Movers and Shakers 2024

Erin McCabe   Senior Manager — Supporter Engagement, Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Having spent her entire career working in fundraising roles, Erin McCabe feels privileged to have found her vocation early. And her colleagues certainly feel privileged to work alongside her. “Erin McCabe is by far one the most talented fundraisers in the sector. She’s also a brilliant leader and all-round top notch human being,” says Katherine Ash, Executive General Manager, Fundraising & Philanthropy at RFDS QLD.  After an initial stint at a disability service, Erin joined Oxfam where she thrived, working on the classic charity event, Trailwalker. Over the years she extended and honed her fundraising skills…

Lauren Clarke   Campaigns Manager, Cancer Council NSW For the last few years, it seems like everything Lauren Clarke has touched has turned to gold. Across FY23 and FY24 every fundraising program she has focused on has experienced significant growth. Let’s look at some of the Cancer Council NSW Campaign Manager’s achievements in closer detail to understand the secrets to her success.   In the charity’s peer-to-peer (P2P) 7 Bridges Walk, Lauren has tested new tactics, including an improved supporter experience via two-way SMS conversations — something that has increased fundraising per supporter by 22%. Overall, the campaign raised $2.1 million in 2023, a 16% improvement on the previous year,…

Laura Burton Senior Development Manager, University of Western Australia It’s one thing to nurture fundraising collaboration within your organisation, it’s another to foster a culture of working with peers you have never met in other organisations all over the country. And yet, this is what Laura Burton did in 2023 when she pioneered a professional Trust and Foundations (Higher Education) Network with the aim of positioning Australia as a destination for grant funding in an international fundraising market.   “At first I was met with some expected hesitation,” says Laura. “But there was also intrigue and a realisation we needed to promote the benefits of [grant seeking] collaboration in the…

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…