CASE Europe Honours Emerging Advancement Leaders at 2025 Annual Conference
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 CASE Europe Emerging Professional Awards, recognising exceptional early-career leaders in fundraising, alumni relations, and marketing and communications. The awards celebrate innovation, professional excellence, and collaboration – values that define the advancement profession and the CASE community.
The awards will be presented during the CASE Europe Annual Conference (CEAC), taking place in Birmingham, United Kingdom, from 4–6 November 2025.
“Our emerging professionals represent the future of advancement – driven by curiosity, creativity, and a shared belief in education as a force for good,” said Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of CASE. “Their achievements remind us that the strength of our institutions lies not only in their history, but in the ingenuity and dedication of those shaping their future.”
Sarah Jayne Smith, Senior Development Manager, North America at Queen’s University Belfast, has been named the 2025 recipient of the CASE Europe Iain More Award for Emerging Fundraising Professionals. Since joining Queen’s, Sarah Jayne has built the university’s presence in North America from the ground up, creating a strong network of alumni, donors, and partners across the United States and Canada. Her leadership has led to significant philanthropic growth and a deeper sense of community among Queen’s global supporters.
Jovana Panić, Head of Alumni Relations at ESMT Berlin, has been recognised with the 2025 CASE Europe Emerging Alumni Relations Professional Award. Through strategic innovation and community-building, Jovana has revitalised ESMT’s alumni network into a dynamic, inclusive, and mission-driven community. Her leadership has fostered record engagement, from the launch of the MentorMap programme to expanded alumni participation worldwide.
Joe Perry, Internal Communications Manager (Students) at the University of Leicester, is the 2025 recipient of the CASE Europe Martin Bojam Emerging Marketing and Communications Professional Award. Known for his creativity and commitment to inclusivity, Joe has strengthened student communications and internal culture through thoughtful strategy and collaboration. His work has set new standards for clarity, engagement, and accessibility in university communications.
Each of these outstanding professionals exemplifies the purpose and potential of the advancement profession – connecting people, inspiring generosity, and championing the transformative power of education.
About CASE
CASE—the Council for Advancement and Support of Education—is a global, not-for-profit membership association with a vision to advance education to transform lives and society.
CASE is the home for advancement professionals, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions. CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement, leading, and championing their dissemination and application with more than 97,000 advancement professionals at 3,100 member institutions in 80 countries.
Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently these include alumni relations, development services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may be working in universities, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profits. CASE uses the intellectual capital and professional talents of a community of international volunteers to advance its work, and its membership includes many educational partners who work closely with the educational sector.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE works across all continents from its regional offices in London, Singapore, and Mexico City to achieve a seamless experience for all its stakeholders, particularly its members, volunteers, and staff.