I first directed planned giving programs in 1981 when I was employed by the Uniting Church agency who then ran many Catholic parish programs as well as Anglican and Uniting Church programs. I have also directed programs for the Knights of the Southern Cross in New South Wales so I am familiar with both approaches to program direction.

Since 1987, I have operated through my own fundraising consultancy which mainly involve capital appeals for hospitals, aged care, community projects, welfare agencies, schools and, a New Zealand Diocesan Seminary.

Throughout, I have continued to direct planned giving programs in Catholic parishes in Victoria and New South Wales. In 1990, I attended a conference in the United States jointly run by the National Catholic Development Conference and the National Catholic Stewardship Conference. I also attended the first Australian Catholic fundraising seminar in March 1996.

I will continue to be involved in Catholic programs and am now looking forward to again working with other Churches at Parish, Diocesan and Synod level

I am a Member of the Fundraising Institute Australia and have presented at Chapter and national conferences and seminars and at the second Fundraising Institute of New Zealand Conference.

I find my work in capital appeals and parish planned giving to be complementary in that both are structured programs working though volunteers to inspire truly philanthropic giving for worthy causes.

Indeed, I am mindful that professional fundraising in Australia started with parish programs and developed from there. I am pleased that my own career has followed this path.

My approach to parish programs draws on an extensive and varied personal experience to present a Catholic perspective in programs that work.