Alex Furman is a highly experienced executive leader of philanthropic, engagement and business transformation programs. He was Vice-President for Advancement at the Australian National University from 2022-2026, overseeing a tripling of philanthropic income and a successful reimagining of university's Advancement program. Prior to ANU, he was Director of Development at the University of Melbourne for the decorated Believe Campaign that secured $1.16 billion. He has also held senior and executive roles as Head of Public Relations and Development for Murdoch Children's Research Institute, where he also led a capital campaign, and leadership positions in fundraising and management in the Australian arts sector for Opera Australia and Victorian Opera. Alex is a long-standing volunteer for CASE, having co-chaired the 2025 APAC conference, and continues to serve as a member of Faculty for the CASE Academy and CASE APIEF programs. He was made a CASE Laureate in 2025 for his volunteer service. He is also a Board member of the Mietta Foundation and a National Advisory Council member for Musica Viva Australia. 

Liz Hawkins is the Chief Advancement Officer at Adelaide University. She has over 30 years’ experience in fundraising within tertiary education, the arts & cultural sector and the not for profit across North America the UK and Australia. Liz currently leads an expanding team of 25 advancement professionals with the aim to embed the culture of philanthropy across the university, secure transformational gifts and help lead the 150th Anniversary celebrations in 2024.

After graduating from Cornell University, Liz worked for the University in the Advancement team for 5 years. After a 15-year stint as a professional actor, Liz returned to full-time fundraising and most recently worked as Director of Programming, Development and Venue Sales at Adelaide Festival Centre. Liz was an inaugural member of the CASE Asia Pacific Board and Council and is delighted to return once again as an APIEF faculty member.

Rebecca brings over two decades of experience in the university sector, having worked with QUT, WSU, and the University of Newcastle. She also has extensive experience in the non-profit sector, including her role at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, and as the Director of her own advisory firm.

Most recently, Rebecca served as Executive Director of Advancement at the University of Newcastle. Commencing in 2013, during her tenure, she established an integrated, university-wide approach to advancement, combining fundraising, alumni and philanthropic engagement into a best practise Advancement program. She further developed strategies, culture, and programs to foster sustained, meaningful engagement with alumni, community, and donors globally.

Her notable achievements at Newcastle include driving significant growth in alumni and philanthropic engagement, securing record levels of philanthropic support for research, and collaborating with university leadership and the academic community to cultivate a culture of giving.

Rebecca is a passionate and highly motivated advancement leader, dedicated to philanthropy, alumni, and community engagement. She is particularly interested in building a culture of engagement in higher education and strengthening connections with the community.

Allison Howell Quinton has been connecting philanthropists to the University since she joined as Deputy Director, and Head, Major Gifts, in 2018. She currently leads the MDHS Advancement team as the Senior Director where her focus is on transformational philanthropic growth for medical research and student success.

Allison is a passionate fundraising executive with over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles across North America, Australia and Asia. Before her move to Australia, Allison led major gifts programs and capital campaigns in Canada, where she built teams of Development and Marketing & Communications specialists and developed long-term revenue growth strategies in health and human services.

Khalijah has dedicated over 20 years to the fundraising sector, where her accidental entry evolved into a deeply purposeful career. Fuelled by the immense satisfaction she derives from inspiring generosity, she is committed to encouraging a culture of giving and advancing the professionalisation of fundraising in Singapore.

Currently the Director of the Advancement Office at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Khalijah brings a wealth of experience spanning healthcare, higher education, and community philanthropy. Her previous roles include Assistant Director (Corporate Development) at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), Deputy Director (Donor Relations) at the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), and Senior Manager (Development) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). As a Major Gift Officer, she has raised more than S$220 million in philanthropic support throughout her career.

Khalijah holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from NUS, a Graduate Diploma in Marketing Communications from the Marketing Institute of Singapore, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the National Institute of Education (NIE), and a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies from the University of Kent. She is one of the few fundraising professionals in Singapore to hold the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, an internationally accredited certification in philanthropic fundraising. She is currently pursuing a Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University.

In addition to her leadership role at SUSS, Khalijah serves as an Associate Faculty member, teaching NPM505 Fundraising and Philanthropy, a graduate-level elective. She also previously taught the Philanthropic Planning module in the STEP Certificate for Financial Services (2015–2018), guiding financial advisors in charitable planning. She chaired the CASE Asia Pacific Pre-conference Workshop “Roadmap in Advancement” in 2024 and 2025.

An active volunteer, Khalijah contributes her fundraising expertise to various charities in Singapore, reflecting her deep commitment to sector-wide capacity building and ethical advancement.