About the Honoree

Liesl has worked in the UK higher education sector for over two decades, leading teams at Durham, Edinburgh and, for the last 13 years, Oxford. In her current role, she has built a team of 200 and is responsible for delivering the university’s development and alumni strategy, including philanthropic income in excess of £250million each year. Under Liesl’s leadership, the Oxford Thinking Campaign was brought to a successful close in 2019 with over £3 billion and in 2020 the Oxford team won CASE Platinum Award for Best Practice in Fundraising.

Liesl's contributions to CASE and our profession have been truly exceptional, she has impacted many people in the CASE community through sharing her expertise, experience and insights at countless CASE conferences across the globe.

She has previously served as a member of the Faculty on our flagship Spring Institute in Educational Fundraising, inspiring the next generation of advancement professionals at the beginning of their careers. And she has helped institutional leaders better understand their role in advancement through our study tours. Liesl received her CASE Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence in 2015.

Liesl’s most significant contributions have been through her volunteer governance roles at CASE. Liesl recently completed her term as Chair of the CASE Council for Europe and previously was a Trustee of CASE Europe. She has been an outstanding leader for CASE in this region, encouraging CASE to be bold in our strategy in Europe and steering Council discussions to ensure all voices are heard.

Liesl was also a key member of the CASE Global Governance Steering Committee and Transition Task Force between 2017-2019, re-imagining CASE’s volunteer leadership structure to make it more globally integrated, effective and efficient. The outcome of this work culminated in the most significant governance change since the foundation of CASE fifty years ago.

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, shared in support of Liesl’s nomination: “She is outstanding and a terrific ambassador for the fundraising sector”.

About the Award

The CASE Europe Distinguished Service Award celebrates the work of individuals whose professional accomplishments have made a significant and lasting impact and whose life and character have earned the respect and admiration of their peers, inside and outside their own institution/organisation.