Jon Paparsenos is the Vice President Philanthropy and CEO UNSW Foundation appointed in 2016. He brings to the role more than 14 years' experience in the planning and execution of fundraising campaigns. Prior to joining UNSW, he served in the position of executive director of development, academic divisions and regions for the California Institute of Technology and with Marquette University in Wisconsin and Community Counselling Co., LLC in New York.

Jon came to philanthropy following an eight-year service with the US Marine Corps. Jon holds a BA from Seton Hall University. In 2016 Jon immigrated to Australia with his wife and two children to take up his current position with UNSW.

Jimmy Buck is the Chief Advancement Officer at Deakin University, leading a growing team of advancement practitioners at one of Australia’s youngest universities. A lifelong fundraiser, Jimmy started his career in advancement as a university student, co-chairing Boston University’s class gift campaign, which raised $100,000 from graduating students.

During nine years at the University of Sydney, Jimmy worked across all areas of Advancement, leading advancement services, alumni relations and development teams in both higher education and medical philanthropy.  At Sydney he played a leadership role generating philanthropic income towards the $1 billion INSPIRED campaign, the largest philanthropic campaign in Australian higher education.  

He is a CASE volunteer and speaker, and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Education Advancement and Marketing and the Deakin University Community Bank Board. Jimmy brings international experience from earlier roles and studies at Boston University, the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and the University of Sydney.

Deborah leads the activity and strategy for philanthropy and alumni relations at Western Sydney University. The strategy aims to ensure a strong culture of giving (and asking) advances the University’s teaching and research agendas.

Deborah is a dynamic and accomplished philanthropy and marketing-communications executive, with over 20 years’ experience and a versatile skill set. Deborah brings strategic insight from industries including higher education, finance, building, retail and not-for-profits.

Deborah enjoys articulating complex issues and managing multiple stakeholders, taking each on a journey and providing mutual benefit. She feels that stimulating collective thought, identifying new opportunities and developing a culture are paramount to building strong relationships and ultimately, strong revenue streams.

Dave Shepherd recently established a bespoke consultancy practice after 30 years’ experience in the schools’ sector, as both an educator and senior administrator. Dave specializes in the full range of Advancement disciplines, volunteer management and senior strategic leadership training for International and Independent schools globally. In 2006, Dave established the Development, Alumni Relations and Marketing and Communications Office as Director of Advancement at United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA); a K1 – Grade 12 non-profit International school in Singapore. The Advancement team has raised over S$30 million, connected with over 15,000 alumni representing 140 countries and is supported by over 100 Parent Ambassadors and senior volunteer leaders. Dave has taught and presented regularly at CASE institutes, commissions and events. He chaired the 10th Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference in 2017 and is currently a director of the CASE Asia-Pacific Board.

Marcus Ward is Chief Philanthropy Officer at Monash University. Marcus joined Monash in September 2013 as Director of Development, and now leads a team of 40 development professionals with an institution-wide remit to embed a culture of philanthropy at the University, in support of Monash’s mission and vision, through both securing transformational philanthropy and significant levels of alumni donor participation. He serves as deputy to the Vice-President, Advancement, Damien Farrell and is the founding Chair of the Universities Australia Philanthropy Network.

In 2018, Marcus led the launch of the University's largest-ever fundraising campaign, Change it. For good., with goals of raising $500m from 50,000 donors, and doubling the number of bequests made to Monash. 

Prior to joining ERDA, Marcus was Head of Major Gifts at Queen’s University Belfast, where he worked on two comprehensive fundraising campaigns which redefined the importance of philanthropy in Northern Ireland and culminated in the team being recognised as the Times Higher University Fundraising Team of the Year 2012.  Prior to that Marcus led the Corporate and Trust Fundraising Team at The Prince's Trust in London, the Prince of Wales's largest charity, securing its largest ever philanthropic relationship with the English Premier League, still in place 20 years later.

Marcus was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn and is a graduate of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, City University London and of Queen’s University Belfast, where he gained an MBA in Business Administration and Management. 

Married to Jenny, with three children Archie, Freddie and Poppy, they all enjoy travelling, the ocean, and Apple devices.