Over his 30-year career, he has served both in-house and as a consultant to philanthropists and organisations across the sector, including education, health and medical research, arts and culture, public policy and community service.

His clients include University of Melbourne, University Technology Sydney, Canberra Hospital Foundation, South Western Sydney Local Health District, National Gallery Singapore, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Grammar School, Hong Kong International School, The Lowy Institute for Public Policy, Lifeline Australia, St Peter’s Cathedral and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Prior to Global Philanthropic, Nick built a strong track record, initially in Canada, working with organisations including the Alberta Lung Association, Leukaemia Research Fund and Aga Khan Foundation. He served as Manager, Annual Giving then Senior Development Officer at the University of Alberta during its first comprehensive campaign—the third largest university campaign in Canadian history to that time, exceeding the goal by 34%.

Moving to Australia in 2001, Nick served as Director, Foundation & Alumni Relations at Curtin University in Perth, and in 2005 joined the University of Sydney as Director of Development, where he led the university-wide fundraising program, including prospect development, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and donor relations. He also directed campaign efforts for the faculties of Law, Pharmacy, Medicine and Graduate Studies. Under his leadership, the team tripled the number of donors and grew annual fundraising revenues from $20 million to $75 million per year leading into the University’s Inspired Campaign, the first in Australia to reach $1 billion raised.

Nick is a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australia as well as Educate Plus, the lead body overseeing advancement professionals within the education sector in Australia. He is a contributing author to the best-selling book Excellence in Fundraising in Canada: The Definitive Resource for Canadian Fundraisers, and he has presented widely in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

A member of the NORTH Foundation Development Board, Nick has also served on boards for the Australian Theatre for Young People, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Educate Plus, Fundraising Institute of Australia (NSW), Leukaemia Research Fund, University of Alberta School of Business, and Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

Specialist skills

Nick is a specialist in principal and major gifts, gift solicitation, marketing, as well as board/executive coaching and training.