CASE xChange

CASE Podcasts

Voices from the Field Leadership Conversations Voces y Café Podcasts featuring CASE leaders

Advancing education one podcast at a time.

Introducing CASE xChange, a new channel for the voices of CASE that we hope will help connect you with ideas, best practices, and innovations in advancement. Whether you are at your desk, commuting to work, or even just taking a walk, you can take a few minutes and hear from leaders across the globe who are doing great work. Be sure to subscribe to xChange so you don't miss new episodes as they become available.

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Voices from the Field:

In this podcast series ‘Voices from the Field’, we will hear from members of our community as they share their knowledge and insights, covering all facets of advancement from a practitioner, leader and industry expert’s point of view. Join Heather Hamilton, Executive Director of CASE Asia-Pacific and Brad Entwistle, Founding Partner of imageseven as they chat with our guests.

Episode 67: A Conversation with Serge Sych – Crisis Management

This episode, we welcome back Serge Sych, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Career Services and Alumni Relations at Central European University in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary. Serge shares the lessons he has learnt through experiencing political unrest and forced relocation of Central European University, including how to best manage a crisis, and why engaging with your alumni and stakeholders is vital during challenging times. Also, find out why a crisis communications plan is not enough and how you can best prepare your institution for the unpredictable.

Episode 66: A Conversation with Gustavo Segui – Challenging the Status Quo Through Design Thinking

Our voice from the field is Gustavo Segui, Director of Marketing & Advancement at International School of Curitiba in Brazil and Group Leader–Admissions, Marketing & Communications and Advancement at American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA), a non-profit association. Gustavo shares how he became passionate about education, why fighting against the status quo in the education sector is important, and how design thinking as an approach to challenge our assumptions and solve problems can lead to the creation of innovative solutions. Also, find out what he hopes to leave as his legacy and what the next 12 months look like for him and his team.

Episode 65: A Conversation with Mikaeli Costello – Behind the Motto “For Alumni, By Alumni”

We welcome another voice from the field, Mikaeli Costello, Chief Community Engagement Officer at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. Mikaeli shares her passion for delivering authentic value to UQ’s alumni community and how her team meets the needs of their international alumni, including bringing together alumni and partners through their award-winning alumni campaign ChangeMakers. Also, find out how UQ provides a platform for researchers to tackle world issues on Doomscroll Remedy, a podcast series launched earlier this year.

Episode 64: A Conversation with Mark Phillips – Solving Problems Through Giving

Our voice from the field this episode is Mark Phillips, Owner and Managing Director at Bluefrog Fundraising Limited in London, United Kingdom. Mark shares the findings of his latest study on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on fundraising, as well as on giving tendencies and whether it is possible to predict post-pandemic donor trends. Also, hear how giving is combating feelings of hopelessness and injustice.

Episode 63: A Conversation with Sue Birch – A Commitment From the Whole Industry Is What We Need

Our guest this episode is Sue Birch, Principal Consultant at Sue Birch Consulting, specialising in fundraising operations and advancement services. Sue shares what to consider when implementing technology to support your institution’s advancement services, including whether your issue is truly grounded in technology deficits. Listen in to hear her insights on the importance of succession planning and how the solution to challenges facing advancement services requires a commitment from the whole industry.

More information on the CASE Global Reporting Standards referenced in this episode can be found here.

Episode 62: A Conversation with Jan Abernathy – Overcoming Pushback Through Uncomfortable Conversations

Our voice from the field this episode is Jan Abernathy, Chief Communications Officer at The Browning School in New York City and conference chair for CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference 2022. Jan shares what the advancement sector looks like through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Listen in to hear how opinions on DEIB differ between generations, the impact this has on your institution, and how you can overcome pushback through uncomfortable conversations.

Episode 61: A Conversation with Anna Rottenecker – Philanthropy in Hong Kong and Fundraising Across Borders

This episode, we are joined by Anna Rottenecker, Executive Director at Chapel & York Hong Kong Foundation. Anna shares about her career journey and how she first encountered the challenges of international fundraising during her time with the Association for the Prevention of Torture. Also, learn about the intricacies involved in an organisation setting up an international foundation compared to utilising a pre-existing foundation, and hear her insights on the philanthropy landscape in Hong Kong, including how the legacy of giving is evolving through the generations.

Episode 60: A Conversation with Beth Smith – Supporting Our Institutions and Celebrating Their Successes

Our voice from the field this episode is Beth Smith, CASE Executive Director, United States and Canada. Listen in to get to know Beth including how she was lured out of retirement by CASE, how she is tackling current challenges shared by millions, and what she is looking forward to this year. Stay tuned for the occasional episode with Beth joining Brad as co-host for CASE xChange.

Episode 59: A Conversation with John Gough – How Data Can Inform Your Best Decisions and CASE DRIVE/ 2022

This episode we are joined by John Gough, Senior Executive Director for Advancement Data Operations, The University of Texas at Austin, United States and conference chair for CASE DRIVE/ 2022. Listen in to hear why collecting and analysing data is so important for all areas of an institution, including leadership. John gives us a sneak peek into what attendees can expect at DRIVE/ 2022 and provides recommendations for advancement professionals who want to utilise emerging cloud-based solutions and AI technology.

Episode 58: A Conversation with Ani Sharma – It’s Time for Communication Leaders to Have a Seat at the Table

In this episode, we welcome Ani Sharma, Director of Communications & Strategic Relations at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. Reflecting on his 22 years of experience in advancement, Ani shares how working across India, the Middle East, and Singapore has developed his cultural understanding and how he uses this knowledge in his current role. Listen in to hear his insights on measuring impact and outcomes in communications and why communication leaders should have a seat at the table.

Episode 57: A Conversation with Robert Heather – Why Philanthropy Is Critical for the Arts

Robert Heather, Executive Director at the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales in Australia, is this episode’s voice from the field. With over 30 years of experience across three capital cities at art galleries, museums, libraries, and a university, Robert shares the trends he’s witnessed during his career and why philanthropic funding for the arts is critical. Listen in to hear his insights on the similarities and differences between the arts and higher education sectors, including which principles are fundamental to both sectors.

Episode 56: A Conversation with Stephanie Flemming – The Importance of Relationships and a Passion for the Cause

Our guest for this episode is Stephanie Flemming, Advancement Coordinator at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Toowoomba, Australia. Stephanie reflects on her journey into advancement, which started with no knowledge of advancement and five filing cabinets filled with loose donor information. Now an expert in cultivating donor relationships and developing philanthropic programmes, she shares how multimillion-dollar endowments and bursaries are helping USQ’s rural and regional students.

Episode 55: A Conversation with Peter Hayashida – A Reflection on Fundraising Trends in Advancement

Our voice from the field this episode is Peter Hayashida, former Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, University of California, Riverside (UCR) and former President, UCR Foundation. In Peter’s 25 years with the university, he has had many career highlights including helping to raise over $300 million in the most recent campaign Living the Promise: The Campaign for UC Riverside. Listen in as he reflects on the fundraising trends that have contributed to developing the art and science of advancement and why he believes a diverse workforce and dynamism is important for the future of fundraising.

Episode 54: A Conversation with Nick Blinco – Insights From the APAC Chair Around Campaign Success Factors

Joining us for our first episode of 2022 is Nick Blinco, Vice President (Advancement) at The University of Melbourne in Australia. Upon the conclusion of the University’s Believe campaign in 2021, Nick shares some campaign successes and his outlook for the coming year. As the conference chair for CASE’s upcoming Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference, he also shares his vision for the conference, ensuring cross country and multisectoral content.

Episode 53: A Conversation with Mike Richey – A 50-Year Commitment to a University for the People

Joining us for our last episode of 2021 is Mike Richey, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington, United States. In Mike’s 50 years with the university, he was a pioneer of advancement and has had many career highlights, including helping to raise over $2.5 billion. Listen in to hear about UK's current fundraising campaign called Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign, his views around giving trends that will continue well into the future, and why he believes student philanthropy is important.

Episode 52: A Conversation with Kade Hamalainen – Philanthropy and Partnering with Indigenous Communities

Kade Hamalainen, Philanthropy Executive at Bush Heritage Australia joins us in this episode. Hear about his experience in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme, where he was hosted at the University of Sydney, and his current role focusing on partnering with Indigenous communities to protect the Australian landscape and native species. Discover how the Bush Heritage Australia story began in Tasmania with a doctor, deposit of prize money, and a national fundraising campaign to support the purchase of the founding property, as well as how the next decade will be a critical time for the organisation and the Australian environment.

Episode 51: A Conversation with Ann Snyder – The Integrated Advancement Model and Annual Giving Trends in Schools

Our guest for this episode is CASE’s own Ann Snyder, who is the Director of Independent and International Schools. Ann shares what an integrated advancement model can look like in schools, highlighting that both flexible thinking and getting support from the Head of School are what will ultimately predict the success of any institutional change. Also, hear insights on the latest annual giving trends from the recent CASE schools survey, including her advice on how your institution can sustain these positive trends.

Episode 50: A Conversation with Patrice Maher – CASE Graduate Trainee Programme and Telethon Kids Institute

Patrice Maher, Major Gifts Officer at Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Australia, joins us to share her experience in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme with her host institution, Monash University, and her current role with a not-for-profit medical research institute. Listen in to hear about the four research focus areas of Telethon Kids Institute and how the Channel 7 Perth Telethon supports Telethon Kids, along with 65 other independent children’s health not-for-profits in creating a community of happy, healthy kids.

Episode 49: A Conversation with Rob Henry – An Introduction to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Our guest for this episode is CASE’s own Rob Henry, Vice President, Development, Culture, and Talent. Through explaining what diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are, Rob highlights their importance to an organisation’s values and net income. Listen in to hear how understanding systemic issues and leadership buy-in are key in successfully integrating a DEIB strategy into an organisation's culture.

For all DEIB resources referenced in this episode, visit the CASE Opportunity and Inclusion Center.

Episode 48: A Conversation with Daniel Martin – Campaigns in Independent Schools and Philanthropic Trends

Our guest for this episode is Daniel Martin, Director of Foundation and Executive Officer at St Aloysius’ College in Sydney, Australia. With over 20 years of experience in philanthropy and engagement in the higher education, medical research, and not-for-profit sectors, hear how Daniel is applying his learnings to a school setting. Listen in as he shares elements of St Aloysius’ College’s upcoming philanthropic campaign, the advantages to a school having a foundation, and philanthropic trends in the schools' sector we can expect.

Episode 47: A Conversation with Natasha Tan – Singapore’s Giving Culture and the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme

Our guest for this episode is Natasha Tan, Assistant Director, Major Gifts at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Heather and Brad congratulate Natasha on her new role with NTU and discuss the differences between Australian and Singaporean cultures of giving back. Also, hear how her experience in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme shaped her decision around wanting to make an impact, including ensuring every student gets equal opportunities in educational endeavours.

Episode 46: A Conversation with Fiona Johnston – Sparking Extraordinary Futures

Our guest for this episode is Fiona Johnston, Principal of St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth, Western Australia and a member of the CASE Council for Asia-Pacific. Celebrating St Hilda’s 125 years, Fiona shares how reflecting on the school’s history during the process of developing their strategic plan St Hilda’s Reimagined is ensuring graduates are well prepared for the workforce. Listen in to learn about St Hilda’s targeted programmes that aim to inspire women in leadership, as well as how they went about securing philanthropic and corporate partnerships to support their Indigenous students and students interested in science, technology, and engineering.

Episode 45: A Conversation with Mark Sollis – Personalisation and Disruptive Thinking

In this episode, Mark Sollis, Strategist and Creative for the global advancement consulting company, D3 Advancement Studio, shares his passion for personalisation and the reason your stakeholders expect a tailored experience. Hear why disruptive thinking, such as asking ‘what if’ will protect you against behavioural phenomena such as confirmation bias, groupthink, and power dynamics. Listen in to learn about static and dynamic stability in data systems, and how digital engagement should be a feature in any engagement strategy, even in a post-pandemic environment.

Episode 44: A Conversation with Steven Shattuck – How Technology Compliments Your Fundraising Efforts

Our guest for this episode is Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang and author of Robots Make Bad Fundraisers: How Nonprofits Can Maintain the Heart in the Digital Age. Steven shares how technology can help build relationships with donors and supporters, and if used incorrectly, can stunt the progression of these relationships and hinder the donor experience. Also, listen in to hear if giving days are effective as a fundraising strategy and what personally donating to your institution can teach you.

Episode 43: A Conversation with Tracy Chalk – Award-Winning Campaigns and a Commitment to the Indigenous Community

Our guest for this episode is Tracy Chalk, Chief Marketing Officer at The University of Newcastle, Australia. Hear about the three campaigns that earned the university one Gold Award, three Silver Awards and one Bronze Award in the 2021 Circle of Excellence Awards. Tracy shares how these campaigns utilised storytelling to connect with their future students, alumni, and the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as how the university intends to support the advancement of Indigenous education and culture.

Episode 42: A Conversation with Maggy Liu – A Passion for Making an Impact, the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme, and Beyond

Our voice from the field this episode is Maggy Liu, Associate Director of Development at The University of Sydney, Australia. Maggy takes us on her journey of discovering her passion for advancement which was confirmed through her experience with the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme. She also shares her thoughts around what it takes to be an advancement professional during the current pandemic (hint: a passion for making an impact partnered with tenacity and resilience).

Episode 41: A Conversation with Liz Allen – Digital Marketing and International Schools

Our guest for this episode is Liz Allen, Director of Communications and Marketing at Seoul Foreign School in South Korea. Backed by her global career and expertise in digital marketing, Liz shares her insights around social media, including which platforms are best for an institution to connect with current students, alumni, and their community. Furthermore, discover how Seoul Foreign School is showcasing their tradition and history in a modern era using digital media. Lastly, Liz recommends resources that can assist in taking your career global.

Episode 40: A Conversation with Sam Wu – Elements of a Successful Virtual Fundraising Campaign

Our guest for this episode is Sam Wu, Associate Director of Alumni Giving at Singapore Management University (SMU). Through the efforts of Sam and his team, SMU was awarded Grand Gold in the 2021 Circle of Excellence Awards for their virtual fundraising campaign, SMOO Challenge. Sam shares about the campaign and how it has provided support for students in financial need. Hear his insights on what makes a fundraising campaign successful and what’s new about the SMOO Challenge coming in September 2021.

Episode 39: A Conversation with Freya Harding – Climate Change and Philanthropy

For this episode we are joined by Freya Harding, Development Coordinator at ClimateWorks Australia. As a participant and then institution mentor for the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme (GTP), Freya shares about her experience that includes a secondment in Mexico, as well as recommendations for future GTP trainees and host institutions. Also, listen in for insights on the relationship between climate change and philanthropy, and the key challenges for environmental charities in Australia.

Episode 38: A Conversation with Cheng Feng – A Young University and the Advancement Landscape in China

Our guest for this episode is Cheng Feng, Secretary General at Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Foundation and Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at DKU in Kunshan, China. Cheng shares how she went from working in marketing with the world’s largest cosmetic company L’Oréal, to a university that is eight years young. Hear about the general advancement landscape in China and DKU’s vision around educating future leaders to embrace creativity, innovation, and respecting the diverse cultures of the world.

Episode 37: A Conversation with Brendan Schneider – Inbound Versus Outbound Marketing for Schools

In this episode, Brendan Schneider, Director of Advancement at Sewickley Academy and the Founder and CEO of SchneiderB Media Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, shares about the importance of media marketing in schools. Listen in to learn about inbound versus outbound marketing, and the book that Brendan believes all marketing professionals in educational institutions should have on their shelves. Hear recommendations on social media and digital advertising for schools and where marketing and communications professionals can come together as a community. If you would like to learn more about inbound marketing, click here.

Episode 36: A Conversation with Nuzhat Kamran – An Award Winning DEI Programme and Philanthropy in Pakistan

Nuzhat Kamran, Director, Office of Advancement at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan is our voice from the field for this episode. Heather and Brad congratulate Nuzhat on the LUMS national outreach programme Changing Destinies that won the 2021 CASE Platinum Awards - Best Practices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category. She shares how this programme is positively impacting the Pakistani community and her vision, including institutional partnerships. Listen in to hear her insights into the philanthropic landscape of Pakistan and how LUMS navigates this to encourage donors to give.

Episode 35: A Conversation with Toni Lawrence – From the US to Australia; The Culture of Giving and CRM Solutions

Toni Lawrence, Director of Advancement at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Australia joins us for this episode. Listen in to find out how Toni took her learnings from her early career work at Wendy Finerman Productions (producers of Forrest Gump and The Devil Wears Prada) and applied them to her roles in advancement. Hear about her experience when moving from a role at a large university in the United States to a smaller Australian institution, and the exciting things to come at JCU.

Episode 34: A Conversation with Nick Jaffer – Fundraising in Asia and Matched Giving

Our voice from the field this episode is Nick Jaffer, President & CEO (Asia Pacific) at Global Philanthropic in Sydney, Australia. Listen in to hear how Nick went from backpacking in Europe to a stint in banking on his way to a 30-year (and counting) career in fundraising. Nick shares the key themes from Global Philanthropic’s recent annual worldwide forum ‘Talking Philanthropy’ which focused on the philanthropic ecosystem in Asia. With a culturally deep-seated notion of giving, hear how a more intentional approach to philanthropy is taking root in the region and why the government is a critical partner in driving this change—in Asia and across the globe.

Episode 33: A Conversation with Adam Ruble – From the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme in Australia to Fundraising and E-sports in the US

Adam Ruble, Associate Director of Development – Student Affairs at Illinois State University, discusses his experience as a participant in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme and being a fundraiser in both the United States and Australia. Listen in to find out why young advancement professionals are assets and what motivates them to stay within any one institution. Also hear Adam’s insights into the world of e-sports and its untapped potential for educational fundraising.

Episode 32: A Conversation with Lea Sublett – Taking Your Advancement Career Global

We welcome Lea Sublett, Manager of Alumni Affairs at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in this episode. With a career that has taken her from Australia to Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, Lea shares how a global career enriched with different cultural experiences has been achievable by working within advancement. Also, hear her advice for advancement professionals who want broaden their international experience.

Episode 31: A Conversation with Jay Goulart – The Emergence of Cryptocurrency in Philanthropy

Our guest for this episode is Jay Goulart, founder of Big Philanthropy and former vice president for institutional advancement at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida, United States of America, as well as a recipient of the prestigious CASE Crystal Apple Award. Jay shares his first encounter with cryptocurrency and how he received a philanthropic gift in Bitcoin. Hear his insights on how the relationship between cryptocurrency and fundraising is a natural progression for streamlining the transfer of value from donors to institutions.

Voices from the Field Past Episodes

Episode 30: A Conversation with Cara Giacomini

Our guest for this episode is CASE’s own Cara Giacomini, Chief Research & Data Officer who also leads the CASE AMAtlas team. She takes us back to basics in discussing why the capturing and analyses of data is critical for institutions of any size, as well as the ‘where’ and ‘how’ to begin in incorporating data to understand your institution. Through explaining the resources and support that AMAtlas provides, Cara highlights how the recently released CASE Global Reporting Standards is creating a foundation for global benchmarking and what it means to be working in an ethical manner within the educational advancement community.

Episode 29: A Conversation with Joel Terwilliger

In this episode, Joel Terwilliger, Alumni Relations Manager at The University of Auckland shares about the university’s campaign on the advocacy and awareness of volunteerism – Volunteer Impact Week, which was a regional finalist in the 2020 CASE Platinum Awards. Listen in to find out how encouraging alumni to donate an hour of their time per week can have a positive impact for students, society, and the environment. Hear Joel’s insights on how any institution can implement a volunteer-centric campaign in both face-to-face and digital environments to inspire the next generation of change-makers.

Episode 28: A Conversation with Dr. Bervyn Lee

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Bervyn Lee, Director of Alumni Relations at Singapore Management University (SMU). Bervyn shares how the words of a past Singapore prime minister triggered a shift in his outlook on life and legacy giving. Also, listen in to find out how he has initiated alumni and community surveys that will better enable SMU’s understanding of their community’s interests and affinity.

Episode 27: A Conversation with Emma Silva

Join us for this episode with hosts Heather Hamilton and Brad Entwistle, along with guest Emma Silva, director of advancement at United Nations International School (UNIS) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hear how Emma began her career in journalism and what led her to where she is now, working as an advancement leader in an international school. Also, hear her views on a new way of thinking around strategic planning and how the Vietnamese culture has helped to shape the goals and achievements of UNIS Hanoi.

Episode 26: A Conversation with Jayasudha Bandi

In this episode, Jayasudha Bandi, Senior Manager of Alumni Career Services at Indian School of Business (ISB) shares her extensive experience in human resources prior to joining ISB. Listen in to find out how ISB works with alumni and recruiters and manages their programmes; the alumni and graduate recruitment landscape in India; as well as ISB's CASE Platinum Award entries for best practices in alumni relations.

Episode 25: A Conversation with Ovidia Lim-Rajaram

Ovidia Lim-Rajaram, Chief Communications Officer at National University of Singapore, explores pertinent topics in communications and marketing with hosts Heather and Brad. Listen in to find out what the letters M-O-B-I-L-E mean in reference to her thoughts around future trends and challenges in communications and marketing. Also, hear from Ovidia her top three tips for communications and marketing professionals and what she values in being a part of the CASE community, both regionally and globally, and the 2021 Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference (APAC). Ovidia also shares about the importance of having a 'living' strategy for your institution, and what she looks forward to in 2021.

Episode 24: A Conversation with Sinéad Collins

How does Sinéad Collins, who started off as performing musician and teacher in London, end up as the Director of Engagement and External Relations at United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA) in Singapore? In addition, hear what Sinéad thinks international schools can do to cultivate diverse perspectives, and to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are ingrained in the schools' values. Sinéad also shares why she took up the role of co-chair for the 2021 Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference (APAC), what this means to her, and how advancement professionals in international schools can benefit from attending APAC. Sinéad and the hosts then explored the differences and similarities between higher education and schools in the advancement space, and how they impact her work. Finally, hear what’s coming up for UWCSEA in 2021, including organising a forum on learning to shape the future as a part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

Episode 23: A Conversation with Rime Sun

In this episode, Rime Sun, Director of Development at New York University, Shanghai, shares about her work at NYU Shanghai and an overview of the advancement landscape in China. Listen in for Rime’s career path and how she built NYU Shanghai’s development team from scratch. Rime also shares the strategies that have worked well for NYU Shanghai to engage with NYU Alumni in Asia-Pacific, including the Pan-Asia Alumni Conference held annually; what she values in CASE; and projects that she and her team will be working on in 2021, leading up to the 10th anniversary celebration of NYU Shanghai and a move to a new campus in 2022.

Episode 22: A Conversation with Soleiman Dias

Our guest for this episode is Soleiman Dias, Director of Alumni and International Relations at Chadwick International in Songdo, South Korea. Soleiman takes us through his career journey from Brazil to South Korea, and from teacher to his current position. He highlights the responsibility and important role international schools and international education plays in inclusiveness; shares how he navigates his work and manages his stakeholders with in-person events still limited; and talks about the advancement landscape in Korea and how it has grown in the last two decades. Lastly, hear from Soleiman how advancement professionals in international schools can benefit from attending the 2021 Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference.

Episode 21: A Conversation with Heather Hamilton and Brad Entwistle

In the first episode for the year, our hosts Brad and Heather are also the guests. Hear Heather share her learnings from 2020, her outlook and some trends for the year ahead for advancement, the focus of CASE Asia-Pacific in 2021, and what listeners can expect at the 2021 CASE Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference. Brad shares what will drive the next era of marketing, a blind spot that marketing and communications professionals can do away with, as well as imageseven’s plan for 2021 – which includes distilling their unique approach to schools communications and marketing.

Episode 20: A Conversation with Jonathan Cosgrove

In this episode of CASE xChange, hear from Jonathan Cosgrove, Director of Development at Deakin University on how he and his team managed to lift their performance and drive some of Deakin's best donor participation and return on investment in the midst of a very uncertain environment, including workplace changes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, listen in for tips on how Deakin University embeds strategic thinking within advancement and across the University, involving academic leaders. Lastly, Jonathan shares his biggest learnings for 2020, particularly on leading a team in times of change, as well as the value of the CASE Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference.

Episode 19: A Conversation with Penny Richards Fowler

In this episode, hear from Advancement Manager Penny Richards Fowler from Sacré Cœur, a prep to Year 12 Catholic girls school, on how they achieved success in their bursary appeal and engaged with their community during COVID-19. Penny also shares how they produced the best performing video for the school this year and the importance of the marketing team working closely together with the fundraising team; as well as which CASE resources particularly helped during uncertain times. She talks about Sacré Cœur’s upcoming projects, her biggest learnings from 2020 and what she most looks forward to at the upcoming 2021 Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference.

Episode 18: A Conversation with Antonia Yeung

Antonia Yeung, Associate Vice-President of Development and Campus Services at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) and our hosts discuss how stakeholder experience is closely linked to campus development that enables stakeholders to live and breathe HSUHK’s values. Antonia’s insights cover how planning a retreat in the first month of her new role helped her work and to strategise for the future; how HSUHK manages stakeholder experiences and campus development despite the volatile year; HSUHK’s plans in using technology to connect seamlessly with stakeholders; as well as what the distinctive feature of HSUHK as a non-profit private liberal arts-oriented university is.

Also, listen in for tips about skills and tools valuable for handling difficult situations and in engaging various stakeholders effectively. Finally, hear what Antonia’s biggest learnings were for 2020 and her outlook for 2021, as well as how a mindset shift can benefit us in our work.

Episode 17: A Conversation with Simone Garske

In this episode of CASE xChange - Voices from the Field, Simone Garske, Chief Executive Officer at Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital (RBWH) Foundation and a member of the CASE Regional Council for Asia-Pacific highlights the importance of excellent health research and advancement through partnerships and philanthropy. Listen in for RBWH Foundation’s success stories in fundraising and donor acquisition during a pandemic and find out more about their upcoming projects. Simone also shares tips on where to start looking for relevant information for advancement professionals, how advancement professionals can look after themselves and find support, and the value of the CASE community - a fertile ground for relationships and networks to prosper.

Lastly, hear Simone’s views on the future of advancement and philanthropy, the importance of long-term engagement and investment in good advancement practice, as well as how RBWH Foundation differentiates themselves from other non-profits in the healthcare sector.

Episode 16: A Conversation with Jennifer Karlson

Our guest for this episode of CASE xChange is Jennifer Karlson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement) at The University of Queensland (UQ). We talk about UQ’s award-winning campaign video – If Not, When —The Campaign to Create Change and what it aims to achieve, focusing on how partnering with an institution such as UQ will help donors achieve significant impact in society. Jen highlights that a university is a conduit for bringing people, causes and missions together to make good things happen.

Hear about UQ’s current and upcoming initiatives, including one that is inspired by the APAC 2019 Key Plenary on Unlocking the Potential of Alumni Entrepreneurs. Jen also shares what is she most passionate about in her role and how this passion drives UQ’s strategy on partnerships, effective ways to learn in your advancement career, as well as her thoughts on philanthropic giving and the role of advancement in the future.

Episode 15: A Conversation with Tere McGonagle-Daly

In this episode of CASE xChange - Voices from the Field, Heather and Brad chat with a university leader who is passionate about student engagement and experience – Tere McGonagle-Daly, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students and Alumni at Massey University in New Zealand. Tere shares his first 100 days as the university's first Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students and Alumni and how Massey University pivoted their recruitment strategies and events in these times. Tere highlights how experience will drive the next era of marketing and how to create alignment of experiences across different campuses and students. He also shares how Massey University – New Zealand’s leading online university – navigates their marketing and communications, and student engagement and experience in the virtual environment. Listeners can also look forward to Tere’s three tips for all marketing and communications professionals.

Episode 14: A Conversation with Liz Hawkins

What are the similarities and differences in philanthropy and advancement and the top three factors that make a good advancement professional in the arts sector? Where on the CASE website is a good place to start looking for relevant information? Liz Hawkins, Director of Programming, Development & Venue Sales, Adelaide Festival Centre and Council Member, CASE Council for Asia-Pacific answers these questions and talks about philanthropy and advancement in the arts sector and why it is essential. Liz also shares some advice on how smaller arts organisations can get started in fundraising and the importance of resourcing and collaborating to foster an environment that’s not competitive, but to grow the culture of philanthropy and the philanthropic pool.

Episode 13: A Conversation with Deborah Carr

Heather and Brad chat with Deborah Carr, Head of Philanthropy at The Walter + Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI). Deborah shares how her search for more meaningful work led her into fundraising and her current role at WEHI, one of the world’s best medical research institutes. They talk about Deborah’s first 100 days at WEHI and how she and her team had to adapt their work and priorities when the pandemic hit. Having been in the higher education sector, Deborah also shares learnings from the medical research sector, how it is different from the higher education sector and what these sectors can learn from each other.

Lastly, listen in to find out what you can expect from the Asia-Pacific Institute in Educational Fundraising (APIEF), one of our longest-running programmes, coming up this month.

Episode 12: A Conversation with Brad Entwistle

In this episode, Heather turns the table on Brad, Founding Partner of imageseven, an integrated marketing communications firm, who switched his role from host to guest. Brad provides an overview of imageseven’s focus and the origin behind the business name. Tune in for Brad’s advice on how Heads of Schools and school marketers can develop a strong working relationship and introduce a common definition of ‘branding’ to ensure all stakeholders are on board. Brad and Heather also talk about common issues they see within marketing and communications in the education sector and how to overcome them. Lastly, Brad shares his observation on the impact the pandemic has had on school marketing and what education marketers need to be prepared for.

Episode 11: A Conversation with Ben Clark

In this episode of CASE xChange, Heather and Brad caught up with Ben Clark, Head of Philanthropy and Social Investment at Australian Executor Trustees (AET). They talk about Ben’s journey from the arts and auctions to his current role at AET, and his experience in managing philanthropists, trusts and foundations. Their conversation also explores donor trends, strategic thinking on philanthropic investments and philanthropic stabilisation funds - an innovative funding model pioneered in the US and Canada. Ben also shares his insights on asking during times of uncertainty.

Episode 10: A Conversation with Rossie Ogilvie

Heather and Brad chat with Rossie Ogilvie, Vice-Principal (Advancement) at The University of Sydney about the recent AU$20 million donation received for immunology research from CLEARbridge Foundation; the award-winning publication ‘A Billion Possibilities: Stories from the INSPIRED Philanthropic Campaign’ and how it was used for high-touch donor engagement, leading to bequest confirmations and a major gift. Rossie also shares her thoughts on why engagement has to be even more intentional in our new environment, where trust is extremely critical, and what is next for her team. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on how we can frame the role of advancement in bringing in funding for the University in an era where all universities will be tightening their belt, and three tips to overcome future challenges in advancement.

Episode 9: A Conversation with Ruth O’Hanlon

Having relocated from Australia to the UK, Ruth O'Hanlon joins us for a conversation on planned giving. Ruth currently leads the Advancement team as the Director of Development at Sevenoaks School Foundation, an almost 600-year old independent school built on philanthropic giving and legacy. Listen in to pick up pointers on starting and maintaining a planned giving programme, why it is important to start early, and how to be an effective planned giving manager. Ruth also shares how Sevenoaks maintained their planned giving programme where in-person contact is reduced, and their strategy to ensure legacy enquiry is a part of an overall appeal.

Episode 8: A Conversation with Barbara Miles

In this episode, we speak to Barbara Miles, who has recently been conferred the John Lippincott Award for Global Advancement and Support of Education under the 2020 CASE Distinguished Service Awards. Barbara takes us on her global career journey from a music teacher in the UK and Bahamas, to the first Vice-President (Advancement) at Australian National University, ANU. She discusses how she navigated her first 100 days at ANU, and how she learnt about CASE and got involved as a volunteer. Also, hear about ANU’s three-year campaign – ‘Support Australia’s Students’ – that raises funds to support equity scholarships at ANU, and their award-winning fundraising video Students + You: Aled and Arun's Story.

Listeners can also look forward to hearing Barbara’s insightful perspectives on how the advancement profession has changed and grown, as well as on leading a new advancement team.

Episode 7: A Conversation with Kevin Lynch

In this episode, we talk to Kevin Lynch, Director of Marketing & Communications at Shanghai American School (SAS). Previously from BBDO, Kevin shares how he combined his advertising experience with his experience as a parent of an SAS student and started his journey as the first Director of Marketing & Communications at SAS. We explore with Kevin why storytelling is important, how to tell a good story, and how it can give supporters the ability to be transformed into advocates and drivers of the brand - building a solid and vibrant community.

Kevin also discusses how SAS came up with a masterful piece of storytelling (click here for the full video) for SAS’s 2020 online graduation ceremony to captivate their audience with a powerful message to celebrate the graduating cohort's accomplishments. Listeners can also pick up a few interesting anecdotes from SAS' story finding on who is responsible for restarting the school in 1980, and on how they named a new conference room.

Episode 6: A Conversation with Karen Brown

What is the CASE Asia-Pacific Graduate Trainee Programme (GTP)? Is it valuable to help my institution identify passionate advancement talent?

In this episode, we hear from Karen Brown, Senior Manager, Planned Giving, External Relations, Development and Alumni, Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor at Monash University about her journey as a GTP supervisor since 2018. Now in its 3rd year, Monash has successfully recruited their past 2 graduates as full-time employees. She shares her experience working with current trainees and how Monash plans their programme in the current environment, including job rotations within different departments. She also touches on the importance of mental wellbeing of the trainees, ensuring they have a support system to rely on. Hear from first-hand experience on how the GTP is a two-way learning process, with not only the trainees learning from experienced colleagues, but also making an impact on the work environment at Monash.

Episode 5: A Conversation with Liza Boffen-Yordanov

In this episode on annual giving, Heather and Brad chat with Liza Boffen-Yordanov, CFRE, Chief Development Officer and Executive Director, Development Office, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Liza starts by taking us on her career journey from US to India and Singapore, sharing what motivates her in the work that she does, and what she enjoys most in her current role. Liza then delves into NTU’s annual giving campaigns, particularly about staff and faculty giving and how they achieved a higher giving rate over the last month than before. She also shares about NTU’s first ‘evergreen fund' - the NTU Priorities Funds that aims to continue the cycle of philanthropy. Listen in to find out how you can enhance your annual giving campaigns as well as Liza’s pointers on her top three success factors in annual giving.

Episode 4: A Conversation with Mark Bentley

How do organisations maintain a healthy culture, particularly in this environment? Mark Bentley, Director, Alumni Relations and Development from The University of Auckland talks about organisational culture and advancement - the importance of team culture and striking a balance between a performance, caring and mission-based culture. He also shares how his team maintained a positive culture and worked together to ensure it's business as usual. Listeners can also look forward to tips on maintaining positive organisational culture into the future.

Episode 3: A Conversation with Susan Wan

In this episode, we caught up with Susan Wan, Director of Development at The Alice Smith School in Malaysia. Susan shared details of the KLASSicscares campaign, her school’s recent initiative in response to the pandemic. Learn how being creative and impactful in the current uncertainty shaped some of The Alice Smith School’s upcoming plans, including their 75th anniversary milestone next year.

Episode 2: A Conversation with Dr. Imad Baalbaki

In this episode, Dr. Baalbaki shares his thoughts around leading a USD650 million fundraising campaign during times of crisis, and driving efforts to secure philanthropic funds for students in financial need. He also provides some insights as to how critical the university leadership team is in helping to achieve their philanthropic objectives.

Episode 1: A Conversation with Sue Cunningham

In the first episode of ‘Voices from the Field’ series, CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham chats with Heather Hamilton, Executive Director of CASE Asia-Pacific, and Brad Entwistle, Founding Partner of imageseven. In this conversation, Sue shares how the work of CASE has pivoted digitally, as well as the current global environment being a motivation to bring forward our determination in developing more virtual content. She also affirms our commitment to digital strategies and providing you with a stronger set of blended educational opportunities in the future.

Leadership Conversations:

NEW! SEASON 2: LEADING CHANGE — This season of Leadership Conversations pays special attention to leading during a period of unprecedented change on multiple fronts, beyond the initial challenges of responding to the COVID-related immediate closures during the early part of 2020. As the pandemic continues to affect institutions, it is becoming more clear that leaders will be engaged in a long period of change leadership and resulting needs for fast innovation. 

Episode 10: Standards Matter in Advancement: A Conversation About the CASE Global Reporting Standards

A Leadership Conversation with Matthew Eynon, Vice President for College Advancement, Franklin & Marshall College, and Brian Hastings, President and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation

For the first time, the educational advancement profession worldwide has a global set of standards for its work. Founded in the CASE Statement on Ethics and the Principles of Practice for Professionals in Educational Fundraising, Alumni Relations and Communications and Marketing, the recently published CASE Global Reporting Standards usher in a new era for transparency in educational philanthropy. The CASE Global Reporting Standards set the stage for benchmarking across other advancement disciplines in future editions. This conversation with the fearless co-chairs of the Standards Working Group, Matty Eynon and Brian Hastings, provides insight into this work and why the Standards are important for every advancement professional, trustee, and institutional leader.

Episode 9: Never Underestimate the Intellect of Your Audience and Other Lessons

A Leadership Conversation with Dr. Kaarle Hämeri, Chancellor of Helsinki University

Dr. Kaarle Hämeri, Chancellor of Helsinki University, holds a role unlike other chancellors around the world: his primary responsibility is specifically advocating for the university and higher education on a national scale. His work includes taking care of the external relationships for the university, and engaging with external constituencies in support of the university. This conversation explores how higher education is viewed by the public in Finland and the Nordic countries; his insights on the public benefit of science, and how to communicate about it; and the importance of respecting your audience and not underestimating them when explaining complex research and discovery. Bonus tip: practice your talks on your family.

Episode 8: Path to Being Passionate

A Special Leadership Conversation with Centenarian Philanthropist Dr. Violet Patton, recipient of the 2020 CASE James M. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education

In this special episode of Leadership Conversations, Sue Cunningham speaks with Dr. Violet Patton, the 2020 recipient of the CASE James M Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education. Dr. Patton was nominated for the award by the team at Ohio University, based on her longtime support of and generosity to the university. Hear about Dr. Patton’s path to becoming a passionate about advancing education, from her very early days with her family where her commitment was fostered through their dedication to teaching and education. Her story brings light to the season of giving.

Episode 7: On Self-Determined Reading Lists, the Importance of Listening, and Giving Advancement a Seat at the Table

A Leadership Conversation with Professor Michael Arthur, University College London

Professor Michael Arthur describes his leadership at University College London, on the eve of his forthcoming retirement. The conversation spans the rationale for taking a long view in the UCL’s strategic planning process and why a twenty- year planning horizon made sense; the importance of listening, and how an institution needs to take responsibility for histories of institutional racism in order to set a starting point for making progress in racial and ethnic equity. He and Sue Cunningham discuss why he elevated advancement to the university’s leadership table upon his arrival at UCL, and why that was an easy decision though it isn’t as common in the UK as it is in some other regions. Hear why advancement is among the best part of his job, and why he advises empowering others so leaders have the headspace and time to think through the complexities of what they seek to achieve.

Episode 6: A Journalist’s Insight on Philanthropy Amidst the Pandemic: How Inclusion, Creativity, and New Ways of Connecting are Paving the Way for Future Success

A Leadership Conversation with Stacy Palmer, Editor, Chronicle of Philanthropy

Stacy Palmer, Founding Editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy and Sue Cunningham discuss how the charitable sector has responded over the past months to COVID-19. Stacy’s insights cross many interesting areas, with a focus upon how the sector’s standing amongst the public has increased through the crisis after years of declining trust. Their conversation explores the urgency of inclusion and equity, and how The Chronicle is addressing inclusion within the organization and, importantly, through its coverage of the sector. Hear how successful nonprofit organizations have changed their approaches over the course of the crisis, and the creativity generated in response to this necessary change. Finally, hear the impact younger donors are having on the work of philanthropy and what that might mean about how you approach your planning and engagement.

Episode 5: Less Heat; More Light: How Humour, Inclusivity, and Nurturing Talent are Vital Leadership Tools

A Leadership Conversation with Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice Chancellor and President, Griffith University

This conversation explores important strands of leadership: how to deploy humour at the right times, and when to know it is not your most effective tool; the joys of nurturing people to achieve more than they ever thought they could; and the fundamental belief that excellence is a biproduct of inclusivity. At a time where the political divide is growing, Professor Carolyn Evans shares her academic expertise in comparative religious freedom, and what her scholarship has taught her about leading a university during complex times. (Hint: work hard and try to understand the roots of others’ concerns and anxieties and you can find more middle ground.)

Episode 4: The Powerful Public and Civic Good Provided by Higher Education

A Leadership Conversation with Dr. James Harris, President, University of San Diego

“Be the Living Embodiment of the Institution.” This is the early advice Dr. Jim Harris received as a young college president 25 years and three institutions ago. There is not a better moment than right now to hear his insights on how the college presidency – and higher education – has changed. This CASE xChange conversation explores powerful and pertinent issues around higher education as a public good; addressing inequities and racism; the imperative to change; and living the mission and values of your institution. He shares valuable insights into the importance of open dialog and deeper conversations for our institutions. You will also learn what it is like for an advancement officer to become a college president.

Episode 3: How Time Zones Teach Empathy

A Leadership Conversation with Fernando León García, President of CETYS University System

President Fernando León García brings rich perspective to this CASE xChange. His international experience, in addition to his academic journey, have deeply informed his leadership. This conversation highlights how he to bring global perspective to his work both at CETYS and across higher education through his international board positions. Listen, too, for his thoughts on the importance of empathy in leadership.

Episode 2: From Academic to Administrator to Advancement Champion

A Leadership Conversation with Dr. Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dalhousie University

This thoughtful conversation takes us through President Saini’s path as an “accidental academic” to an “accidental administrator” to a champion of educational advancement. He has served as a university president in two countries, at Australia’s University of Canberra, and now at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sue Cunningham asks President Saini about his perspective on international education, how higher education in Australia changed between the time he studied there as a graduate student and his return as a Vice-Chancellor; what his outlook is on philanthropy in education in India, and what inspires him about leading Dalhousie University, and its remarkable relationship with its local community.

Episode 1: How An Accidental Advancement Career led to a Global Network of Colleagues

A Leadership Conversation with James H Moore, President and CEO, University of Illinois Foundation

Jim Moore’s career in advancement had an accidental start: he thought it would be a means into another profession as an athletics administrator. Instead, he became “Intoxicated by the work and by educational advancement,” a field that makes such a difference for our institutions, students, donors and communities. In this conversation Sue Cunningham and Jim discuss his pathway to his current role, the key turning points for him along that journey, and the changes he has seen over the arc of his advancement career. Hear about how the University of Illinois has responded to community needs during the pandemic, and how the three-campus system has approached its campaign activities. This conversation is a must-listen for advancement professionals at all levels of their career – hear about why this work matters, how donors have changed, and the power of the CASE global network.

Leadership Conversations Season 1 Episodes

Episode 11: A Conversation with Deb Taft

Sue Cunningham interviews Deb Taft, CEO of the global executive search firm, and CASE Educational Partner, Lindauer. Their conversation provides thoughtful discussion on the importance of diversifying leadership in advancement, across education, and throughout the non-profit sector with Deb’s vital advice: “never blame diversity on the pipeline; be relentless; do the work – during the search, after the hire.” Deb also shares invaluable insights on the power of internationalization.

Episode 10: A Conversation with Meg Bradley

In this episode of the CASE xChange, Sue Cunningham interviews Meg Bradley, Head of School at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California. Meg’s path to her role was through the arts and also as an advancement leader. Their conversation explores the skills she has brought from those experiences to becoming the first lay leader of Santa Catalina, a school that includes a co-ed lower school and an all-girls boarding upper school. Hear how she leads her school with an eye for mission-driven change, renewal and growth, particularly in the challenging times brought about by COVID-19.

Episode 9: A Conversation with Professor Rufus Black

Sue Cunningham speaks with Professor Rufus Black, Vice-Chancellor and President of University of Tasmania in Australia. They explore how the pandemic has provided focus upon the importance of the small things in life that truly make a difference. They look back on the innovations that arose in finance out of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, and what lessons those innovations may provide for higher education in this current context.

Learn more about Tasmania, its role as the gateway to Southern Ocean and the Antarctic; its complex history; and how Rufus stewards the University through attention to its communities to ensure it meets Tasmania’s needs.

Episode 8: A Conversation with Peter Mathieson

Sue Cunningham speaks with Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal, University of Edinburgh about his leadership of the University of Edinburgh, life under COVID-19, and the similarities and differences in leading universities in Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom. They discuss the importance of advancement, and how it is at different stages of evolution regionally. Professor Mathieson shares his view on the immense value of Edinburgh’s 200,000 – member strong “fantastic army of people with an interest in the university.” And finally, hear what he is most looking forward to once travel is a possibility again – it will make you smile.

Episode 7: A Conversation with Tim Hands

Sue Cunningham interviews Dr. Timothy Hands, Headmaster of Winchester College, an all-boys boarding school in Winchester, Hampshire, England. Winchester College was founded in 1382. He became headmaster in 2016, after eight years as Master at Magdalen College School in Oxford, where Sue served on the Board of Trustees.

Their conversation starts with a discussion of the parallel universes of those experiencing COVID-19 personally and those who are not directly affected. He discusses his interest in the conditions that produce the works of literature, as a parallel to the circumstances that enable educators to better understand and motivate their students through curiosity about their individual backgrounds so that educators are able to motivate them and understand them. The interview closes with an interesting discussion of “comms squared” and how communications is the backbone of community.

Episode 6: A Conversation with Glyn Davis

Sue Cunningham has a conversation with Professor Glyn Davis, AC, Chief Executive Officer of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest philanthropic foundation. Its ambition is unambiguous: To break cycles of disadvantage in Australia. He began his role at the Foundation in early 2019. Prior to this role, Professor Davis served as vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne from 2005 through 2018. Their conversation explores the excitement of leading a foundation with such an important mission, and how relationships with their funding partners help accomplish their goals. They discuss the threefold crisis Australia has encountered over the last year (a prolonged drought, the subsequent bush fires, and COVID-19), and how the foundation is working with its partners to move them through these crises and support them in achieving their own strategic work.

They also discuss the differences in leading an institution of the scale of the University of Melbourne vs the intimacy of leading a foundation with a much smaller team, and the benefits that creates for the CEO to dig deeper into the execution of the mission. Hear his perspective on relationships with universities and other funding partners. He shares leadership advice and interesting insights about being in a two-vice-chancellor marriage, perhaps one of the only examples of such an interesting academic couple. Finally, learn about how this essential foundation confirmed its purpose even though its benefactor left no instructions for implementing his wishes.

Episode 5: A Conversation with David Dini

Sue Cunningham interviews David Dini, a longtime CASE volunteer, former CASE Trustee, who serves as the Eugene McDermott Headmaster at St. Mark’s School of Texas, where he has worked for more than a quarter-century. He came to St Mark’s to create a comprehensive advancement program in 1994 and was named headmaster in 2014. They discuss the challenges in managing crises as a leader through the unusual circumstance of facing both a devastating tornado that extensively damaged the school in the autumn of 2019 followed by the pandemic within months. They also discuss the path to school leadership through a career in advancement, and how that prepared him for his role, and the changing nature of his relationships with students, faculty, and the community of St. Mark’s supporters when moving from advancement to head of school. Finally, if you listen closely, you will hear a piece of advice that made a life-changing difference for Dini early in his career, which likely contributed to a similar result for St. Marks’s School of Texas.

Episode 4: A Conversation with Paul Ramsbottom

Sue and Paul discuss the importance of philanthropy today, why the relationship between funders and their recipients must be considered a partnership toward shared goals, and that these institution to institution relationships depend on the involvement of academic leaders in order to realise the outcomes that the foundation and the institution are seeking to achieve. Mr. Ramsbottom underscored the need for professionalised advancement and development teams especially when as they interact with philanthropies and foundations. They discuss the changes taking place in how work gets accomplished, how the Wolfson Foundation has shifted its operations in the face of the pandemic, and why they continue to focus on their core mission instead of pivoting completely to funding for covid-19.

Paul Ramsbottom is Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation and its sister charity, the Wolfson Family Charitable Trust. Paul takes a wider interest in issues relating to philanthropy in the UK as a speaker and writer. He has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in History from the University of Oxford.

Outside of philanthropy, he has an interest in international development which includes founding the Savannah Education Trust—a charity which works in West Africa—and sitting on the Board of Mercy Ships UK. His hometown university, the University of Bedfordshire, awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2013. In January 2020 he was awarded an OBE for services to charity.

Episode 3: A Conversation with Cheryl de la Rey

Sue Cunningham has a conversation with Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Canterbury, on what turned out to be the first day of ‘Level Two’ reopening on the country of New Zealand after seven weeks of lockdown during the covid-19 pandemic. Their conversation covered similarities and differences across universities, countries, and academic cultures; the impact of the pandemic on international education; and the vital importance of bringing multiple global perspectives to our campuses and even more importantly bringing a diversity of intellectual approaches to problems we are trying to solve. The conversation wraps with a focus on why our network matters, the importance of connecting to one another even in times like the current pandemic, and how we can emerge from this situation even stronger.

Episode 2: A Conversation with Amy Carrier

In this episode, Sue Cunningham interviews Amy Carrier, senior director, advancement information management at the Oregon State University Foundation, about her experience working from home during COVID-19. They discuss the innovations and changes taking place at Oregon State University. They also have a heartfelt conversation about how Amy cares for her mother who lives with Amy, and who has Alzheimer’s disease. The conversation explores how advancement leaders may need to consider the experiences their teams are having during this time of telecommuting where the stresses may even be more considerable than during normal times.

Episode 1: A Conversation with Serge Sych

Sue Cunningham, president and CEO of CASE, speaks with Serge Sych, vice president for enrollment management, career services & alumni relations at Central European University. Serge explains how his advancement team at a global university manages in times of change, including building new strategies to be flexible, virtual, and authentic. He also shares how his team is looking at long-term planning to deliver a new student experience based on changing economics and psychology.

Voces y Café

NEW! Episode 4: Voces y Café - A Conversation with Adriana Buiton about the importance of data

Welcome to our fourth episode in Spanish from Latin America of Voces y Café (Voices in the field). In this episode, we invited Adriana Buiton to talk about the importance of data in education. Adriana is the director of advancement services from S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, USA.

Episode 3: Voces y Café - A Conversation with Mireya Landacay about virtual events and alumni engagement

Welcome to our third episode in Spanish from Latin America of Voces y Café (Voices in the field). In this episode, we invited Mireya Landacay from UTPL Ecuador, to talk about virtual events and alumni engagement. Mireya is the alumni coordinator in UTPL, she has a lot of experience working with virtual education and UTPL Ecuador is one of the Latin American institutions with more experience in distance education.

Episode 2: Voces y Café - A Conversation with Vielka Morales about challenges in schools

Welcome to our second episode in Spanish from Latin America of Voces y Café (Voices in the field). In this episode, we invited Vielka Morales, from Carol Morgan School, Dominican Republic, to talk about the importance of advancement in Latin America and the challenges in schools. Vielka is the Manager of Advancement and Alumni Relations of Carol Morgan School. She has an experience of many years in advancement and gift campaigns.

Episode 1: Voces y Café - A Conversation with German Campos about professional development in Advancement

This is the first podcast episode in Spanish from Latin America of Voces y Café (Voices in the field), from our new monthly podcast program. We invited German Campos, from Universidad Anahuac, Mexico, to talk about the importance of professional development in the area of Advancement. As an experienced volunteer, German shares his career path through 27 years of experience. He talks about how he started working in this new field for him in that time, what challenges and obstacles he had to face, and the development of Advancement in his university. He also shares how important the role of the president was for achieving this and what successful outcomes he has had as a result of all his training, particularly through CASE events and involvement.

Podcasts featuring CASE leaders

Listen to CASE staff, experts, and volunteers as they appear in podcasts related to the advancement field.

NEW! Podcast: Advancement Career Journeys and Beyond

Listen now to the latest episode of the Development Debrief podcast. On it, CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham explores her career pathway and CASE’s career journey framework, advancement and innovation, and more.