Delivering the best experience for alumni and donors, raising financial revenue, and retaining talent requires adequate resourcing of Advancement teams. In this session, we will explore how the case for investing in Advancement can be articulated, justified, and defended to leadership. In an increasingly resource-constrained economy, the University of Sydney has defied the odds by achieving record fundraising results during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a sustained growth in resourcing over the past five years. This session will delve into how Advancement was, and continues to be championed as a core part of the University of Sydney’s business, lessons learned through the process, and how global benchmarks can be leveraged as a predictor of what is possible.

Experience Level: Level 5 - Expert Seasoned Professional, Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional

Topics: Leadership & Other

With a growth in commitment to ambitious, institution-wide fundraising targets that address enduring societal challenges, advancement teams across the sector are being challenged to find significant new revenue streams to fund impact-fuelled initiatives. Success will require more than just money, but agile and adaptive teams that can work effectively with large multi-disciplinary cohorts, alliances and partnerships with funders of scale to maximise impact.

This fireside chat for senior advancement professionals will provide insights into how UC Berkeley, The University of Sydney and Monash University are driving transformational support for large-scale institutional priorities through new and innovative partnership approaches. Going beyond the confines of traditional fundraising models, the speakers will share their insights as to what has worked, challenges to be aware of and lessons learned along the way. Join them as they take a closer look at best practice for this next generation of large-scale philanthropic investments and projects.

Experience Level: Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional

Topics: Leadership

Most professions require some sort of formal training before commencing work, whereas fundraisers generally have little prior learning specific to the profession and training is on-the-job. So, is this an opportunity or challenge when it comes to identifying, recruiting and growing university advancement teams?

At a time when the demand for advancement staff in the tertiary sector far outweighs the pool of experienced talent, how do we navigate the market to secure talent and how do we simultaneously foster talent from within our own ranks?

In this session you will hear from the Australian National University’s Ryan Ginard, CFRE and Kellie Takenaka about the internal and external approaches we can take to ensure our sector is an attractive option for talent and that current staff can envisage a long and successful career at their institutions.

Moderated by Jocelyn Kelty, Director of the Australia Office at Richmond Associates, who can share her perspective as a longstanding recruiter of advancement talent across Australia and globally.

Experience Level: Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional

Topics: Leadership

From helping to embed a culture of philanthropy through to playing an active part in campaigns, alumni engagement and principal gift fundraising, the buy-in of the senior leadership of an institution is a vital ingredient if you are to build a strong and successful Advancement program. But with so many other calls on their time and attention, where do you start? With almost five decades of experience leading University Advancement teams between them, Nick and Siôn will share their perspectives, war stories and practical lessons learned on how best to engage with your senior academic (and non-academic) leadership, increase their understanding and, crucially, gain their support for your endeavours.

Experience Level: Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional

Topics: Leadership