Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
I am an accomplished, insights-driven, ethical creative leader, driving innovative engagement and organisational outcomes in the for purpose, cultural, higher learning, and public sectors for three decades. My background includes professional roles as chief executive, engagement executive, business development and partnerships director, capital and major gifts fundraising, director of public programs, producer, educator, and extensively in strategic communications and community participation. Early on, I worked as a choreographer and company director, an experience that has granted me great dynamism in the way I now lead people, understand audiences, and generate ideas. With expertise in change and program management - and abiding focus on social inclusion and women’s health - I have significant strengths in articulating a compelling vision, attracting diverse revenue to grow business, and delivering results. At Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, I led an impactful strategy to raise >$70 million over six years, including for capital works, major events, partnerships, new visitor experiences and tours, retail product development and curated books, whilst increasing brand awareness through vibrant Gardens’ campaigns and advocacy - winning the gold award at the Qantas Australia Tourism Awards and Hall of Fame status in the Victorian Tourism Awards. For the ADF and The Smith Family, I led strategic and structural change with great teams. At Arts Centre Melbourne, after overseeing a fresh vision to be - at that time - the largest arts participation team in Australia, my team led four major events to re/open Hamer Hall, and won four state awards for leadership in community, access, digital and public programs. For Melbourne University, I prepared the first-ever EU tender for the Arts Faculty (score 98/100, 2nd), negotiated $1.2M+ intelligence partnership for Philosophy; and promoted Asia-Pacific women’s leadership programs for Melbourne School of Government. Across the years, my teams and projects have attracted transformational gifts, corporate investment, large government grants, national awards, and great ROI. I'm driven by inquiry and therefore at my best when negotiating the landscape between differing organisations, people, needs and approaches. I do this by asking great questions, and trusting my team and collaborators to unearth and define the best solutions. Other strengths: • High profile distinguished network • Creation and development of talented teams • Advanced presentation and public speaking ability • Outstanding research skills
Responsible for strategic direction and leadership of the largest independent funder of ovarian cancer research in Australia. Our vision is a healthy vital future for all those impacted by ovarian cancer. We do this through raising awareness and funds, major campaigns, advocacy, and strategic investment in high-impact medical research grants, partnerships, research infrastructure and programs. Our aims are to address three decades of structural underinvestment and gender inequity in medical research, and transform outcomes for the most lethal gynaecological cancer in Australia. Achievements to date: - Development and launch of the OCRF's Strategic Plan 2025-30 - Increase in annual turnover by 75% in three years - 100% increase in medical research grants in the same period - High level advocacy meetings for major bid on behalf of ovarian cancer community, incl with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Mark Butler, Assistant Minister Rebecca White, Senators, MPs, States, NHMRC/MRFF, departmental leaders, and importantly, lived experience ambassadors - Establishment of Global OvCa Research Consortium with UK, Canada, USA and launch of $1M USD Global Accelerator Grant (May 2025) - Co-author of submissions to the Senate Inquiry into Neuro-endocrine and rare cancers (Cth); Women's Pain Inquiry (VIC); Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy (Cth) - Multiple keynote speeches including 'Levelling the field: Disparities in funding for medical research' (Australian Society of Gynaecological Oncologists Annual Conference, Hobart 2024); Mavis Robertson International Women's Day Lunch (Women in Super, Sydney 2025); AusBiotech International Conference, invited panellist (Melb 2025); Research Impact Strategy Launch (Parliament House, Canberra, 2025) - Restructured legal entity of the organisation - Full transformation of organisation with refreshed vision, purpose, values, goals, evaluation metrics - Design and recruitment of high-achieving engaged team.
Executive leadership role responsible for visitors, supporters and their needs at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, a world-class cultural, horticultural and scientific organisation welcoming 2.2 million visitors each year across two high-profile sites. I provided executive direction and leadership for 100+ team members and 130 volunteers within visitor experience, tourism and major events; public programming, learning and participation; philanthropy, major gifts fundraising and donor engagement; partnerships, marketing and communications; government relations; retail operations and product development; place planning and design. I also provided professional support to the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation in its governance and grant-making. Achievements include raising >$70 million across six years from government, commercial and philanthropic revenue; authored RBGV capital campaign plan and case for support; amazing team delivered sold-out 'Lightscape' seasons with SONY (2022-23) and 'Fire Gardens' (2018); won Gold at the Qantas Australia Tourism Awards (2021); achieved Hall of Fame status at Victorian Tourism Industry Awards (2022); Gold wins at National Print Awards (2022); led Nature Science Precinct Detailed Place Plan project with ASPECT Studio (2021); Team won gold at Interpretation Australia Awards (2020); fantastic new public programs, interpretation and audio tours; 175th milestone year celebrations (2021); commissioned first-ever women's social history of the Gardens; curation of WONDER: 175 Years of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Sophie Cunningham and Peter Wilmoth, 2021) and project management for 'Of Friends and Gardens: A History of the Cranbourne Friends' (Carolyn Landon, 2022). An exciting organisation with extraordinary heritage, fascinating science, beautiful landscapes and wonderful staff, the Gardens' team safeguards plants for the well-being of people and the planet, demonstrating environmental, social and scientific impact in all its work.
Senior business development executive responsible for portfolio of business development and project activity to support social and commercial outcomes in 5 Schools and 2 Graduate Schools involving 30 academic disciplines including humanities, fine arts, culture and communications, social and political sciences, historical & philosophical studies, languages and linguistics. Achievements include successful negotiations to secure $1.2M for School of Historical and Philosophical Studies from US National Intelligence agency (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) through competitive global bid; mentoring the Australian International Conflict Resolution Project (AICRP) under esteemed Professor John Langmore in lean launch pad business development principles; working closely with the talented Research, Innovation and Commercialisation team under Doron Ben-Meir; learning from the stellar Arts faculty research and engagement teams under Dean Mark Considine and Jo Ligouris; capacity building and aid projects in Asia Pacific region for Melbourne School of Government; and leading the Faculty's first ever European Union consortium bid, the $2M international tender for EU-AUS Leadership Forum project with renowned expert Professor Philomena Murray and ICF Mostra (Brussels).
Consultancy, coaching and workshop facilitation - Strategic planning, vision, leadership, project and team development Chair and member, Dance, Community and Regional Development grants assessment panels, Creative Victoria - Ongoing 2010-2020 Panel speaker, 'Transforming from Within: Ten steps to influencing change' Australia Council, Arts Learning Forum (November 2015) Locum Manager, Creative Culture, City of Darebin (2015) - Leadership and direction of 60+ creative team involving year-round arts participation programs, festivals, events and thriving cultural facilities: Northcote Town Hall, Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre, Bundoora Homestead Art Gallery - Co-author, researcher, facilitator in 2013 for new six year cultural strategy (Creative Darebin: Arts Strategy 2014-2020) - Author of 'Strengthening Live Music 2015' report - Board planning workshops toward development of new strategic plan for Bundoora Homestead Art Gallery (2015) Executive producer, Best Practice Cultural Learning & Impact Series (2013) - Program partnership with Tate Modern UK - Event involved 90 VIC and NSW cultural organisations including regional galleries, museums, performing arts centres, major presenters - Co-developed with Anna Cutler, Director of Learning, Tate Executive producer, Audio Architecture International Symposium, Cities, Sound & design for Hamer Hall reopening celebrations (2012) - Project developed with curators Office for Good Design (Melbourne) - Event included global keynotes from Joel Sanders, Yale School of Architecture (USA), sound artist Janet Cardiff (CAN), ARM (AU) and 24 hour tertiary design camp (RMIT, Arts Centre Melbourne) Presenter, Arts Participation Incubator 10 x 10 Showcase (Deakin University, 2012) Keynote speaker, Young People & the Arts Australia conference (Brisbane, 2010)
Executive role responsible for leadership and direction to support new fundraising, marketing and communications strategy for the ADF. Achievements include 2014 Annual Report; Support to CEO for development of new five-year organisational strategy, led organisational review of brand and value proposition; Secured new charity client partnership with Mitchell & Partners; National TV and digital campaign launched on The Today Show with Andrew Gaze as Ambassador; Major opinion pieces published: Daily Telegraph NSW; Herald Sun; The Age; The Project; 3AW; ABC 774; Event planning and promotion for first Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Winter Conversation at Clemenger Auditorium, NGV - Rafael Epstein MC; Successful VicHealth funding 2015, one of four from 28 applications in the Alcohol Innovation Challenge; Successful philanthropic fundraising with major family foundation. Through prevention programs, research and advocacy, the ADF mission is to reduce harm from the impacts of alcohol and drug use in Australian families, community sport and the workplace.