Winners announced - Australasian Fundraiser of the Year

August 29, 2008

At a special ceremony today, Anna Wood (small nonprofit category) and Mark Lees (large
nonprofit category) were named the winners of the inaugural Australasian Fundraiser of the
Year Award, organised and presented by Fundraising and Philanthropy Australasia Magazine.

The ceremony was held at the Australasian Fundraising Forum in front of an audience of
around 130 delegates. The achievements of the runners-up and finalists were also featured,
and all were presented with framed certificates acknowledging their exceptional performance,
skill and talent.

Brief summaries of the winners’ achievements are outlined below, and more detailed profiles
will appear in the next edition of Fundraising and Philanthropy Australasia Magazine.

Small Nonprofit Category

Winner:
Anna Wood, Director of Marketing and Development, Crusader Union of Australia (based in
Sydney)

Runner-up:
Catherine Hoban, Director of Development, Lort Smith Animal Hospital (based in
Melbourne)

Finalists:
Ivan Ho Yeng Thye, Executive Director, Oikos Helping Hand (based in The Philippines)
Jenny Allen, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Focus Inc (based in Perth)

Large Nonprofit Category

Winner:
Mark Lees, Fundraising and Marketing Director, Bible Society NSW (based in Sydney)

Runner-up:
Arron Peacock, Direct Marketing Manager, Oxfam New Zealand (based in Auckland)

Finalists:
Jennifer Doubell, National Fundraising Director, National Heart Foundation Australia (based
in Sydney)
Leonie Walton, Head of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships, National Breast Cancer
Foundation (based in Sydney)
Julie Callaghan, General Manager, Breast Cancer Institute of Australia (based in Newcastle)

Prizes
As the winner of the large nonprofit category, Mark Lees won a free registration to attend the
International Fundraising Congress (IFC) in Amsterdam in October including
accommodation. Fundraising and Philanthropy Australasia Magazine is contributing $2,300
towards airfares.
As the winner of the small nonprofit category, Anna Wood won a free registration to attend
the Australasian Fundraising Forum in Sydney.

Award Criteria and Judging

An international board of judges from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and The
Philippines assessed candidates according to criteria such as financial results, strategy,
entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and broad achievements. Another key criterion was long-
term performance, i.e., judges assessed data and accomplishments recorded over a 3-4 year
period.

Sponsors
Two key partners have supported the award program. They are NGO Recruitment
(www.ngorecruitment.com), a leading recruitment firm specializing in the nonprofit sector,
and the Resource Alliance (www.resource-alliance.org), organisers of the annual International
Fundraising Congress in Amsterdam.

Profiles – Winners and Runners-up

Only some very brief highlights can be given here, and these really do not do justice to the
fuller picture of the extensive achievements of the winners and runners-up. Fuller profiles
will be given in the next edition of Fundraising and Philanthropy Australasia Magazine.

Winner – Small Nonprofit Category

Anna Wood, Director of Marketing and Development, Crusader Union of Australia (based in
Sydney)
• Achieved extraordinary net fundraising growth of 294% in a recent 12 month period,
but also regularly exceeded income targets for the last 4 years
• Developed tailor-made fundraising products for different donor segments
• Conducted a $4 million capital campaign over 4 years and developed a new regular
giving program
• Secured buy-in from leadership to expand fundraising activities

Runner-up – Small Nonprofit Category

Catherine Hoban, Director of Development, Lort Smith Animal Hospital (based in
Melbourne)
• Launched a highly successful fundraising program from scratch including the
development of new fundraising ‘products’ based on thorough research and a ‘nose’
for opportunity
• Increased net revenue by 204% in a recent 12-month period
• Implemented an extensive acquisition program resulting in 7000 new cash donors and
600 regular givers over 18 months

Winner – Large Nonprofit Category

Mark Lees, Fundraising and Marketing Director, Bible Society NSW (based in Sydney)
• Acted as an agent of change to turn around dysfunctional fundraising departments
• Actively creates a team culture where innovation and ideas are allowed to bubble to
the surface and be implemented resulting in significant fundraising revenue increases
• Successfully conducted a $12 million capital campaign (in the role directly prior to
joining Bible Society)
• Achieved a 57% increase in net fundraising revenue in a recent 12 month period

Runner-up – Large Nonprofit Category

Arron Peacock, Direct Marketing Manager, Oxfam New Zealand (based in Auckland)
• Implemented the ‘Oxfam Unwrapped’ integrated campaign involving a complex mix
of direct mail, web marketing, direct TV, radio and TV promotion, viral email
campaigns, newspaper and magazine inserts
• Increased net fundraising revenue by 45% during a recent 12 month period
• Smashed fundraising targets despite a significant reduction in human resources