Faculty
Faculty
Marcus Ward
Marcus Ward is the Vice President (Advancement) at Griffith University in Queensland and is an accomplished advancement leader and philanthropy expert with international experience at leading organisations including The Prince’s Trust in London.
Previously Chief Philanthropy Officer at Monash University, Marcus oversaw their first ever comprehensive fundraising campaign 'Change it. For good.' one of Australia’s most successful philanthropic campaigns and establishing Monash as one of Australia’s leading universities for philanthropic partnership. This included some of the largest philanthropic investments in Australian HE and building a community of 43,000 donors to inspire transformational support for breakthrough research and education for all.
Prior to moving to Australia in 2013, Marcus was Head of Major Gifts at Queen’s University Belfast, where he worked on two comprehensive fundraising campaigns which redefined the importance of philanthropy in Northern Ireland and culminated in the team being recognised as the Times Higher University Fundraising Team of the Year 2012.
Before that Marcus led the Corporate and Trust Fundraising Team at The Prince's Trust in London, the Prince of Wales's largest charity, securing its largest ever philanthropic relationship with the English Premier League, still in place over 20 years later.
Jimmy Buck
Jimmy Buck is the Chief Advancement Officer at Deakin University, leading a team of advancement practitioners at one of Australia’s youngest and most progressive universities. A lifelong fundraiser, Jimmy started his career in advancement as a university student, co-chairing Boston University’s class gift campaign that raised $100,000 from graduating students.
During his nine years at The University of Sydney, Jimmy worked across all areas of advancement, leading advancement services, alumni relations, and development teams in both higher education and medical philanthropy. He played a leadership role in the university’s INSPIRED campaign, the first philanthropic campaign in Australian higher education to raise $1 billion.
Jimmy is a CASE volunteer and speaker, serves on the editorial board of Journal of Education Advancement and Marketing, the Community Bank at Deakin University Advisory Board, and the Board of Anam Cara House Geelong.
Lorna Somers
An accomplished and successful fundraiser, Lorna spent the past 35 years at McMaster University where she has been engaged in securing some of the largest charitable gifts in Canadian history. She led two university-wide, comprehensive campaigns, both with a focus on volunteer and academic participation. She has also structured and led targeted campaigns for McMaster's Museum of Art and Faculty of Health Sciences, the University's Student Centre, and secured support for numerous endowments establishing scholarships, bursaries, chairs, and professorships. An accomplished and successful fundraiser, Lorna spent the past 35 years at McMaster University where she has been engaged in securing some of the largest charitable gifts in Canadian history. She led two university-wide, comprehensive campaigns, both with a focus on volunteer and academic participation. She has also structured and led targeted campaigns for McMaster's Museum of Art and Faculty of Health Sciences, the University's Student Centre, and secured support for numerous endowments establishing scholarships, bursaries, chairs, and professorships.
An internationally recognized teacher and facilitator in the fields of Higher Education and Institutional Advancement, Lorna has shared her expertise with educational, cultural and charitable organizations around the world. She is the recipient of numerous international awards for excellence in teaching and leadership, and is a sought-after speaker and coach on business, social and dining etiquette, frequently working with students to improve their confidence and knowledge as they launch their careers.
Lorna's volunteer leadership has been extensive and global with a three-decade commitment to the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE), the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). Her contributions have included various volunteer roles as national and regional chair, conference chair, Board Trustee, Director, special advisor, and CASE Laureate.
Deborah Carr
Deborah Carr joined WEHI (the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) in December 2019, moving from Western Sydney University where she held senior Advancement roles since 2013, including Executive Director, Advancement from 2015 to 2019.Deborah is a passionate fundraising leader and practitioner, with extensive experience across the university sector, charities and medical research.
Deborah loves the world of fundraising and philanthropy - advancing the mission and goals of the organisations she works for by connecting passionate and committed supporters with what they care about most.
Deborah has a demonstrated track record of engaging leaders across large and complex organisations to help elevate a strategic philanthropic agenda.
Deborah has consistently built and enabled high performing fundraising teams, collaborated with internal stakeholders to drive change and developed long term, impactful relationships with generous donors and philanthropists.
Liz Hawkins
Liz Hawkins is the Executive Director of Advancement at University of Adelaide. She has over 30 years’ experience in fundraising within tertiary education, the arts & cultural sector and the not for profit across North America the UK and Australia. Liz currently leads an expanding team of 25 advancement professionals with the aim to embed the culture of philanthropy across the university, secure transformational gifts and help lead the 150th Anniversary celebrations in 2024.
After graduating from Cornell University, Liz worked for the University in the Advancement team for 5 years. After a 15-year stint as a professional actor, Liz returned to full-time fundraising and most recently worked as Director of Programming, Development and Venue Sales at Adelaide Festival Centre. Liz was an inaugural member of the CASE Asia Pacific Board and Council and is delighted to return once again as an APIEF faculty member.
Heather Hamilton
Heather Hamilton oversees the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Asia-Pacific membership and the development of educational programmes for the region. Hamilton’s career spans 30 years in leadership roles, helping organisations in education and not-for-profit sectors drive cultural change, enhance their reputation, and pursue diversified funding. While working throughout Australia, Asia, and Canada, she developed expertise in stakeholder relations, fundraising, industry partnerships, volunteer management, marketing, and communications. Previously, Hamilton served as Director of External Relations at The University of Western Australia, Director of Advancement at The University of Queensland, and Executive Director of Community Relations at Brisbane Grammar School.
Hamilton also volunteers on the foundation of St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Perth, Australia. Previously, she served on the CASE Commission, and as host, track chair and speaker for APAC, as well as a judge for CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.