Deborah leads the activity and strategy for philanthropy at Western Sydney University, having worked in Western’s Office of Advancement for six years, and holding the position as Executive Director, Advancement for the last three years. The philanthropy strategy aims to ensure that a strong culture of giving and asking advances the University’s teaching and research agendas. The culture of philanthropy at Western has grown substantially over this time, with funds raised increasing from $2M in 2014 to $21M in 2018.

Deborah is a dynamic and accomplished philanthropy and marketing-communications executive, with over 20 years’ experience and a versatile skill set. Deborah brings strategic insight from industries including higher education, charities, finance, building and construction, and private enterprise.

Deborah enjoys articulating complex issues and managing multiple stakeholders, through a focus on concise communications and target audience, taking each on a journey and providing mutual benefit. She feels that stimulating collective thought, identifying new opportunities and developing a culture are paramount to building strong relationships and ultimately, strong philanthropic support.