OUR SPEAKERS
JEFF BROOKS
Jeff Brooks has served the nonprofit community for more than 25 years, working as a writer and creative director on behalf of top North American and UK nonprofits. He has planned and executed hundreds of campaigns in direct mail, print, radio, digital, and other media that have motivated millions of donors to help make the world a better place. He blogs at futurefundraisingnow.com, podcasts atfundraisingisbeautiful.com, and is the author of two books: The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications (2012), The Money-Raising Nonprofit Brand (2014) and How to Turn Your Words into Money (2015). He lives in Seattle.
TAMMY ZONKER
Tammy Zonker is an envelope-pushing fundraising practitioner, inspiring international speaker, powerful trainer in the discipline of transformational philanthropy. In the past 15 years she's trained and led teams to raise more than $400M, including a single gift of $27.1M. She's been recognized as one of the Top 30 Fundraising Consultants in the U.S. by Michael Chatman of The Giving Show. Received Fundraising Success Magazine awards for Campaign of the Year and Multichannel Campaign of the Year. And has served as Technical Editor for the third edition of Fundraising for Dummies, Editorial Committee Member for Nonprofit Quarterly and adjunct faculty for Indiana University. In her current practitioner role as Chief Philanthropy Officer for The Children's Center in Detroit she's led the team effort to triple fundraising results in three years.
STEPHEN GEORGE
Stephen George is a Leadership and Fundraising Coach and Consultant, specializing in helping charity leaders become entrepreneurial creative leaders who change behavior and raise more money. He has over 30 years in the sector, most recently Executive Director at Action on Hearing Loss and Director of Fundraising at Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre’s in the UK. He was Development Director for Legacy Fundraising at the NSPCC, and prior to that, Director of Community Appeals where he was responsible for Local volunteer and community fundraising, schools, and national events across the UK. During the Full Stop appeal, Stephen managed the appeal in the regions, which raised £55 million. Prior to the NSPCC, he was Head of Regional Fundraising at UNICEF having spent the previous12 years at Scope. He was chairman of Remember a Charity, a consortium of over 145 charities promoting gifts in wills and is now Vice Chairman of the Institute of Fundraising
BRIAN HOLMES
Over a 24 year career, Brian has collaborated on twelve national award winning campaigns and an International Fundraising Congress - Global Award for Fundraising. He is recognised as a leader and innovator in the art of major gifts and capital campaigns. Brian leads an international team of consultants across four divisions; Xponential Philanthropy, Xponential Fundraising, Xponential Strategy and Xponential Giving. Each division offers services to a broad cross section of the non-profit sector. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Brian is also a Fellow of Fundraising Institute Australia. Until recently he served as the national Chairman of Fundraising Institute Australia. A sought after speaker at conferences and seminars, Brian is often called on to train Board members, development professionals and professional fundraisers on skills, methodologies and the Art of the Ask.
ALAN SHORTT
Alan has been working in radio and television in Ireland for the last twenty years, gaining wide experience from both behind and in front of the camera.
He has worked as a presenter, performer, producer, and is currently a regular contributor on RTE Radio/TV and BBC Radio Ulster.
As a live performer he has also learnt first hand, how to face the fear of standing up to speak in front of a live audience. This is where the concept of Media Skills Ireland was born.
Alan has been host and MC for various corporate conferences, private functions and awards ceremonies, and from this experience he has learned that many Chief Executives and professionals still face the fear of speaking in public.
So Alan founded Media Skills Ireland in order to address this natural fear that is shared by every living person on this large blue planet where we all live.
Eliminate fear and anxiety about speaking with planning, preparation, and practice.
CLAIRE ROUTLEY
Dr Claire Routley has worked in fundraising for twelve years, specialising in legacy fundraising for the last nine. In 2011, she completed a PhD looking at why people choose to leave legacies to charity. She has worked for Bible Society, Age UK, WRVS and a local hospice, and is a tutor for the Institute of Fundraising’s qualification courses. She is now a consultant specialising in legacy and in memory fundraising.
IAN MACQUILLIN
Ian MacQuillin is the founder and director of Rogare, the fundraising think tank at Plymouth University’s Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, where he is currently leading on a project to develop a new theory of fundraising ethics. He’s a lecturer in fundraising and marketing, and he is researching the fundamental drivers of stakeholder objections to fundraising for his doctoral study. He also edits the Critical Fundraising blog. Ian has worked in fundraising since 2001, as editor of Professional Fundraising, account director at TurnerPR, and head of communications at the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association.
PHILLY GRAHAM
Philly specialises in management development, coaching skills, fundraising and communications. Prior to joining =mc, Philly's career has spanned both the private and charity sectors. She has extensive experience in fundraising and communications - specialising in large-scale corporate partnerships. Before joining =mc she was Corporate Account Team Manager at Alzheimer's Society working with some of their biggest corporate partners including Tesco and KPMG. Philippa is also an accredited coach. She delivers training regularly for organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, ActionAid and the British Red Cross. Her recent work includes supporting Marie Curie through the design and delivery of a bespoke ‘Gift in Wills & You’ programme for their regional fundraisers, helping them to talk about legacies with their supporters. She is also co-leader of the National Arts Fundraising School.
MIKE JOHNSTON
Michael Johnston is the President and founder of the global fundraising consultancy, hjc, and the co-founder of the event fundraising company, Beyond, and the UK based integrated fundraising agency, Xtraordinary. He has helped raised over a billion dollars for his clients around the world. He has been a fundraiser for almost 30 years, and has worked with 100’s of nonprofit organizations in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Mike is an expert in direct response fundraising innovation and integrated campaigning – most especially in the use of new media technologies like the web and other new technologies and their integration with traditional fundraising methods. He is the author of two books: The Fund Raiser's Guide to the Internet and The Nonprofit Guide to the Internet and the editor of two books: Internet Strategies: Best Practices for Marketing, and Direct Response Fund Raising: Mastering New Trends for Results. Mike is also a contributor to numerous books and magazines.
LYNDA BYRON
Lynda Byron is an accomplished Leadership Development Specialist.
Most of her time is spent helping organisations to identify and develop their key talent. Through Innovative and challenging development programmes, as well as individual coaching, she works with individuals and groups to help them become the best they can be. She designs and delivers Leadership Development programmes across all industries and levels and in many different countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
EELCO KEIJI
Eelco Keij is the founder of KeyLance Consultancy LLC in New York. He has over 10 years of experience working in the international development sector, among others as a consultant, fundraiser strategist, trainer and advocacy specialist. As one of the few working in this niche area of rapidly increasing demand, Eelco specializes in analyzing cross-border grants from US foundations (such as the Ford Foundation and the Gates Foundation) with the goal to support nonprofits that seek assistance from these foundations. He has spoken in 20 countries and this year he will also give a Master Class at the acclaimed International Fundraising Conference (IFC). Eelco received his degree in Law from the University of Nijmegen (Netherlands), the College of Europe (Poland) and Columbia Law School (US). He is a Dutch and US citizen and recently moved back to the Netherlands where he started to work for the University of Nijmegen.
KEVIN DELANEY
Kevin Delaney is Head of Fundraising and Communications at Don Bosco Care, having worked in fundraising since 2008. Nominated for Professional Fundraiser of the year in 2014, he has over a decade's experience working with nonprofits in Ireland and overseas with a particular interest in focusing on the the root problem organisations are trying to solve rather than getting stuck in the day to day of programme delivery. Kevin is the founder of Charity Hack - an organisation that aims to give smaller charities a helping hand through a one day volunteer experience which to date has helped over 20 organisations. He is a board member of Fundraising Ireland and tweets from @kevmagic
ALANA KIRK
I’ve worked words for a living for many years as a fundraiser. As senior directors at UNICEF Ireland and Barnardos, I wrote words that engaged, empowered, influenced, provoked and inspired to build long-term sustainable income streams. Now I use my experience in strategic planning and fundraising development, combined with skills as a communicator and writer to support charities develop their fundraising capabilities and donor communications. Working with charities large and small, regional and international, those with broad appeal and those with niche audiences, I provide support in strategic planning and donor recruitment & retention. From compelling case for supports to donor care communications, I deliver valuable results. Clients include Irish Cancer Society, Headstrong, MSF, Oxfam Ireland, Make-A-Wish, COPE Galway, Mercy Hospital Foundation, Christchurch Cathedral, Beaumont Hospital Foundation, Dog’s Trust and BeLonG To. I am also a freelance writer, published regularly in newsprint, consumer and commercial publications.
KAREN CIESIELSKI
I am a seasoned fundraiser with 17 years' experience of raising funds across a range of methods, including direct marketing, corporate fundraising, events, legacies, institutional fundraising and online channels. I work regularly with a range of partners and stakeholders to build a strong, active community of engaged supporters.
STEPHEN PIDGEON
Platform speaker, teacher, consultant and itinerant agency man, Stephen now speaks and teaches throughout the world. After 20 years setting up and running the UK’s largest fundraising agency, he now works with a wide range of charities in UK, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Canada, US and New Zealand. A committed minor donor fundraiser, he has a special interest in stewardship and legacy marketing but gets excited at the way charities mistreat their supporters.
He is a visiting Professor for Plymouth University’s Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, he teaches for the UK’s Institute of Fundraising (he was also an twice-elected trustee), for Fundraising Ireland and in Norway. He is a Trustee of development agency VSO and writes regularly and often critically in the sector press across the world. Occasionally he Tweets on #stephenpidge and he has just published his first book How to love your donors…to death.
JOHN CHURCH
John Church joined Arthritis Ireland (AI) as Chief Executive Officer in May 2005 after 16 years in the private sector. John has extensive experience in the commercial marketing arena, having held senior marketing and commercial management roles within the food and drink sector such as The Coca-Cola Company and Richmond marketing, the Red Bull distrinutor. John has successfully transformed Arthritis Ireland into a respected national charity and provider of support services such as the groundbreaking Self-Management programme and suite of exercise courses delivered in every community in Ireland. This was achieved through employing good solid commercial marketing strategies and brand positioning techniques. Income grew from €300k in year one to €960k in year two to an average sustainable level of €1.45m sustainable income. An impact led organisation, Arthritis Ireland is the first medical charity in Ireland to fund academic chairs in rheumatology through the medical schools. A science graduate of University College Dublin, he holds a marketing degree from the University of Leuven in Belgium and a diploma in direct marketing from Kingston University, London.
HELEN OSBORNE
Helen looks after JustGiving's social channels. As social media manager, she loves creating useful, inspiring content that connects with their community and celebrates their amazing achievements
CATRINA SHERIDAN
Catrina is the Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Trocaire. A commercial director with 24 years of global and local experience in all disciplines of strategy & business planning, product managment, project management, marketing and PR across the internet, telecommunications, consumer packaged goods and non-for-profit sector. Strong experience in leading people & businesses going through significant change management.
DAVID BURGESS
David has almost 10 years fundraising experience, specialising in the Arts and Culture sector. He has worked with organisations ranging from an international opera company to a regional orchestra. His specialisms include Trust and Statutory grants, as well as developing successful Individual Giving schemes, including legacy programmes. In 2014, David was awarded a “Highly Commended” prize as part of the Legacy10 Awards for Excellence. As a Fundraising Consultant at =mc, David is working with a number of organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Current clients include Know Violence (writing the global fundraising strategy for this Research Initiative which aims to identify effective strategies to eradicate childhood violence) and Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio (helping this major paleontology museum in Argentina to raise $6.5million to build an extension to house the biggest dinosaur ever discovered). David is also co-leader of the National Arts Fundraising School.
JOHN SUTTON
John is a founder member and co-owner of Persuasion Republic and before this he was CEO of Public Communications Centre. He is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading experts in strategic communications, campaigning and fundraising for non-profit organisations. He has worked on projects and campaigns for amongst others, the Irish Cancer Society, Trócaire, Concern, Society of Vincent DePaul, Children’s Medical Research Foundation (Crumlin Hospital), Temple Street Foundation, National Council for the Blind (NCBI), IMPACT, and Our Lady’s Hospice. He has led seminars and workshops in fundraising planning, proposition development and provided training in advocacy and communications. He currently lectures on legacy fundraising for Fundraising Ireland’s diploma and certificate training courses. John also works extensively in the cultural sector and is a member of the boards of Fighting Words, Art to Heart, Amnesty Education and Report.
MIKE MANSFIELD
Mike Mansfield is a vastly experienced Fundraising, Marketing and Communications professional with over 7 years’ experience as Plan International Ireland’s Head of Marketing, Communications and Regular Giving.
Prior to joining the charity sector, Mike worked across a wide variety of role across media, PR, marketing and telecoms.
During Mike’s tenure in Plan International Ireland, the organisation has grown significantly from a 5-person / €3m organisation, to a 25-person / €13m organisation. With an in-depth understanding of the Marketing, Communications and Fundraising mix Mike’s approach is ‘hands-on’ and ‘can-do’ (with a good dollop of humour). Engaging, collaborative and dynamic, Mike speaks with a high level of energy and a clear focus on task and goal achievement. With a straight-forward approach built on a strong marketing foundation of donor acquisition, retention and cultivation, Mike is one of Ireland’s premier Fundraising professionals and can bring a wealth of knowledge, international experience and practical examples to what promises to be an highly entertaining, motivational and inspirational session.
Often critical of fundraising practice in Ireland, Mike challenges the norm, yet prides myself on a common sense approach, one focussed on the donor. Brave, willing to be innovate and refusing to see himself as a mere ‘fundraiser’, Mike’s approach is one that questions acquisition strategies, relooks at ‘retention’ and puts donor cultivation at the heart of the story.
“The current climate is difficult. The public, by and large, don’t like us and would you blame them? As a sector we need to change the narrative and up our game. We need to professionalise. Quickly”
GABY MURPHY
Gaby is the founder and Managing Director of Purplegrass Consulting, a strategic fundraising consultancy based in Dublin. In just 4 years, Gaby has built up an impressive client list as a consultant, working with leading Irish and international charities to increase their net revenues. Her clients include the Irish Cancer Society, Temple St Children’s Hospital, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Asthma Society of Ireland. Gaby has over 20 years’ experience of delivering organisational strategies and leading successful fundraising teams to deliver challenging revenue targets. Prior to founding Purplegrass, Gaby held a number of senior roles, including Managing Director of Kanchi, Director of Development for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camp, Barretstown and corporate fundraising roles with NCH Action for Children and Tommy’s. Gaby is a Director and founding Board member of Fundraising Ireland. She holds a MBA from University College Dublin and is a member of the Rogare fundraising think tank at the Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, University of Plymouth.
SHARON COSGROVE
Sharon Cosgrove currently holds the position of CEO of the Asthma Society, which is the national patient organisation representing and advocating on behalf of over 470,000 Irish people living with asthma. Since she joined the Asthma Society 3 and a half years ago she has led new approaches to fundraising, communications, advocacy and patient engagement. The Society now focuses on advocating for improvements in asthma care, and also campaigns on broader health and wellbeing issues including tobacco and air quality at a national level. Sharon is an Environmental Health graduate, with a MA in Housing Studies. In 2014, Sharon was appointed by the Minister for Health and Children to the Healthy Ireland Council. She also holds Board positions on the Dublin Simon Communities and IPPOSI (Irish Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry) and is a member of the Working Group of the National Clinical Programme for Asthma.
DAN FLETCHER
Dan has a broad background in fundraising from individuals, companies, trusts and statutory bodies. From 2011-14 he ran his own fundraising consultancy, Delta Fundraising, and now works for Kingston Smith Fundraising and Management. Prior to this Dan’s career focused on health charities, and since 2000 he has been the most senior fundraiser, and often the first person to hold that post, at two hospices, a hospital charity, a national homelessness charity and a health think tank. These experiences have qualified him to help charities by rapidly assessing their needs and proposing both short and long-term solutions. He has held voluntary roles within the sector including Vice Chair of Remember a Charity - the legacy promotion consortium, and founding Chair of the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) Corporate Fundraising group. Currently, he is Treasurer for the IoF Cultural Sector Group and a trustee of Rethink Mental Illness.
EVA GURN
Eva Gurn is the Director at Boardmatch Ireland. She is a graduate of the National University of Galway with an honours degree in Economics and Social studies and is also a graduate of National University of Ireland, Maynooth. She has always had a keen interest in the not-for profit sector and Governance. Eva joined Boardmatch Ireland in March of 2011 as the Corporate Services Officer and was appointed in the Director role in 2015. Eva is currently completing a Masters in Management and Corporate Governance through the University of Ulster.
ORLA O'KANE
Orla is a graduate of UCD where she completed an MA in politics. She has lived and worked abroad for many years but is now delighted to be back living in Dublin. She has over 20 years’ experience in HR and Recruitment in both the commercial and not for profit sector in Ireland and the UK. Orla has worked with Boardmatch since 2011 as an expert in leadership development programs and is passionate about the benefits of appointing commercially experienced individuals to the boards of charities.
LISA-NICOLE DUNNE
Lisa-Nicole Dunne has been a humanitarian, rights campaigner, and volunteer fundraiser for
many years. In 2009 she officially entered the non-profit sector, establishing a diverse public
fundraising portfolio for UNICEF, raising the Irish organisation’s profile over 3 years to help with
their development work for children.
In April 2012 she joined Focus Ireland and is responsible for developing the Focus Ireland
brand in Ireland, and establishing and growing funding from the public, philanthropic sources
and organisations. In this time, Lisa-Nicole has helped the organisation raise over 16million euro
despite the challenging environment. She has lead a large fundraising team to develop new
products including Shine a Light night, new channels including a new retail arm Beloved and
increased corporate fundraising at Focus Ireland to over 20% of total fundraising portfolio.
Focus Ireland have won several Irish Fundraising awards, and Lisa-Nicole won professional
fundraiser of the year in 2013.
Lisa-Nicole also has 10 years commercial experience where she previously worked across 3
business sectors developing corporate partnership and customer relationship management
strategies for national and international brands including BMW Group Ireland, Irish Life and
Permanent and The Carphone Warehouse.
Lisa-Nicole Dunne holds a BA, MBA and Diploma in Psychology from UCD, DCU and CMIT
respectively. Lisa-Nicole has also lectured at DCU Business School on MBA, Digital Marketing
Masters and Masters in Operations and Technology courses.
JEREMY PERRIN
Following a 10 year fundraising career working with charities including The Irish Heart Foundation, Make A Wish, Croi, Aware and Special Olympics Jeremy Perrin moved into the Travel Industry with GreenLife Tours in 2012. Greenlife Tours offer walking and cycling holidays on routes throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In its first year of business Greenlife Tours worked with four charities this has now increased to over 20 charities per year taking overseas challenges on routes including the Camino de Santiago, The Via Francigena to Rome and the French / Swiss Alps. Not only can Jeremy offer a charity a full travel package we include consultancy on how to introduce an overseas challenge into your diary of events, Jeremy and the team have first-hand experience of the destinations on offer
LIZ ROCHE
Liz is an Associate of 2into3 and advises 2into3 clients as a management consultant on fundraising strategy, team development and development of appropriate fundraising mix. She has experience working with several Irish not-for-profit organisations as a consultant, including Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Free Legal Advice Centres, Spinal Injuries Ireland and Focus Ireland. She has also worked as a Business Development Advisor for Dóchas, the Irish Association for NGO's. Prior to joining 2into3, Liz successfully established the National Fundraising Office of the Society of St Vincent de Paul between 2008 and 2013. Liz was also Head of Fundraising for the Irish Red Cross for a number of years, managing income streams for both domestic and international projects. Liz’s earlier career was spent in international communications, marketing and sponsorship management roles. Liz holds a Master of Science (MSc) Communications from Dublin City University and Queens University, Belfast.
AMY POWER
Amy Power is a Consultant with 2into3, working with clients in a range of sectors to develop their fundraising strategies. Amy also conducts research on fundraising performance in Ireland. Prior to joining 2into3, Amy gained extensive experience within the not-for-profit sector. Amy also worked with a number of government departments in the incorporation of an ‘evidence-informed approach’ to policy and practice. Amy is Co-Author of the "Fundraising Performance: The Fourth Annual Report on Fundraising in Ireland". Amy received a BSocSc (Hons) at NUI Maynooth, followed by an M.Sc. in Criminology at Queen’s University, Belfast.
SUZANNE COLE NOWERS
Suzanne is the CEO of Nexus Direct, an award winning direct response fundraising firm with offices in the US and Europe. Over the last 20+ years, she and her team have developed successful fundraising programmes for some of the world’s most recognised organisations and set fundraising records in the US with their political fundraising practice. Suzanne is also an active volunteer and recognised thought leader in the global fundraising community, having been honoured with the International Fundraising Congress’ George Smith Outstanding New Speaker Award in 2014.
SANDY LUTHER
Sandra Luther is a Customer Success Manager within the Online and Event Fundraising division at Blackbaud Europe. Specialising in digital strategy and online event fundraising, she is an enthusiast and advocate for leveraging technology to support successful integrated fundraising strategies.
ALAN CLAYTON
Alan is Creative Director of Revolutionise, based in Australia, Finland, Norway,
Denmark, Holland, the UK, Canada and the USA, and working with clients in many
more countries. He is also Managing Partner at the Inch Hotel and Inspiration Centre,
Loch Ness, Scotland and board chair at Karat Marketing in Dunfermline. Alan has
previously held major fundraising and leadership posts and served as Chief Executive
Officer of three fundraising agencies.
One of the leading consultants, coaches, creative directors and inspirational speakers
on the world circuit, Alan has worked with over 320 non-profit clients around the
world. His specialisms are emotional behaviour, board and executive team
development, creative strategy, donor insight and motivation and he has published
much original research and theory.
Alan’s other area of work is as a trainer, coach and professional speaker, working
globally. He is a keen mountaineer, powerboat skipper and golfer and has a
reputation for insight, inspiration and for saying things others don’t dare to.