin WelfordFundraising ManagerAssistance Dogs Australia During her 20-year career in fundraising management, Assistance Dogs Australia’s Welford has been responsible for raising over $56 million. “I have been working here for nearly five years and now manage a team of seven direct reports – in 2011 it was just me!” she says. “In 2015 our fundraising annual revenue target surpassed $5.4 million. Although Assistance Dogs Australia was founded in 1996, fundraising only started in earnest on my appointment in 2011. Prior to that, the annual revenue target was under $1.5 million.” Approaches, achievements and challengesWelford’s key approach to her work is to identify opportunities for growth and be more strategic, making…

Kim Sutton CEO Gold Coast Hospital Foundation Sutton, who has been in her role since 2012, is responsible for strategy guidance, development and implementation, as agreed with the Foundation’s board.“I was recruited with a remit of growing this 22-year-old organisation; for turning it around and moving it to the next phase of professional development,” Sutton tells F&P. “And as a CFRE, I am a CEO who really understands and loves philanthropy and fundraising. I have been a professional fundraiser and charity leader for more than 15 years and have raised millions of dollars for causes in the UK and Australia. I am responsible for all financial and servicedelivery achievements.” Approaches, achievements and…

Frances Walters Fundraising Communications Manager Mater Foundation Walters (second from left) has been at the Mater Foundation for just over two years and manages a small team that delivers on the marketing and communications components of several community fundraising campaigns, including Mater Chicks in Pink, Smiling for Smiddy and third party fundraising. As part of her role, she delivers recruitment campaigns for events such as the RACQ International Women’s Day Fun Run and a variety of cycling challenge events for Smiling for Smiddy. Approaches, achievements and challengesAn achievement Walters is most proud of is her contribution to the recruitment and engagement results of the 25th anniversary of the RACQ International Women’s Day…

Deborah Carr Director, Development Office of Advancement & Alumni Western Sydney University Reporting to the Western Sydney University Vice-President (People and Advancement) with regular communication and support from the Vice-Chancellor, Carr commenced work at the University in 2013. The position followed previous fundraising and communications roles in the not-for-profit sector, and corporate-sector marketing communications roles prior to that.She is currently responsible for the Development, Alumni Relations and Advancement Services functions at the University, and she works with a team of approximately 20 staff, 12 of whom are direct reports, along with engagement with the Foundation Council. Approaches, achievements and challengesAlthough she says she feels she often ‘paddles like a duck’, trying to…

Julia Tauber Associate Director of Development The University of Sydney Tauber is responsibe for the strategic oversight of a comprehensive fundraising program for the Faculty of Science and the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, and she has raised close to $60 million over the last five years. Approaches, achievements and challengesShe tells F&P, “During my tenure at The University of Sydney, I am proudest of leading a group of senior academics and university stakeholders in receiving a $33.7 million donation to build an institute committed to the discovery of treatments for paediatric epilepsy and other chronic illnesses. This was the largest donation in the history of the university and is…

Ben LittlejohnMarketing & Communications DirectorAct for Peace Littlejohn took up his position with Act for Peace in May 2012 after nine years with Oxfam in the UK. “It’s a really exciting role,” he tells F&P. “Unusually, I’m responsible for fundraising, communications and campaigns, as well as other supporter-focused functions such as data services and supporter care. This means I get a lot of breadth to my work, which I love.”It also means that, as an organisation, Act for Peace is able to take a really holistic view of its supporters. He says, “It enables us to align our brand, media, digital, campaigning, engagement and fundraising work behind a single strategy…

Barbara Ward Managing Director San Foundation Ward has been Managing Director of the San Foundation for the past five years and sits on a number of charity boards both nationally and abroad. In addition to fundraising to enhance the care and wellbeing of patients, she is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day operation of the Foundation.The Foundation is the principal fundraising arm of Adventist HealthCare, a nonprofit institute of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Adventist HealthCare owns and operates Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San), San Day Surgery and Dalcross Adventist Hospital, all of which are located in Sydney, NSW. Approaches, achievements and challengesWhile the Foundation had been around…