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EDUCATE PLUS NEWS
4 Educate Plus Board & Staff
5 The Ripple Effect of Leadership
6 2024 – The Year of Empowerment
42 The Empowering Success International Conference
– Our Most Successful Conference Ever!
44 Excellence Awards 2024 Winners & Finalists
PARTNER ADVERTORIALS
14 Creativity – The best skill to make us futureproof
20 Digistorm’s Tech Trio Empowers Success for Norwest Christian College
30 Using Digital Solutions to Tackle Loneliness
34 Measuring Impact and Accountability in Educational Advancement: A path to better Fundraising outcomes
FEATURE ARTICLES
8 Measuring the Experience of an Institution: Why 4 out of 5 might not make the grade
12 Four Steps to Building a Thriving Volunteer Program
16 Empowering Capital Campaign Success
18 See the Full Picture
22 Navigating the Future of Philanthropy: Engaging Gen X in Wealth Transfer
24 The Case for a Seat at the Executive Table
28 Reflecting on Empowering Success
32 What Does Success Look Like to an Admissions or Enrolments Professional?
40 Partying and Pommery!
47 Case Study: The Impact of Finding the Right CRM System for Fundraising
CHAPTER REPORTS
48 2024: A Year of Growth for the Asia Region
50 2024: Celebrating a Year of Achievement for the NSW/ACT Chapter
52 2024: The NZ Chapter Celebrates Growth in Advancement
54 2024: A Year of Growth and Connection for the QLD Chapter
56 2024: A Year of Strengthening Community for the SA/NT Chapter
58 2024: The VIC/TAS Chapter –Fostering a Community
60 2024: A Year of Pride and Joy for the WA Chapter
Educate Plus Board & Staff
Myfanwy Stanfield F.EdPlus Chair Director of Community Engagement, Ascham School
Yvette Graniero F.EdPlus NSW/ACT Chapter President Director of Community Relations, Santa Sabina College
Mandy McFarland F.EdPlus Educate Plus CEO & Company Secretary mandy@educateplus.org
Josie Seidel Programs & Content Lead josie@educateplus.org
Tracey Grobbelaar F.EdPlus Deputy Chair VIC/TAS Chapter President Director of Business Services and Advancement, Siena College
Emma Zigan NZ Chapter President Director of Advancement Dilworth School & Trust Board
EDUCATE PLUS TEAM
Tina Fleming Member Relations Manager tina@educateplus.org 1300 EDPLUS / 1300 337 587
Michelle Strawbridge Business Manager michelle@educateplus.org
Abhra Bhattacharjee F.EdPlus Treasurer Skills Director Director of Development & Head of Foundation, Tanglin Trust School Singapore
Helen Karapandzic F.EdPlus SA/NT Chapter President Director of Philanthropy, Prince Alfred College
Danielle Hargrove Marketing & Communications Lead danielle@educateplus.org
Sona Swindley Events & Partnership Lead sona@educateplus.org
Claire Grlj F.EdPlus Secretary QLD Chapter President Director, Leading Engagement Solutions
Laura Kendall F.EdPlus WA President Director of Community and Sustainability Guildford Grammar School Ben Yeoh Events & Partnership Coordinator ben@educateplus.org
The Ripple Effect of Leadership
Vision … the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom.
I joined the education sector in 2007, barely understanding what my position description meant let alone having a vision for our community. I was embracing all those famous adages like feel the fear and do it anyway and spent the first couple of years petrified that I would be found out to be a fraud. Very early on, my wise leader at the time introduced me to Educate Plus, and since then, this incredible network of experts has empowered my success through the formative years and has grown with me like a faithful friend to this day. To say I am grateful is an understatement.
I learnt over time that successful leadership begins with a clear vision and just how mighty this simple concept can be. I have deliberately aligned myself with peers, mentors, leaders and organisations with vision, because they are the ones that fill me with excitement and drive me to keep thinking outside the box and imagining what can be.
I am sure you have these people in your professional and personal lives… they are the ones you go out of your way to spend time with. It’s this clarity of vision and sense of aspiration that is so inspiring when I’m working with the Board of Educate Plus.
So, here are some learnings I have collected along the way about what I believe to be the cornerstone of leadership….it all starts with having a vision that people will get out of bed for.
A brave vision aligned with values and goals serves as your roadmap, it is your organisations outline of where you are headed and what you collectively aim to achieve. However, a compelling strategic vision is of no value collecting dust on a shelf. It needs to be communicated and circulated for adoption and ‘buy-in’, so you can harness all the diverse perspectives and talents of your teams and the wisdom of your stakeholders. This not only enriches the vision but also fosters a sense of ownership and commitment…you are bringing them along on the journey with you.
Highly effective teams are completely aligned in their vision. Their direction is clear, they thrive on a shared
purpose, they celebrate their wins together, and they believe wholeheartedly in their goals.
Leadership is not just about setting the vision but also about embodying it. Leading by example is a powerful way to inspire and motivate others. When we see our leaders living our visions, values and principles, we are more likely to follow suit. This consistency between words and actions builds trust, credibility and most importantly, culture. For example, I deeply value continued professional development and believe that when leaders invest in their own growth and development, they set an example for others to follow. This, in turn, cultivates a culture of continuous improvement that empowers individuals at all levels of your organisations to become lifelong learners, seeking new ideas and innovations.
Finally, a compelling vision needs to be adaptable and responsive to change. In today’s dynamic, uncertain, and complex business environment, organisations must be agile and open to new opportunities and challenges. Welcome change, or even better, be the change makers and be willing to reassess and refine your vision to stay relevant and competitive. Perhaps I am a bit of a thrill seeker, but I love nothing more than a business disruptor! It is an exciting opportunity to embrace flexible and imaginative thinking, sharpen the team’s focus, and remain resilient and capable of navigating uncertainties.
Ultimately, as leaders, empowering success lies in our ability to create a ripple effect. By fostering a shared vision, we can create a lasting impact and build a brighter future for our organisations and the communities we serve.
Myfanwy Stanfield F.EdPlus Chair of the Board | Educate Plus Director of Community Engagement Ascham School
Follow me on Linkedin ( ) www.educateplus.org ( )
2024 –The Year of Empowerment
The F2F Magazine always comes with an opportunity to reflect on all we have achieved and have shared together. This year has been BIG – we’ve faced challenges, we’ve adapted to changes, we’ve embraced opportunities, and we celebrated many successes. All of which brings me to a theme that resonates deeply with me: Empowerment.
For me, empowerment is not just a buzzword; it’s the foundation of everything that has gone before us and everything we continue to build to make our organisation and our industry the best it can be. When I talk about empowerment, I mean giving each other the tools, the trust and the autonomy to make decisions, take bold steps and grow, both professionally and personally.
Empowering Our People, Our Members
First and foremost, I want to highlight the empowerment of our members. Every achievement is the result of individuals who feel empowered to innovate, collaborate and take initiative. Each of you has shown resilience and creativity, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Your institutions and your communities have been the beneficiaries.
I’ve seen this empowerment come to life in so many ways at Educate Plus: From the daily generosity of our volunteers to the myriad suggestions that improve our delivery and efficiency to the bold, visionary ideas that will shape our future. I’ve witnessed what was once hesitation to take risks, transform into now surging forth with confidence. This is what empowerment looks like in action — people making a real difference because they believe in their ability to do so.
Leadership with impact
The Educate Plus Board and I have made a concerted effort to lead by example, not through directive but through guidance, support and positive role-modelling. Leadership in our organisation is about enabling, not controlling. It’s about fostering a culture where feedback is a tool for improvement, not criticism; where mentorship is available at every level, and where each member of our community feels encouraged to actively participate in the larger mission of Educate Plus.
I am immensely proud of the kind of leadership that empowers — one that encourages growth and vision, values transparency and nurtures the strengths of every individual.
Empowering Innovation
Empowerment fuels innovation. Nowhere is that more evident than in the incredible progress we’ve made this year. We’ve embraced new things, learning from both our successes and our failures. We’ve tackled complex problems like the Productivity Commission recommendations into philanthropy with clear perspectives and collaboration.
We’ve opened ourselves to new markets like Asia, embraced our People and Culture colleagues, improved our processes and redefined the way we think about our industry.
We’ve produced the largest and most successful International Conference in our history, and we’ve grown our membership. Each achievement was made possible because people felt empowered to challenge the status quo, think creatively and push boundaries.
Empowerment will continue to be our driving force. We are committed to investing in your growth and development, providing resources that enhance your skills and creating opportunities that stretch your capabilities.
We want every member of our community to feel empowered to contribute to the bigger picture, to challenge Educate Plus as your membership organisation and to inspire each other to take bold steps.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work, dedication, passion and the sheer joy that each of you brings to Educate Plus. Empowerment is not just a gift we give ourselves, but one we give to each other. And it is through this collective empowerment that we will continue to dream big and to be the special organisation we are.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our shared vision. Thank you for continuing to make Educate Plus a place where empowerment is not only encouraged but celebrated.
Together, we are empowered. Together, we are unstoppable.
Mandy McFarland F.EdPlus CEO | Educate Plus
Follow me on Linkedin ( ) www.educateplus.org ( )
Measuring the Experience of an Institution: Why 4 out of 5 might not make the grade
On a scale of 1-5, how happy are you? How connected do you feel to those around you? To what extent is your institution a place where you feel that you belong?
With these three simple questions, we’ve tried to gauge from teaching and non-teaching staff in several educational institutions across the world, how they are feeling.
At first view, the results appear positive. The average score for each question is 4 out of 5. In percentage terms, that’s 80% – a score that would represent an excellent grade, according to most standards of assessment.
The problem with average, however, is that it can be deceptive. In almost every case, 4 out of 5 turns out not to mean that everyone is generally happy, connected, and feeling like their institution is a place where they belong. There appears to be a small number of people that are consistently telling us
that they are not happy, disconnected from those around them, and that their institution is a place where they don’t feel like they belong.
There is no doubt that many of us who have worked in educational institutions have succumbed to positivity bias. So, when we ask questions and look at results, we tend to celebrate a score of 4 out of 5. We filter out the perspectives and opinions of those who feel the experience hasn’t been good enough.
What if we looked from an alternative point of view? What if we gathered feedback as a mechanism to actively seek out the thoughts and feelings of those who are giving us 1s and 2s, rather than 4s or 5s?
The more we think about the felt experience at an institution, the more we are concluding that being in an educational institution, in fact, is a game. It is a game with winners and losers; a game with bias systemically built in for students, families, and employees alike.
So, who are the winners and losers in your institution?
The Felt Experience Indicator™
The [YELLOW CAR] Felt Experience Indicator™ is a groundbreaking tool, developed to help schools measure the experience of students, families, and employees in a new way.
Rooted in the idea that everyone is on a journey, the tool is being used by educational institutions around the world to open up new conversations about the experience of the institution. It gives us insight into levels of Happiness, Connection, Belonging, Understanding, Confidence, and Gratitude at different stages of the journey.
Reflection…
• Who are the colleagues, students, and families who don’t feel happy, connected, or who don’t feel like they belong in our community?
• What is one thing we can do today to shift their experience in the direction of something more positive?
• What is the bias we have unconsciously introduced into the system of our institution, that means some students, families and employees always feel that they are playing a game of snakes and ladders?
Find out more at yellowcar.io/felt-experience-indicator
Dr David Willows & Suzette Parlevliet are cofounders of [YELLOW CAR], the world’s leading experience strategy training and consultancy firm for schools. Find out more about their work at yellowcar.io.
David Willows
Co-Founder and Strategic Director, Yellow Car
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About us | YELLOW CAR ( )
Suzette Parlevliet
Co-Founder and Strategic Director, Yellow Car
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Four Steps to Building a Thriving Volunteer Program
Building and sustaining a thriving volunteer program is no easy task, regardless of whether you are commencing your volunteer journey or have a longestablished program.
Volunteers, from grassroots to Board level, are vitally important to education institutions. Maintaining productive working relationships, with clear processes and guidelines, is a core function of Advancement offices. While there are a myriad opportunities and challenges in volunteer involvement, there are core elements that contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of volunteer initiatives. Whether your volunteer program is in its infancy or well-established, there is a four-step model to help you set up, refine and maintain a successful program: Purpose, Structure, Support and Engagement.
Purpose
A clear purpose for your volunteer program, set by the school, is crucial to inform direction and actions. This should sit comfortably alongside relevant P&F or alumni constitutions. It should be your North Star when making decisions about volunteer activities.
Structure
Your volunteer structure should ensure volunteers are grouped appropriately and that your governance and procedures are clearly articulated to all staff and volunteers.
Structure is where schools struggle. It takes time and resourcing to achieve. Often, your volunteers are already active, and it can be hard to retrofit policies and procedures around existing programs. My advice is to review what you have and refine it. Then look at what’s missing. Sort this into order of importance and work through the list – be methodical.
Support
Ongoing support of, and involvement with, your volunteers is crucial. Regular interaction ensures volunteers feel supported and valued. A ‘no surprises’ approach is beneficial for all.
It is also important to support school staff. Often, most volunteer support comes from an Advancement department. When support comes from outside of your team – IT, finance, HR, etc – you need to work internally with those teams to ensure they understand the importance of supporting your volunteers.
Without these structures and support, you will not create productive volunteers. We need to empower volunteers to be as self-sufficient as possible; with scope and capacity to drive their own activities.
The alternative is volunteers ending up creating more work for school staff.
Engagement
As with support, engagement needs to be continuous – assessing purpose, structures and supports. This provides opportunities to refine, tweak and remain operationally efficient.
Flexibility is key throughout – make it easy for volunteers to contribute when and how they can.
Volunteers add enormous value to our organisations. Taking time to create appropriate volunteer program models will pay off in the long run.
Top Tips
• Create specific, niche opportunities to volunteer –play to volunteers’ strengths and skills.
• Break volunteering down into bite-sized chunks to suit busy schedules.
• Create supportive school frameworks and networks around volunteers – make it easy.
• Recruit a diverse base of volunteers – bring in a range of experiences, skills and perspectives.
• Hold an annual induction session for volunteers.
• Have a representative from each volunteer group attend your P&F meeting to create a twoway flow of information.
Tammy Wilson Director of Advancement
Toowoomba Grammar School QLD
Homepage – Toowoomba Grammar School ( )
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Creativity –The best skill to make us futureproof
Creativity is often misunderstood as a gift for a select few, but it’s within all of us—it just needs to be empowered. As a creative brand and communications agency, we understand the value of fresh ideas. At Blueboat, we work to ensure our staff feel empowered every day to help clients overcome their marketing challenges. With the right environment, anyone can tap into their creativity. Empowering creativity isn’t just about talent; it’s about creating a space where unusual ideas are welcomed.
Think about the last time you were in a brainstorming session. Did you feel free to share your ideas, or did you hold back, thinking your leftfield suggestion didn’t fit? Brainstorms, ironically, often stifle creativity. Studies show that ideas tend to gravitate toward the loudest or most senior voice, leaving others feeling less empowered to share unconventional thoughts.
Creativity thrives when people feel safe to contribute, no matter how unusual their ideas may be. Steve Jobs once said creative people feel embarrassed when asked how they came up with something, because it just “came to them.” Creativity is about connecting dots—combining unrelated things to create something new. But that only happens when people are empowered to explore the unexpected.
In the world of education, empowering creativity is more crucial than ever. The challenges facing future generations will rely less on hard skills and more on problem-solving. Coming up with fresh ideas will be how young people differentiate themselves in a fast-changing world. Therefore, creativity must be instilled from an early age in spaces designed to help students thrive. The most important future skill will be collaborative creativity, and educators can help students in nurturing it.
It’s also important to remember that creativity is like a muscle—it softens without use. When people say they’re not creative, what they often mean is they haven’t allowed themselves to think freely for a long time. If you’ve ever sparked up a conversation with someone new; it requires creativity. Entrepreneurs and innovators are often those who think differently, finding new ways to tackle challenges. ARTICLE
Why is this important? Creativity isn’t just about artistic expression; it’s about problem-solving. Technologies like ChatGPT and MidJourney are powerful, but they rely on past data to predict outcomes—they don’t truly innovate – yet. In a constantly evolving world, organisations need to find new ways to solve problems. Exemplar outcomes require creative thinking, not just repeating past approaches. Although schools are structured environments with tightly packed schedules, there are ways to cultivate this essential skill.
There’s an undeniable energy in freeing creativity. When we come up with new ideas, we create new neural pathways, which releases endorphins. This leads to reduced stress, a sense of fulfilment, and a boost in morale. This positive energy is valuable not just in workplaces but in schools too. How do you create an environment that empowers creativity?
1. Empowerment Comes from Permission. Start by encouraging people to share ideas without fear of judgment. Create a dedicated space for ideas—whether a wall for post-it notes, a Slack channel, a communal whiteboard, or team meetings. These areas can empower students and staff alike to share their thoughts freely.
2. Give Yourself Permission Too. Carve out time to think creatively. Often, our best ideas come when we’re not under pressure. However, if time is limited, prompts can help—like asking, “What would we do if money weren’t an issue?” or “What’s the craziest solution?” Such prompts provide fresh perspectives on problems.
3. Leaders Can Model and Encourage Unconventional Ideas. Show that you value creativity by fostering a supportive environment. Some organisations use a rule where only positive feedback is allowed for the first five minutes of discussing a new idea. This creates a safe space where people can explore concepts without fear of immediate criticism— an approach that works well in team meetings or classrooms.
Ultimately, creativity isn’t a rare talent; it’s in all of us. When given a moment to be nurtured, it can take us to rewarding and unexpected places. Empowering creativity is essential for navigating the future, and everyone can cultivate a spark of it to reap the rewards.
Jeremy Baird
Managing Director, Blueboat
Blueboat – We Know Schools (blueboat.com.au/ expertise/we-know-schools) ( )
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Empowering Capital Campaign Success
John Phillips, Director of Advancement at Brighton Grammar School, Melbourne, and Trevor Wigney Award Recipient 2022, reflects on the keys to success of his school’s recent capital campaign, Beyond Tomorrow ( ).
With our Beyond Tomorrow capital campaign supporting our $70 million Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship now in its final months, I’d like to highlight a few ‘essentials’ that were front of mind throughout our campaign.
Look After Your Donors
Where would a campaign be without donor stewardship? I suppose what I am trying to say here is that if you look after your donors, stewarding each according to the level of their gift, you will keep them engaged. They will become stronger advocates, are more likely to upsize their gifts and will be primed for your next campaign.
Make the development of a donor stewardship matrix a key priority for your campaign, highlighting how each donor is going to be stewarded. Our transformational donors, for example, are stewarded through our Chairman’s Circle and are invited to an exclusive dinner once a year.
Data is Gold
It goes without saying that an effective capital campaign requires data, and this needs to be accurate. Analyse donor giving patterns –frequency, size, areas of previous support. Records of conversations and preferences of prospects, with up-to-date contact details, are vital to campaign success. Make sure you have access to a database that can deliver the exact data you require for your campaign.
It Takes a Village
Don’t underestimate this one: Board members, parents, past parents, alumni, students and staff all have a role to play in campaign success.
From being involved in Fundraising events, featuring in the countless videos you will likely produce, acting as advocates or making a gift to the campaign themselves, each person has a vital role to play. Many in your village will be campaign volunteers. In fact, some of the biggest gifts to our recent campaign came through the work of our volunteers so make sure you train them for your next campaign. Oh, and make sure you thank those in your village. When you’ve thanked them, thank them again!
The Secret Sauce
Of course, underpinning everything tactically is your strategy document. This should shape the direction of your campaign and serve as a reference when reviewing progress, goals and direction. I certainly wouldn’t recommend embarking upon a campaign without a robust document that clearly articulates all aspects of your campaign. Without our detailed strategy, for example, I know our team would not have been able to execute a successful campaign. Make sure one of your campaign’s first priorities is writing your strategy.
Finally
Capital campaigns are mammoth undertakings. But when executed effectively, and allowing for curveballs, they can be highly enriching experiences for your institutions, donors and team.
Priorities:
• Develop a donor stewardship matrix.
• Analyse donor giving patterns.
• Have a comprehensive campaign strategy document.
• Campaign volunteers are crucial, train them well.
• Thank everyone, then thank them again!
John
Phillips F.EdPlus Director of Advancement | Brighton Grammar School (VIC)
Brighton Grammar School – Understanding boys from ELC – VCE ( ) Follow me on Linkedin ( )
See the Full Picture
Brands we trust make us feel seen, heard, known and understood. Nowhere does this matter more than for parents seeking an educational institution for their child.
After 20 years of shaping global, national and local brands, we know three things to be fundamentally true.
1. The first is common sense: every brand needs to be guided by purpose and steered by strategy.
2. Secondly, brands work by capturing people’s hearts and minds. Great brands do this powerfully.
3. The third fundamental truth can be a surprise: although you can influence your brand, you’re not in control of it.
That’s because your brand lives in the minds of the people who interact with it. From prospects and parents to staff, students and alumni – each person’s perception of your institution is shaped by their own values and beliefs.
Add in human connection, on a tour or during enrolment, and your brand becomes even more volatile because every positive or negative experience is beyond your control.
So how can you exert the greatest influence? Turn knowledge into power.
Specifically, know what your stakeholders really think. Then look for ways to integrate their insights throughout the external and internal brand experience.
Only with the truth of lived experience can your brand confidently capture hearts and minds – and market share.
Here’s how:
Get the Full Picture
You know your institution is constantly being talked about… in the staffroom, by the carpark mafia, and anywhere else.
To really understand who your brand is, in the hearts and minds of your stakeholders, look beyond normal community interactions. Ideally, you need someone asking questions who your market doesn’t think needs to be appeased or pleased.
Your market is making assumptions about your school from the moment they hear about it right through to their experience as parents. Find out what your prospects and parents really think and use this knowledge to make your school really matter to them.
Independent qualitative research – in-depth oneon-one interviews and focus groups – is the way to capture what people are really feeling and saying.
Quantitative research, like surveys, will give you a useful baseline but not the actionable insights that can reform your brand.
Understand How Your Market Sees Your Competitors
Just as your market holds perceptions of you, they also have insights into your competitors.
Unlike exit interviews conducted just before a family leaves an institution, follow-up interviews 12 months later can uncover the real reasons why students leave, how you could have kept them, and if the grass really is greener elsewhere.
Use What You Learn to Matter, Not Just to Market Time and again I’ve seen institutions invest in visual brand updates that barely raise the market temperature. Only deep and wide brand transformation will make you matter enough for people to care.
Your Brand is Alive – It Changes Over Time
Keep listening to stakeholders. Use what you learn to keep reshaping how you look, sound, write, behave and respond.
Summary
• Knowledge is brand power – but only if it’s driven by accurate insights.
• Invest in independent research to find out what your stakeholders really think.
• See your competitors through your market’s eyes.
• Learn to matter, not just market.
• Keep listening.
Digistorm’s Tech Trio Empowers Success for Norwest Christian College
In the fast-paced setting of an Educational institution, ensuring a seamless parent experience can be challenging. Particularly when juggling a growing number of enquiries, long waitlists and increasing expectations from prospective families.
Juggling these challenges daily, Norwest Christian College sought a solution in the form of technology. With a vision of staying true to their vibrant, purposeful community, they found success in implementing three Digistorm products to streamline their enrolment process and enhance parent engagement.
Addressing the Challenge
Principal Felicity Marlow wanted a unified technology solution to manage enquiries, streamline enrolments and ensure consistent branding across their school’s communication channels. Digistorm’s integrated tools — funnel, website and app — offered a comprehensive solution.
“The tools that Digistorm provide enables us to take our focus off managing paperwork, and that means we can straight away step into our relationship with people,” Marlow says.
“We can greet people in a relaxed manner because we know the paperwork is there, uploaded. The stats are there, and the data is already being filtered through.” She says the suite of technology allowed for cohesive branding and a consistent message, building trust with families throughout their engagement with the school.
Streamlining Enrolments
The adoption of Digistorm’s tech trio significantly improved efficiency. Student Enrolment Manager, Michelle de Rooy, noted that the tools reduced data entry errors and processing times, contributing to the College’s growth of around 400 students. “The streamlined processes allowed the school to convert enquiries into enrolments more effectively,” she said. Principal Marlow highlighted how this efficiency frees up time to focus on strategic decisions and maintain visionary leadership.
Building Community with User-Friendly Tech
The College valued Digistorm’s comprehensive package, with its easy-to-use tools for managing their website, app and enrolment funnel. Michelle Klomp, the school’s Marketing Communications and Brand Manager, appreciated the seamless integration and user-friendly interface. “This catered to varying levels of technological proficiency within my team,” she said. “This ease of use was crucial for effective daily operations and maintaining a consistent brand message.”
This case study demonstrates the power of integrated technology in transforming school operations and achieving success across various strategic goals. By adopting Digistorm’s suite, Norwest Christian College has enhanced its enrolments processes, strengthened parent engagement and managed significant growth.
How Your Institution Can Use Tech to Drive Success
• Streamline Enrolments: Implement tech solutions to manage enquiries and applications efficiently, reducing manual data entry and errors.
• Enhance Parent Engagement: Use integrated platforms to provide a consistent, engaging experience for parents, building trust and loyalty.
• Improve Communication: Adopt tools to facilitate timely, personalised communication with prospective and current families to strengthen relationships.
• Support Growth: Utilise technology to handle increased enrolments seamlessly, to scale effectively without compromising quality.
• Build Community: Leverage tech to create cohesive brand messaging across all interactions, fostering a strong sense of community among students, parents and staff.
• Ease of Use: Choose user-friendly tech solutions that are easy for staff to implement and use, ensuring smooth adoption and operation.
Timo Nieuwoudt Chief Marketing Officer
| Veracross (Previously Head of Marketing, Digistorm) School software | Home | Digistorm ( ) Follow me on Linkedin ( )
ARTICLE
Navigating the Future of Philanthropy: Engaging Gen X in Wealth Transfer
The philanthropic landscape is about to experience a monumental shift. According to Altrata’s Family Wealth Transfer 2024 report, approximately 1.2 million wealthy individuals will transfer nearly $31 trillion in the next decade. This massive wealth transfer presents opportunities and challenges for Fundraising professionals.
Key Implications for Fundraising
1. Primary Beneficiaries: Generation X, currently midto-late 40s, will be the main recipients. This group differs from their predecessors in values, experiences, and aspirations. Understanding these generational dynamics is crucial for succession planning and engagement strategies.
2. Generational Dynamics: Differences in values and aspirations between wealth founders and their younger beneficiaries require involving younger family members in succession planning to ensure the transfer of both wealth and values.
3. Lifetime Transfers: Increasingly, wealth is being passed on during the wealth holder’s lifetime, requiring earlier engagement of potential heirs to avoid conflicts over family wealth distribution.
Gen X Fundraising Trends, Preferences, Patterns
Much research has focused on giving patterns of Baby Boomers and Millennials, with Generation X (1965–1980) often being overlooked. Interestingly, Gen X will be the primary recipients of this anticipated transfer of wealth.
According to the Blackbaud Next Generation Report, many Gen X donors see giving as part of their identity and are intentional about the organisations they support. Characterised by pragmatism and independence, they prefer to support causes that directly impact their communities – environmentally, educationally, and concerning children’s welfare. Schools and universities particularly resonate with this generation.
Gen X donors are comfortable with online and offline giving; however, prefer making online donations. Survey respondents preferred receiving donation receipts by email (42%) and expected an immediate receipt after making their gift (36%).
The biggest reasons they discontinue their support is if they feel their money was not spent wisely or if they had a bad experience with the institution.
Conclusion
Early engagement with Generation X is vital to securing intergenerational legacy gifts. Building a partnership that enriches a donor’s family, and the organisation, will lead to more committed, passionate involvement from all family members.
Understanding Generation X allows us to better align our strategies to engage and inspire a new generation of philanthropists.
Developing personal connections with donors requires intentionality. Building trust and loyalty takes time and effort. Demonstrating the impact that fundraising has in our communities and building a great donor experience before, during, and after a gift is critical.
Today, it is more important than ever for educational institutions to invest in philanthropy to forge those crucial connections and recoup the benefits of effective donor engagement across multiple generations in our communities.
Happy Fundraising!
Key Takeaways:
• Understand Gen X givers
• Shift in transfer to during wealth holders’ lifetimes
• Immediately acknowledge and receipt gifts
• Evidence funds spent wisely
• Forge Gen X connections as key to multi-generational engagement
Sources:
1. Altrata, Family Wealth Transfer 2024 report, 2024
2. The Blackbaud Institute, Next Generation of American Giving study, 2018
3. Qgiv’s Generational Giving Report.
Ana Gozalo F.EdPlus Development Manager, University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide ( )
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The Case for a Seat at the Executive Table
During my 15 years as an Advancement Leader, I have been both a member of the Executive Team, reporting directly to the Principal, and I’ve also been an Advancement Leader who did not have a place at the Executive Table.
This is a topic that I am very passionate about as I’ve experienced first-hand, the empowerment of being able to more effectively perform my role and the frustration of feeling like my voice was not heard. Education has become a very competitive industry where identity and reputation really differentiate institutions. The Advancement Team is vital for shaping that identity, driving enrolment and strengthening community ties – which are all strategic imperatives and extremely important in ensuring an institution’s ongoing success.
In many leading institutions, the Advancement Leader no longer just provides a support role, but rather, is a strategic leader whose insights significantly influence the institution’s growth and financial sustainability. However, not all institutions include the Advancement Leader on the Executive Team or have them reporting directly to the Head of the institution. This exclusion means that, ironically, those responsible for crafting and driving the institution’s narrative are often left out of key discussions and decision-making processes.
Without a seat at the Executive table, Advancement professionals miss the chance to
accurately represent the institution’s mission and identity. The alignment of strategy and brand positioning is also more difficult, and financial outcomes are often compromised.
The good news is that there seems to be a trend towards more Advancement Team leaders being on the Executive team. In the Educate Plus 2023 Salaries and Conditions Survey, 56% of members in Australia and 67% in New Zealand indicated that they enjoy the benefits of having their Advancement team represented at a strategic level.
Trend 1 – Heads of Institutions are realising the importance of having an Advancement Leader on the Executive team to ensure the following:
Strategic alignment with institutional goals: The Advancement Leader is crucial for promoting an institution’s mission and brand, as they are key in aligning Admissions, Alumni, Fundraising, and Marketing strategies with broader goals, to ensure enrolment growth, community engagement and long-term sustainability.
Cohesive brand reputation and messaging: Educational institutions require a consistent and authentic message to engage prospective families, donors and the community. The Advancement Leader is pivotal in ensuring all
external communications resonate with the target audience. As part of the Leadership team, they can effectively guide community relations strategies and manage the institution’s reputation during crises and during opportunities.
Trend 2 – Advancement Team Leaders, are advocating for their place at the Executive table to achieve the following:
Greater access to key information and resources: This insight enables informed marketing decisions and effective resource allocation, supporting enrolment and development strategies, while helping to more effectively address the many questions asked of them by prospective families and donors.
Enhanced collaboration and alignment of messaging across departments: Being on the Executive Team fosters collaboration amongst the institution’s senior leaders – bridging the gap between the Academic and Operations functions, resulting in more cohesive and strategically important initiatives for the institution.
Stronger relationships with stakeholders: As a member of the Executive Team, Advancement Leaders will gain greater access to internal and external stakeholders, including donors, alumni, and prospective families. This visibility
enhances the Advancement Team’s ability to more successfully implement projects and strategies.
The case for an Advancement Leader to be on the Executive Team is compelling and the data supports that. Ultimately, it’s the institution that benefits as the long-term success and reputation means strong Enrolment outcomes, improved philanthropy achievements and a more engaged community.
Danielle Hargrove Marketing and Communications Lead | Educate Plus
Educate Plus – A network of advancement professionals ( ) Follow me on Linkedin ( )
Reflecting on Empowering Success
It’s a privilege to be invited to share thoughts on the theme of Empowering Success. If you’re driven to make a difference by fostering success, pride, self-belief, and impact within your teams and institutions, I hope that these reflections resonate with you:
1. Nurture Your Networks (especially Educate Plus!)
A common, enriching thread throughout my time in education Advancement has been the Educate Plus networks of colleagues and friends who have always understood, supported, shared, guided, cheered and, in some cases, offered broad shoulders to stand upon. Their value is immeasurable.
Find your tribes. Be prepared to give what you can and ask for what you need. Believe in generosity of spirit. Engage. Embrace the support of kind, smart, hardworking, heart-driven, welcoming colleagues.
2. Bring the Vision to Life – Plant the Trees Together
Make it effortless to be on ‘the same page’. From that place, shared passion will drive the cause. Bring the vision to life as the North Star that guides all decisions. Make it visible. Keep it simple. Create opportunities for ownership and pride, enable collaboration and contribution. Listen. Plant the trees. Create legacies.
3. It’s About Who You Are (more than what you do)
Be intentional. Be kind. Be courageous and bold. Be real. Walk a mile in their shoes. Roll up your sleeves and pitch in. Manage upwards, with empathy and diplomacy.
4. There’s No ‘I’ in Team
From Board Chair to the Exec team, property crew and band of volunteers, everyone has the capacity to make an immensely valuable contribution. Be inclusive. Openly appreciate. Foster pride. Spot the shining light in everyone and create opportunities for them to shine.
5. Encourage a Positive Mindset
If you don’t try, you won’t fail – but you won’t be part of impactful shifts either. Foster a positive culture of innovative thinking and problem solving by celebrating mistakes as valuable learnings rather than ‘failures’. Blaze new trails (even if they go up in flames!). Fail fast, learn, grow and move forwards, wiser and stronger!
6. Have Fun!
Always take time to stop, listen to the stories, celebrate the connections and the wins. Feel the joy! Be present. Enable treasured memories for the wonderful humans whose commitment, passion, capability and dedication empowered whatever success you get to share.
In Closing
When the organisation then known as ADAPE (Association of Alumni and Development Professionals in Education) was proposing a name change in 2012, I scribbled a note that read, ‘ADAPE = Connect. Share. Support. Grow’. Those values remain true of the organisation we now know as Educate Plus. They represent the essence of our community; a network where we can all feel a sense of belonging. Nurture your networks and have fun empowering success!
In Brief
• Nurture Your Networks
• Plant the Trees Together
• It’s About Who You Are
• There’s No ‘I’ in Team
• Encourage a Positive Mindset
• Have Fun!
Member and former NZ Chapter President Vicki Fowler is the 2024 Trevor Wigney Award winner for outstanding contribution to the Australasian Education Advancement sector.
Vicki Fowler F.EdPlus
Executive Director | Connect Futures NZ
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Using Digital Solutions to Tackle Loneliness
We expected a ‘new normal’ post covid, however 54% of Australians have reported to be lonelier post-Covid than before (KPMG, 2022). Alumni communities of educational institutions are uniquely placed to contribute positively toward this growing social concern. It’s about creating a community where people feel a sense of belonging and purpose.
The Silent Crisis
Studies report the impact of loneliness to human health is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes or consuming six alcoholic drinks per day!
The Need and Desire for Real Connection is Critical
While physical events and interactions foster strong connections, they are limited geographically to a small percentage of the overall audience. As most institutions’ Alumni communities are significantly larger in size and spread than an institution’s current one, many organisations are increasingly digitising to reach and include more people.
Some, like Queensland’s Churchie and their Old Boys’ Association have established wellbeing programs to help tackle the problem. While calls were made during the pandemic to more than 100 vulnerable elderly Alumni, a confidential phone counselling service is now offered to all Old Boys and their families, cross-promoted on their Alumni site.
Digital platforms and online spaces offer unmatched flexibility, allowing members to engage not only with professionals but others in their network on their own terms.
Liverpool College has invested in its digital network for many years, with 40% of their audience connected (senior students, Alumni, parents and staff). ‘Member Musings’ is a blog authored by members, covering anecdotes from school and beyond, which drives strong engagement. These accounts are personal, sometimes quirky, increasing the variety of voices heard. While readership often hits many thousands on each article, almost without exception, each has additional community comments continuing the conversation.
Volunteering Alleviates Loneliness Research also shows volunteering regularly reduces feelings of loneliness. There is significant decline in those reporting mental health concerns who volunteer after retirement.
While mentoring programs align perfectly with an Alumni community’s purpose and values, they often face scalability challenges. Digital mentoring can expand this reach, impacting more members. The Francis Crick Institute, a biomedical research facility, supports its community by mentoring with a focusing on making effective matches based on soft skills and life situations, such as relocating. Results show success: 17% of its community are registered as mentors. That’s 400 individuals sharing regular help with each other.
Consider what traditional programs you have that could be extended with a digital element? Hymers College runs an annual letter writing project between Year 6 students and Alumni (aged 20 to 90!). One hundred letters were written, with photos and content shared via a private digital platform to generate more conversations. In an increasingly isolating world, how can your programs adapt to make an impact in more people’s lives?
Loneliness-Busting Tips:
• Encourage more people in your community to share their voices.
• Provide a wide variety of volunteering opportunities.
• Digitise to increase scale and impact of great existing programs.
• Review digital spaces and consider where you will build your future.
General Manager – Asia Pacific, Toucan Tech
All-In-One Community Software | ToucanTech | ToucanTech ( )
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Merryn Parks
What Does Success Look Like to an Admissions or Enrolments Professional?
It’s more than just meeting enrolment targets; it’s about creating an emotional connection. As Maya Angelou once said, “The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
In my experience, success comes from how we make families feel as they tour, engage, and ultimately, enrol. While we often speak about journey and data, what matters most is the felt experience of our families.
To empower families to speak highly of their experience, choose us, and feel good about their decision, we focus on the personal touch from the very start. A personalised welcome sign, using a family’s name, can make an incredibly powerful impact. Families often stop to take a photo of the sign when they arrive and again at the end of their tour, this time with their child in the photo. This is a small yet powerful gesture that shows we value them.
Admissions is not just transactional. Families want to feel seen and understood, especially when dealing with challenges like transitioning to a new educational institution, relocating, or navigating the complexities of the enrolment process. We ask families to commit to a long-term relationship with our institutions, often for up to 13 years, so it’s crucial to invest in building that trust and rapport from the outset.
The small things matter — talk with a smile, listen intently, personalise each interaction. It’s essential to use data to inform decisions. By tracking leaver data, churn rates, and enrolment trends, we can make more confident choices. Tools like Power BI provide a clear snapshot of vacancies and allow us to understand how we’re tracking. By following a family’s journey through the entire enrolment process, we can learn valuable lessons to improve the experience for future families.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. Working in Advancement has taught me lessons in humility, kindness, and generosity of spirit. On busy days, when it feels like I am not succeeding, I am thankful for the opportunity to work in this profession. It is a privilege to touch the hearts of those seeking entry and, in a small way, help empower their success.
The important thing to remember is that in the Admissions process, success is as much about relationships as it is about results. While data and enrolment metrics are essential, true success is defined by the connections we build and the trust we nurture with each family. These moments of care and empathy, from a welcoming smile to a personalised gesture, create a lasting foundation that extends beyond the enrolment process. When families leave feeling valued and understood, they become advocates who strengthen the community and inspire others to join. Ultimately, the role of an Admissions professional is not only to meet goals but to enrich lives and foster a legacy of belonging and community.
Robyn Hope Registrar | Hunter Valley Grammar School (NSW)
Hunter Valley Grammar School, independent day school P – 12 (hvgs.nsw.edu.au) ( ) Follow me on Linkedin ( )
Measuring Impact and Accountability in Educational Advancement: A path to better Fundraising outcomes
In today’s philanthropic environment, donors are increasingly discerning. They not only want to contribute financially, but also to see the tangible outcomes of their generosity. This shift has led educational institutions to focus more on measuring impact and ensuring accountability in their advancement. These efforts not only meet donor expectations; they enhance Fundraising strategies, resulting in better long-term outcomes.
The Importance of Impact Reporting
The demand for impact reporting has grown significantly. Donors now expect more than just acknowledgment; they want to understand how their contributions are making a difference. For educational institutions, this means providing transparent reports, detailing outcomes of donorfunded initiatives.
Impact reporting isn’t just about numbers; it’s about storytelling. By highlighting the real-world effects of contributions such as student success, new facilities, or research breakthroughs, institutions can craft narratives that resonate with donors. This reinforces the value of their gifts and strengthens their emotional connection to the institution.
Accountability as a Pillar of Trust
Accountability and impact are closely linked, with accountability forming the foundation of trust between donors and institutions. When donors are confident their contributions are used responsibly, they are more likely to continue their support.
Transparency is crucial for maintaining this trust. Institutions should be open about how funds are allocated and managed. Regular financial reporting and clear communication about the use of funds will help build credibility. When donors see that their money is used as intended and results are achieved, their confidence in the institution grows.
Institutions must fulfil the promises they make. If a campaign delivers its promises, it builds donor loyalty and enhances reputation. A strong track record of impact and accountability helps institutions build a community of engaged, committed donors who become ambassadors for the institution, encouraging further support.
In a competitive Fundraising environment, demonstrating impact and accountability sets institutions apart. Potential donors are more likely to support a school, college, or university that clearly shows how contributions will be used and what results will be achieved. By prioritising these factors, institutions strengthen their case for support and enhance their success.
Conclusion
Measuring impact and ensuring accountability are now essential in the world of Educational Advancement. By embracing these principles, institutions not only meet donor expectations but also build stronger, more sustainable Fundraising programs. In an era where trust and transparency are vital, demonstrating real, measurable outcomes is a powerful tool for driving continued support and achieving long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
1. Show Results – regularly share outcomes that illustrate the impact of donor contributions.
2. Be Transparent – maintain donor trust by communicating how funds are used and managed.
3. Keep Promises – deliver on your commitments to build loyalty and enhance your institution’s reputation.
4. Use Impact to Inspire Giving – highlight positive effects of donations to encourage more gifts.
5. Stand Out with Accountability –differentiate your institution by consistently demonstrating transparency and results.
Clive Pedley CEO and Director | Giving Architects
Giving Architects – Fundraising Consultants ( )
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There’s
Don’t
Heading for Philanthropic Success
The Azure Summit is the only offering of its kind to prepare heads of schools for a campaign. The curriculum builds on the distinct expertise possessed by heads and complements their skills with global campaign best practices. It is tailored to include chief advancement officers who attend with their heads, building and optimising this important partnership. At the conclusion of the Summit, you will possess a strategic campaign planning and implementation roadmap that ensures you attract and retain transformational donors and secure gifts that advance your school toward new heights of excellence.
Please join us in Melbourne on 30 and 31 March 2025. For more information and to register: www.theazuresummit.org/au
Or contact us: Katie Armitage: armitage@martsandlundy.com
For a Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination call 1800 675 839 or visit primesuper.com.au/pds. Prime Super Pty Ltd ABN 81 067 241 016 AFSL 219723 RSE L0000277 (Trustee), Prime Super ABN 60 562 335 823 RN 1000276. Book a chat with our super specialists to advance your super While you invest in your career, we’ll invest for your retirement. From your first day as a member, we’re with you when you need us.
WA Chapter Summit 22 & 23 May 2025, Perth
VIC/TAS Chapter Summit 17 & 18 July 2025, Melbourne
QLD Chapter Summit 28 & 29 July 2025, Brisbane
NZ Chapter Summit 19 & 20 August 2025, Wellington
SA/NT Chapter Summit 11 & 12 September 2025, Adelaide
NSW/ACT 23 & 24 October 2025, Sydney
Partying and Pommery!
Retiring from Hills Grammar in 2023 was a huge decision. Not only did it mean leaving my place of employment of 40 years – from its very foundation, but also leaving behind my most revered set of advancement professionals who offered me so much support, inspiration and industry experience over the years, 1995-2023.
I have much to thank ADAPE and Educate Plus for from my early years in Marketing and Community Relations starting with 2 hours a week for ‘publicity’ to leading a creative and passionate staff in Marketing and Community Relations.
In 2002 I became a Fellow and was also very fortunate to be awarded an ADAPE-CASE Scholarship to the Case -Nais Conference in Boston, USA, with Glenda Fitz-Payne from Queensland.
So much of the growth and status of Community Relations, Advancement and Admissions in schools and universities is owed to the professional development and opportunities that Educate Plus offers its members.
That is not to say it’s all work and no play. Those of you who have been around for some time will know there’s nothing I like better than to organise a cracking social event!
In 2000 Sydney not only hosted the Olympics but the NSW Chapter hosted the National Conference, with the Conference Dinner being a golden, glittering affair at Luna Park.
What an absolute joy it was to work with that Conference Committee and make friendships which continued to blossom and grow both professionally and socially.
Twelve years later, Sydney once again hosted the International Conference – the first as Educate Plus. I was the lucky person who got to work with the fabulous Steve Brown on the Social Program and Awards Lunch- from the Opening Night Cocktails to the blazing Conference Gala at Wildfire by the Harbour.
There were many other memorable Chapter Dinners I had the joy of organising from Melbourne’s funky Sweatshop Bar in 2014 to beach-side on the Gold Coast in 2016.
It wasn’t all partying and Pommery! There was some serious work to do on attracting new members, organising chapter forums, and discussing the trajectory of our booming Advancement sector within education.
Thank you all so very much for your stewardship, and you never know, we may cross paths again in my new incarnation as an Oral Historian. Every school should be capturing those voices and stories, which too often die with their custodians.
But more on that story later.
Liz Pellinkhof F.EdPlus
Member since 1995
Fellow since 2002
Director of Community Relations and Enrolments at Hills Grammar
Served on the NSW Committee for ADAPE and Educate Plus as well as State and International Conference Committees
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The Empowering Success International Conference – Our Most Successful Conference Ever!
The 2024 Empowering Success International Conference in Perth exceeded expectations, setting new records with over 760 delegates from Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, plus incredible speakers from around the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Immersive Pre-Conference Workshops: Five hands-on workshops provided immersive learning experiences for over 150 delegates.
2. Inspiring Keynotes: Mark McCrindle’s presentation on ‘The Future of Education’ set the stage for professional growth and insightful discussion, with subsequent Keynotes from Trudy MacDonald, Lynne Wester and Libby Gore continuing to engage.
3. Impactful Presentations: 52 Sessions across 6 Streams, addressed topics from Technological Advancements in Advancement to Leadership in a Changing World, Alumni Engagement and the Effective Use of Podcasts.
• Leadership & People & Culture Session highlights included discussions on fostering inclusive, resilient teams and managing HR risks.
• Marketing & Admissions Streams included insights into brand management and digital engagement in competitive markets.
• Fundraising & Alumni Streams incorporated practical strategies for relationship building and driving financial support.
Networking & Community Building
One of the Conference’s standout features was the networking and collaboration across all streams. The Educate Plus community’s commitment to sharing expertise and best practices created a unique environment of personalised learning and solution-oriented discussions.
Memorable Social Events
• Welcome Event at Fraser’s King’s Park: A relaxed networking opportunity with stunning views of the Perth skyline.
• Conference Celebration at Optus Stadium: A night of networking, music, and enjoyment at an iconic venue.
• Chapter Gatherings: A night of catching up and collaborating with colleagues.
Awards and Engagement
• An unprecedented number of Excellence Award submissions (221!): Showcasing exceptional talent and achievements across the Advancement industry
• Partner & Exhibitor Showcases: Partners reported enhanced Delegate interaction via the Conference App, and Delegates were impressed as they explored new initiatives and technologies.
• Wellness Hub: A popular addition with relaxing massage services and coffee stations.
“The Empowering Success Conference left me inspired and equipped with new ideas. I’m eager to implement what I learned and connect with colleagues again next year.”
Exceptional Feedback
With record attendance, engaging content, and outstanding networking opportunities, the 2024 Empowering Success Conference set a high standard for future events. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 98% of delegates stating that they would recommend an Educate Plus International Conference to a Colleague!
Thank you
Thank you to the 2024 International Conference Partners: Blueboat, Global Philanthropic, Digistorm, iDAT, Marts&Lundy, FACTS, Potentiality, Novaflow, ToucanTech, Richmond Associates, Gembridge, Enquiry Tracker, Change to Fundraising Research & Consulting (FR&C), New Word Order, Prime Super and Business Events Perth.
Thank you also to our amazing International Conference Committee: Sona Swindley, Dana Casimaty, Bianca Coleborn, Jackie Dalton, Ben Foley, Yvette Graniero, Kathy Hines, Helen Karapandzic, Laura Kendall, Ylva Kovacs, Mandy Loomes, Mandy McFarland, Tina Fleming, Danielle Hargrove, Sandra Herd and Michelle Strawbridge.
Excellence Awards 2024 Winners & Finalists
ADMISSIONS
Admissions Campaign
Recognising excellence in a campaign and/or specific event directed at securing enrolments.
Finalists:
St Laurence’s College, QLD Wesley College, WA
Winner: Lourdes Hill College, QLD
Admissions Event
Recognising excellence in a program and/or event directed at securing enrolments.
Finalists:
Citipointe Christian College Wesley College
Winner: Scots PGC College
Admissions Publication or Collateral
Recognising excellence in a publication or collateral, using any medium, specifically targeting enrolments.
Finalists:
Nambour Christian College, QLD Scots PGC College, QLD
Winner: Scotch Oakburn College, TAS
Admissions Impact on a Shoestring
Recognising excellence in a program specifically targeting enrolments and delivered on a shoestring budget.
Finalist:
King’s Baptist Grammar School, SA
Winner: Woodstock School, India
ALUMNI & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Alumni & Community Engagement
Recognising excellence in a series of activities or programs designed to engage with Alumni and/or Community.
Recognising excellence in a specific event for Alumni and/or Community.
Finalists:
Pembroke School, SA
Strathcona Girls Grammar, VIC
Winner: Carey Baptist Grammar School, VIC
Alumni or Community Engagement Publication or Collateral
Recognising excellence in an Alumni and/or Community publication or collateral focussed on engagement.
Finalists:
Penrhos College, WA
Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, VIC Wesley College, WA
Winner: St Philip’s Christian Education Foundation
Alumni or Community Engagement on a Shoestring Winner
Recognising excellence in an Alumni and/or Community Program delivered on a shoestring budget.
Finalists:
Edith Cowan University, WA
Medbury School, NZ
Winner: German European School Singapore
FUNDRAISING
Annual Giving – Giving Day
Recognising excellence in an Annual Giving Day.
Finalists:
Christ’s College, NZ Concordia College, SA
Winner: Westminster School, SA
Annual Giving – Traditional Giving Appeal
Recognising excellence in an Annual Appeal that runs over a period of time.
Finalists:
St Mary’s Anglican School for Girls, WA Wesley College, WA
Winner: Loreto Normanhurst, NSW
Capital Campaign/Major Gifts Program
Recognising excellence in a Capital Campaign or Major Gifts program.
Winner: St Aloysius’ College, NSW
Bequest Program
Recognising excellence in a Bequest program.
Winner: Frensham Schools, NSW
Fundraising Event
Recognising excellence in an event focussed on fundraising.
Finalists:
Prince Alfred College, SA
Queen Margaret College, NZ
Winner: Barker College, NSW
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Marketing & Communication
Recognising excellence in a reputation or profile building campaign.
Finalists:
The Geelong College, VIC Wesley College, WA
Winner: Queen Margaret College, NZ
Marketing Digital Campaign
Recognising excellence or innovation in online/ digital media, to achieve communications, marketing and engagement goals.
Finalists:
Nambour Christian College, QLD Mentone Girls’ Grammar School, VIC
Winner: St Augustine’s College, NSW
Marketing Video Campaign
Recognising excellence or innovation in video for either Fundraising, Admissions, Alumni or Marketing.
Finalists:
Rosebank College, NSW Somerville House, QLD
Winner: Carey Baptist Grammar School, VIC
Marketing Publication or Collateral
Recognising excellence in a Marketing publication or collateral aimed at promotion.
Finalists:
Loretto Kirribilli, NSW Pembroke School, SA
Winner: Trinity Grammar, Kew, VIC
SPECIAL AWARDS
Supplier Award – Leading our Industry Forward
This Award is for an outstanding Supplier who, together with their team, has consistently demonstrated their ability to support their clients and enhance the work they are doing in the Advancement industry.
Winner: Richmond Associates
Supplier Award – Serving our Teams
This Award is for an outstanding Supplier who, together with their team, has consistently demonstrated their ability to support their clients and enhance the work they are doing in the Advancement industry.
Winner: ToucanTech
Team Award
Recognition of an Advancement team who have consistently demonstrated their ability to contribute to their institution’s strategic priorities and purpose, have continually progressed and promoted their institution and their community and have engaged in collaborative working practices.
Winner: Wesley College, WA
Newcomer Award
Recognition of an Educate Plus member who has commenced work in the field of educational Advancement since the last Educate Plus International Conference and made an immediate and recognisable contribution to their institution.
Winner: Robyn Hope, Hunter Valley Grammar School, NSW
Mentor Award
Recognition an Educate Plus member who has provided a strong sense of motivation and encouragement, a willingness to share ideas and experiences and provided practical support to other members.
Winner: Angela Coe, Diocesan School for Girls, NZ
Volunteer Award
Recognition of the strong contribution one of our volunteers has made to assist in the Advancement of education in Australasia.
Winner: Ben Foley, St Peter’s Lutheran College, QLD
Institutional Leader Award
Recognition of outstanding leadership in promoting and supporting the Advancement function within their school/institution.
Winner: Paulina Skerman, Santa Sabina College, NSW
Trevor Wigney Award
The Trevor Wigney Award is the most prestigious recognition of a member for outstanding service in educational Advancement in Australasia. It recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution through exceptional Advancement success and who have elevated the professionalism of their colleagues by mentoring and giving generously of their time, expertise, vision and conviction.
Winner: Vicki Fowler, Connect Futures and Educate Plus Fellow, New Zealand
Thank you to everyone who submitted and congratulations to all of our Winners and Finalists.
Case Study: The Impact of Finding the Right CRM System for Fundraising
1. Which CRM system does your institution/ foundation currently use, and why did you choose this one over others? Initially, we had Edumate, which provided donations history only. I soon realised (coming from a banking background) that a more sophisticated CRM was required, to help to accelerate engagement with our wider community. By way of researching the most effective CRM system for our institution, we looked at numerous metrics including prospect management, donor relations, events management, pledge management and appeal communications. After assessing three providers, we opted for Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge.
2. How does your CRM system support donor relationship management and track donations effectively? Everything is allocated to a donor in historical sequence. We can track donations made by time, by constituent, by cause, and a variety of other metrics, depending on what is needed.
3. What are the key metrics displayed on your CRM dashboard that you find essential for decision-making? There are several metrics displayed, but the most frequently used metrics are: Donations made by fund, comparisons with two previous years and donor retention.
4. What automations within the CRM have had the most significant impact on streamlining your team’s workload? We are finding the automations increasingly useful and timesaving. We are currently using automations to allocate donations, book events, manage stewardship and even read emails.
5. How do automated workflows within your CRM assist in managing donor communication and engagement? This workflow is managed through actions. These are specific to each team member, with a time to complete them by. This provides clarity of responsibility and is useful in ensuring appropriate resourcing.
6. How does your CRM help in segmenting donors for personalised outreach? For every communication, we can generate a list with specific requirements, for example, last donation made or constituent type.
7. What role does automation play in improving the accuracy and timeliness of your data entry and reporting? Automation has significantly reduced the possibility of human error, especially with the increased amounts of donations we are having to process. This, in turn, has led to increased efficiency in processing times, which has enabled us to leverage this time for completing other tasks.
8. In what ways has your CRM system helped empower you for success in the outcomes of your fundraising campaigns and events? One of the greatest improvements we have found is that we can run multiple efforts in parallel. For example, we are able to manage alumni relations, events and appeals concurrently.
Dana Casimaty F.EdPlus Director of Development, Redlands (NSW) Redlands School: An Independent School in Sydney’s North Shore (
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2024: A Year of Growth for the Asia Region
During 2024, we were thrilled to witness the growth of the Educate Plus membership base in the Asia region. Together with a number of advisors and advocates, the team has worked tirelessly to ensure that Advancement Professionals across Asia had the opportunity to learn more about what Educate Plus offers and convert that interest into ongoing membership.
Why is global expansion important for Educate Plus?
• Firstly, it allows us the opportunity to learn from our global colleagues and foster greater understanding of the challenges they face and the environments that our international families come from
• It underpins our 2024 Strategic Plan to develop new markets and new models –the purpose is there!
• It gives us access to resources and talent which are globally competitive at the moment and can only enhance innovation and competitiveness
• It allows Educate Plus to build our brand and elevate our reputation (which has real impact for you as a member)
• It provides new opportunities for strategic partnerships with international companies, leading to knowledge transfer, collaboration and mutual growth opportunities
The success of the global expansion efforts has surpassed our expectations! During 2024, we welcomed close to 60 new members from the Asia Region to our community, with enquiries continuing to come in daily. We were also excited to connect
with 15 delegates who travelled from Asia to the International Conference in Perth. It was wonderful to learn all about the similarities and differences amongst the institutions, and to hear from two engaging presenters, Ylva Kovacs (The American Embassy School, New Delhi INDIA) and Jodie Sovak (American International School Chennai INDIA) who spoke on the topic of ‘Rock Your Re-Enrolment’.
Below is an excerpt from one of our longstanding members and an Educate Plus Board Director, who writes of his on-the-ground experience as a key contributor to the growth of the Asia Region membership.
We Know All About Villages in Asia …
Surprising as it sounds, I have always thought that Development can be a lonely vocation. While we are usually very good at connecting with people and building relationships to increase understanding and support among our institution’s stakeholders, few of our teaching and learning colleagues, or our leadership teams, understand what we do, embrace why we do it and champion the benefit our work brings to our institutions.
In the “small country town” of Adelaide, where I was based, from 2013-2022, Educate Plus helped me fill that “peer shaped hole in my soul” by connecting me to a local community of colleagues from
Advancement. We rarely solved global issues, but there were so many outstanding professionals that I was able to reach out to when I had an issue or an achievement worth celebrating.
In 2022, when I moved to Tanglin in Singapore, I deeply missed that sense of understanding and camaraderie that local Educate Plus Chapters offer.
Since then, as an Educate Plus Board Director, my colleagues and I have been busy strategising how to build a similar network of like-minded Advancement Professionals across Asia. Educate Plus has much to offer Advancement practitioners in Asia, just as Asian colleagues have much to offer to over 2,400 Educate Plus members in Australia and New Zealand.
I am so excited to see early signs of an Educate Plus community forming in Asia. We are experiencing a lot of interest in Singapore and Hong Kong, but also includes colleagues in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. I am optimistic because I know we treasure connection, relationship and community in Asia…and know all about how it takes a village to raise a child.
Congratulations to the following institutions who were recipients of the prestigious Educate Plus Excellence Awards at the recent International Conference in Perth:
Admissions | Impact on a Shoestring Recognising excellence in a program specifically targeting enrolments and delivered on a shoestring budget.
Winner: Woodstock School, India
Alumni & Community Engagement | Impact on a Shoestring: Recognising excellence in an Alumni and/ or Community Program delivered on a shoestring budget.
Winner: German European School Singapore
Abhra Bhattacharjee F.EdPlus
Development Director & Head of Foundation
Tanglin Trust School Singapore (www.tts.edu.sg) (( )
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2024: Celebrating a Year of Achievement for the NSW/ACT Chapter
This past year has been one of outstanding success for the NSW/ACT Chapter of Educate Plus, driven by the contributions of our Committee and our members, professional development initiatives, and vibrant networking opportunities.
Our Chapter Committee has remained highly engaged and we are incredibly fortunate to be supported by such outstanding Advancement professionals who represent the breadth of our Chapter, covering all areas of NSW and the ACT. A heartfelt thank you to Jackie Dalton, Lyn O’Neill, Dana Casimaty, Geoff Anderson, Hannah Atwell, Trish Cartwright, Mary Cook, John Da Cruz, Sandy Goddard, Robyn Hope, Sara Jones, Nelly Pierce, Clare Slattery, Karen Smith and Sebastian Wattam for their dedication and commitment.
Professional development has been a standout focus this year, empowering our members to grow and connect. In April, the Fundraising Special Interest Group (SIG) at Monte, led by Nigel Harris, brought together heads of institutions, business managers, and Advancement Professionals for a valuable exchange of insights. In May, the Alumni and Community Relations SIG at St Andrew’s College provided excellent opportunities for networking, case studies, and Q&A sessions, strengthening ties across the sector. The Events SIG at Shore was well attended and our AI Mark Comms SIG with Julian Moore showcased the future of Artificial Intelligence in education.
We proudly launched our Regional Roadshow, with our first event in Orange engaging 18 attendees from 11 schools for Advancement professional development. We thank Jen Divall and Kinross Wolaroi school for hosting. This success paved the way for Regional Conversations, an online initiative designed to bring regional members and non-members together to further strengthen our community.
Networking has remained central to our mission, with coffee catch-ups held across our region, and our spectacular Chapter Dinner in Perth, hosted by Committee member John Da Cruz.
We extend our thanks to our valued Partners for their continued support and collaboration. Special thanks to Sonic Sight and advancedlife, our Chapter Partners, as well as IDAT, our PD Partner for Admissions, and Ardent Communications, our PD Partner for Marcomms. We also appreciate the contributions of our Promo Partners, In Print Publication and Blueboat, along with Digistorm.
Looking ahead, we are excited for our 2025 Summit to be held 23-24 October at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park. This year has been defined by our collective efforts to empower success. With the commitment of our Committee, the engagement of our members, and the strength of our partnerships, we are well-positioned to continue driving meaningful connections in the year ahead.
Highlights
• Our Chapter Committee has remained highly engaged and we are incredibly fortunate to be supported by such outstanding advancement professionals.
• Professional development has been a standout focus, empowering our members to grow and connect.
• We proudly launched our Regional Roadshow, a key initiative supporting regional members.
• Networking has remained central to our mission, with coffee catch ups held across Sydney and regional areas.
• We are excited for our 2025 Summit, scheduled for 23 and 24 October at the Novotel Sydney Olympic Park.
Yvette Graniero F.EdPlus
NSW/ACT Chapter President Director of Community Relations, Santa Sabina College
Santa Sabina College (ssc.nsw.edu.au) ( )
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2024: The NZ Chapter Celebrates Growth in Advancement
The present 2024 has been an eventful year for the NZ Chapter, full of enriching experiences, connections, and learning. Our dedicated committee of volunteers kicked off with a clear vision to deliver great membership benefits and value, and the momentum has continued strongly.
Regional EP events
Five regional networking and learning events were held across Aotearoa during the first quarter. Auckland attendees were inspired by Mark Wilson, Executive Principal of Kristin School and, in Waikato, Janice Lapwood from Momentum discussed the challenges of fundraising. In Palmerston North, thanks to the support of Palmerston North Boys’ High School, members gathered for a productive lunch event while, in Wellington, Sue O’Donnell of Victoria University shared insights on creating long-term engagement. Christchurch rounded things off with a successful Giving Day campaign presentation from Medbury School. These events attracted incredible participation, with members from schools and universities engaging in meaningful discussions.
Gather & Grow
Our August professional development workshop, Gather and Grow, was a highlight, attracting over 70 participants. With key sessions led by creative agency BlueBoat and Mark Bentley from the University of Auckland, the day was a blend of learning and networking. Breakout sessions covered diverse topics, with generous sponsorship from Giving Architects, Chapel & York, NoticeMATCH and others. Attendees also toured Auckland Grammar School’ s impressive Te Ara building project, showcasing the power of effective Advancement.
International Conference: Scholarships and Awards
Over 35 NZ members attended the Educate Plus International Conference in Perth, many of whom were supported by substantial financial scholarships from the NZ Chapter Special Corpus Fund. Queen Margaret College won the Best Marketing Campaign award, and four NZ members were recognised as Educate Plus Fellows. Special accolades went to Angela Coe for ‘Mentor of the Year’ and Vicki Fowler, who received the most prestigious Trevor Wigney Award for her tireless dedication to educational Advancement.
Kia ora koutou! Greetings to everyone!
The
future
Looking ahead, we’re excited about 2025, with plans for Special Interest Group (SIG) gatherings and the NZ Learning Summit to be held in Wellington. Mark your calendars and add this to your budgets now. It’s a not-to-be-missed event on 19-20 August.
As we close out 2024, we celebrate our growth in Advancement and the positive impact it continues to have on educational institutions across New Zealand.
Ka kite wawe i a koutou katoa! See you all again soon!
Highlights
• Gather & Grow event proved a huge success, blending learning with fun and friendship.
• Five successful regional EP events held across Aotearoa.
• 39 Kiwis represented NZ Chapter at Educate Plus International Conference in Perth.
• New Zealanders shone as recipients of major Excellence Awards.
• Save the Date: 19-20 August when the 2025 Summit will be held in Wellington.
Emma Zigan NZ Chapter President and Educate Plus Director Director of Advancement, Dilworth School
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2024: A Year of Growth and Connection for the QLD Chapter
2024 has been a year of connection, networking, and learning for Educate Plus Queensland. With a focus on Empowering Success, we welcomed new partners and members, reaching 430 members across the state. This growth reflects our delivery and commitment to supporting our Advancement colleagues and institutions.
Chapter Partnerships
Our Chapter Partners play a crucial role in enabling our success. We were delighted to welcome advancedlife and Studio Kirby as new sponsors, whose support has been instrumental in delivering a diverse and impactful calendar of events. We also enjoyed the support of our Promotional Partner, My World Jewellery.
Success through Professional Development
This year, the Chapter hosted four Special Interest Group events, and a further three regional events in Toowoomba, Townsville, and Rockhampton. Ben Foley offered three online Professional Development sessions, focusing on people and culture. All were designed to empower members to work in their roles with confidence.
International Conference engagement
A highlight of this year was the International Conference in Perth, attended by 114 Queensland members. This provided a platform to connect, share best practices, and gain insights from global thought leaders, contributing to members’ professional growth.
Recognising excellence
At the Perth Conference Awards luncheon, we celebrated with Lourdes Hill College and Scots PGC College as they were recognised for excellence in Admissions Campaigns and Events, respectively. Ben Foley received the Outstanding Volunteer Award for his leadership in People & Culture. Six Educate Plus Fellowships were also awarded to committee members, acknowledging their contribution and dedication to Advancement.
Empowering through mentoring and education
The Elevate Mentoring Program continued, with six members mentoring colleagues to help them achieve their goals. We are grateful to the member and industry facilitators of the Advancement Practitioner Training in Brisbane, whose expertise has enabled participants to advance their careers and contribute effectively to their organisations.
As I reflect on 2024, I am deeply grateful for the dedication of our committee and members, whose passion and commitment have empowered the successes in our chapter. I also thank Acting Vice President Helen Turner, Treasurer David Miles, and Secretary Meg Graham for their support.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue empowering our members with customised professional development, regional visits, and the Queensland Chapter Summit in July 2025. We also look forward to hosting the next Educate Plus International Conference in Brisbane in 2026 — we can’t wait to welcome our Advancement colleagues to our hometown.
Thank you to all our members for your continued support; together we empower each other and drive success in Advancement across the state.
Thank You to the 2025 QLD Chapter Committee Helen Turner, David Miles, Meg Graham, Penny Bowman, Brady Downes, Ben Foley, Steve Forster, Carla Hardy, Scott Huntington, Joanne Lovett, Susan McGinley, Julia McKenna, Georgia Mitchell, Sue Russell, Ben Stocks and Alison Walburn.
Highlights
• Queensland Chapter membership swelled to 430 in 2024
• Four Special Interest Group sessions, four People & Culture webinars, and three regional events delivered in Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville
• 114 Queensland members attended the International Conference
• Two Queensland schools won Excellence Awards at the International Conference
• Six Fellowships awarded outstanding service to Advancement
QLD Chapter President and Educate Plus
Board Secretary
Leading Engagement Solutions
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Claire Grlj F.EdPlus
Admission Campaign Winner: Lourdes Hill College, QLD
Queensland Fellows 2024
Admissions Event Winner: Scots PGC College
Special Interest Group session
2024: A Year of Strengthening Community for the SA/NT Chapter
Empowering Success has been our guiding theme for 2024, shaping both the International Conference and our Chapter activities. For the SA/NT Chapter, this has meant equipping our members with the tools to grow professionally, creating opportunities to share expertise, and building a network that encourages collaboration and innovation. Throughout 2024, we have embraced this theme to strengthen our community through professional development, peer-to-peer learning and engagement opportunities.
Engagement and Professional Development
Peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing have been a central focus this year, with many of our events hosted at member institutions. Creating opportunities for participants to experience different educational settings has enriched our events, while providing an opportunity for institutions to showcase their unique facilities and accomplishments.
• We kicked off the year with “Personal Branding and Finding Your Passion” at Westminster School, followed in May by “Storytelling through the Lens” at St Peter’s Girls School. Both events provided a tour of the school, followed by a presentation/panel session and the opportunity to connect over informal networking drinks.
• A Special Interest Group (SIG) event on data management and systems at King’s Baptist Grammar School during the July break allowed members to delve into best practices and share their own experiences in a relaxed environment.
• We expanded our regular coffee catch-ups to new venues across the city, including Nazareth College in Term 4, helping to connect members and forge new networks.
A highlight of the year, for those who were fortunate to attend, was undoubtedly the International Conference in Perth. We were delighted to co-host a Chapter Gathering with NSW/ACT, providing a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues, old and new.
Stronger Partnerships
We are immensely grateful to our Chapter Partners – Openbook Howden, advancedlife Photography, and communikate et al – and to our Event Partners, Richmond & Associates and Little Shove Mentoring. These collaborations have been instrumental in delivering high-quality events and services that benefit our entire Chapter.
A special thank you to our CEO, Mandy McFarland and the Educate Plus team, and to our SA/NT Chapter Committee – an impressive team of 14 professionals representing 13 schools and one university: Helen Karapandzic, Beck Healy, Joanna Arvanitis, Julie Dow, Ana Gozalo, Paul Bailey, Sue Cvijanovic, Alexandra Gonzales Salas, Vanessa Grave, Jo Gray, Carly Hocking, Belinda Mears, Victoria Richardson and April Ridgway. Each of you has brought unique skills, perspectives and a shared passion for educational advancement, and it has been a privilege to serve alongside you.
Looking Ahead
Planning is already underway for the 2025 Summit, to be held in Victor Harbor on 11-12 September. We are exploring collaborations with other regions to share resources and speakers, ensuring the Summit will be a truly impactful and collaborative event. With a clear vision and a commitment to empowering success, the SA/NT Chapter is wellpositioned to support growth and excellence in the coming years.
Helen Karapandzic F.EdPlus SA/NT Chapter President Director of Philanthropy | Prince Alfred College SA
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2024: The VIC/TAS Chapter - Fostering a Community
We reflect on 2024, and it is with great pride that we highlight the many strides we have taken in empowering our members for success. The theme, Empowering Success, has truly been at the core of all our initiatives this year, and our commitment to fostering growth and development among our members has resulted in remarkable achievements.
After hosting a successful VIC/TAS Chapter Summit in 2023, the Committee recognised the need to enter 2024 with fresh ideas aimed at engaging our members and providing opportunities for them to attend our flagship event, the International Conference in Perth.
Members expressed concerns about the challenges of budget constraints in bringing their teams to Perth and several new members had also not yet had a chance to experience an International Conference. In response, the Committee worked diligently to share personal stories highlighting the value of attending past Conferences; the professional development and networking opportunities provided by Educate Plus, which cannot be found elsewhere.
Thanks to numerous bursaries offered, we achieved a record attendance of 189 members from our Chapter alone, reflecting their strong engagement and interest. We are proud to announce that VIC/ TAS had the highest attendance of any state in Australia. Go VIC/TAS!
From welcome drinks at King’s Park with stunning views of Perth, members connected and exchange ideas. A dedicated VIC/TAS Chapter catch-up allowed members to network and build stronger relationships during a fun-filled evening.
The Conference continues to prove immense value, offering unique opportunities for growth and networking every two years.
On the theme of Empowering Success, the VIC/ TAS Chapter is proud to introduce a new stream focused on People and Culture. During Conference, two new members – Melissa Martin from Brighton
Grammar and Phillip Tascone from Ivanhoe Grammar – volunteered to lead this in 2025. I am incredibly grateful to both and look forward to delivering more through this additional focus area. If you have any suggestions for professional development in this stream, please reach out.
We believe empowerment comes not only from providing support but through recognising success. At Conference we celebrated the achievements of our members through awards, spotlights, and public recognition. This not only acknowledged individual accomplishments but also inspires others. Special mention to several award-winning VIC/TAS Schools, including Carey Grammar for its video campaign and community event. Fellowship awards went to two Committee members: Marion Cape from Strathcona Girls Grammar and Tracey Grobbelaar from Siena College.
Exciting upcoming events include a Professional Development Day on November 15 at the University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus in Launceston. After that, the VIC/TAS AGM will be held at Kooyong.
Lastly, sincere thanks to our fantastic VIC/TAS Committee, Maria Mercuri, Marion Cape, Cathering McVean, Emma Amory, Mandy Andrews, Yvonne AU, Anna Beattie, Rob Blandford, Imma Boubouras, Mirella Busso-Lee, Hayley Galloway, Kate Higgins and Murray Osborne.
Thank you also to our valued sponsors:Spectrum Analysis, Blueboat, Anzuk Education, Eastern Press and My World Jewellery. Here’s to another exciting year in 2025 with new things to come!
Highlights:
• Successful 2023, fresh ideas for 2024
• Record attendance for VIC/TAS at Perth conference
• New People and Culture stream developed
• Several awards for VIC/TAS members
• Strong support from Sponsor and Partners
Tracey Grobbelaar F.EdPlus
VIC/TAS Chapter President Director of Business Services and Advancement | Siena College VIC Seina College (siena.vic.edu.au) ( ) Follow me on Linkedin ( )
2024: A Year of Pride and Joy for the WA Chapter
It is with immense pride that I reflect on the achievements of the Western Australia Chapter this year. The incredible work of our dedicated Chapter Committee and the enthusiasm of our members have truly made WA stand out as an exceptional Chapter within the Educate Plus community. From our vibrant events to the invaluable connections built, the commitment of everyone involved has made our Chapter and state shine on the national and international stage.
This year has been filled with a wide range of successful events and activities, further strengthening the bonds within our Chapter. We hosted several Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including dedicated sessions on Marketing, Admissions, Alumni, Fundraising, and graphic design, which provided tailored professional development opportunities for our members. A standout event was the Tertiary SIG, which saw great participation from across the sector, bringing together professionals from universities and colleges to
discuss equity and partnerships. Additionally, our Breakfast Professional Development sessions have been particularly well-received, offering a convenient and engaging format for members. We also organised national webinars, such as ‘Digital Dynamics: Optimising ROI in Growth and Retention Campaigns’ and ‘Deep Fakes’, which not only catered to local members but also attracted national interest. These events have showcased the diversity and strength of our Chapter, providing invaluable opportunities for members to connect, share knowledge, and grow professionally.
Perth had the privilege of hosting the Empowering Success International Conference for 2024, where we showcased the beauty and uniqueness of our little part of the world to attendees from across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. It was an honour to welcome so many members to Western Australia, and we are proud to have been able to share the warmth of our Chapter with the wider Educate Plus community. The energy and enthusiasm at the Conference was inspiring, and I’m confident it will have a lasting impact on everyone who attended.
I want to express my deep appreciation to our incredible WA Chapter Committee members, whose enthusiasm, proactivity, and dedication have provided an engaging and successful program for members this year: Meredith Eddington (Vice President), Steven Wellbeloved (Treasurer), Georgia Allen (Secretary), Simone Cumming, Giles Creelman, Josephine Evans, Kamyra Laurenson and Clare Underdown.
A special thank you to Clare Underdown, and Meredith Eddington who will step down from the Committee at the end of this year, both of whom have made invaluable contributions to our Chapter. Clare has been a passionate advocate for regional members and an instrumental force behind many of our Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Meredith has been with us long before Educate Plus became what it is today. Her unwavering dedication, immense knowledge, and deep connections across the sector have made her an institution in her own right. Meredith’s kindness and approachability have left a lasting impact on our Chapter, and her legacy of commitment will continue to inspire us all.
None of this would have been possible without the support of the valued Partners and Sponsors we’ve cultivated along the way — thank you for your ongoing commitment: Fotoworks & Scotts.
Our Chapter’s uniqueness comes from our members. It is your dedication to attending events, professional development sessions, and engaging in our community that truly makes our Chapter so vibrant. We look forward to another successful year together in 2025.
Highlights:
• Empowering Success International Conference hosted in Perth
• Tertiary SIG saw great participation from across the sector
• Acknowledgement of Clare Underdown and Meredith Eddington as instrumental forces behind the WA Chapter
• Vibrant events and invaluable connections enabled WA to shine
• Appreciation of ongoing valued partner support
• The award of two Educate Plus Fellowships to Josephine Evans and Laura Kendall
Laura Kendall F.EdPlus
WA Chapter President
Director of Community and Sustainability
Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School (ggs.wa.edu.au) ( )
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Educate Plus would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic and Chapter Partners for their generous support in 2024
Educate Plus would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic and Chapter Partners for their generous support in 2023
Educate Plus would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic and Chapter Partners for their generous support in 2023
Educate Plus would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic and Chapter Partners for their generous support in 2023
Educate Plus would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic and Chapter Partners for their generous support in 2023 one roof.
