Helen Merrick

When it comes to navigating the maze of challenges our sector faces, knowing where to focus our efforts and how to prioritise our next move, can be daunting.

What lies ahead?
Where should we focus our attention?
What do we need to do differently?

As effective social sector leaders we keep abreast of the external forces at play – but we also look for expertise and advice – as we respond to the myriad of unexpected challenges and exciting developments that emerge, from new legislation, to increased regulation, to governance; philanthropy; and the role of peak bodies.

Our Annual Signature Event is taking place on Thursday 2 August and allows you the unique opportunity to network and learn with over 120 non for profit senior executives. In this session you will hear from the key influencers who have been leading and uniting us and hear, first-hand, their predictions on the current issues of critical importance for NFP leaders.

Join us for our annual Keynote Speaker panel, facilitated by journalist and broadcaster, Stephen Feneley. Our panel includes:
Sarah Davies, Philanthropy Australia
Phil Butler, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Kirsty Muir, The Centre for Social Impact
David Crosbie, Community Council for Australia

Register now as there are only limited seats available.

We are excited to announce that Dianne Speakman, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at SDN Children’s Services has been awarded The Myer Foundation NPA Leadership Hub Program scholarship for 2018.

Dianne is an experienced marketing communications specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in marketing communications and stakeholder management across the not-for-profit sector. As Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at SDN Children’s Services, Dianne is a member of SDN’s Executive and is Assistant Company Secretary.

She is responsible for SDN’s strategic communications and brand, marketing and customer experience, and stakeholder relationship management, helping to ensure that SDN continues to offer quality services that meet the needs of families and enhance the wellbeing of children.

Dianne is thrilled to be part of the NPA’s Leadership Hub thanks to The Myer Foundation Scholarship, as this is an invaluable opportunity to be challenged and learn from the experience of others in the sector. Dianne joins our newly formed Hub 4 for the next 12 months.

This May, our NPA Leadership Hub 4 starts. Hear why Chair, Sturt Eastwood, is involved with this program.

“As you know, I am personally committed to the idea that excellence in leadership makes a material difference to the impact of organisations.

So, in addition to my current responsibilities with Diabetes NSW & ACT I am quite excited about the opportunity to support leadership development in the NFP sector.I recently joined the NonProfit Alliance (NPA) as a Leadership Hub Chair. We are establishing NPA Leadership HUB 4 in Sydney to actively support 12 social sector executives in a unique and powerful “peer to peer” advisory group. I am seeking a limited number of sector leaders that are interested in jointly developing and refining their leadership and performance capabilities to join me in the HUB 4 journey.

Recognising the increased challenges and complexities faced by non-profit leaders, it’s often lonely at the top – and I believe the NPA provides leaders with the structured support that enables them to deal effectively with their myriad of challenges and thrive.

In a recent study by the Association for Talent Development in the US, leadership development has been shown to make a bigger impact on an organisation’s success than an organisation’s “culture of innovation”.

As a long-term peer-to-peer leadership program, NPA lets leaders collaborate, learn and share issues and opportunities and helps them achieve both organisational and personal success. Research* shows that allowing non-profit leaders to step back periodically from their day to day operational responsibilities and invest in their leadership development has systemic and positive effects that can increase organisational capacity and impact.

Click here to see what our current members have to say about the program.

At NPA we hold leaders accountable. Our structured Leadership Hub program provides personal insights, goal setting, mentoring, issue resolution and solution sharing, all in a supportive, secure and safe environment.

A recent cost-benefit analysis suggests that every $1 spent on leadership capacity building generated, on average, a positive return to the organisation of $6.

If you are an NFP leader and believe you might benefit from a program developed specifically to support leaders in the NFP space, please register today for a free, no obligation, Discovery Day.

If you are interested in learning more, or know an outstanding NFP executive or leader who would benefit from this program please get in touch with me at sturt@nonprofitalliance.com.au

*Learning for Purpose research, led by the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia Business School.

Want the opportunity to join Australia’s leading nonprofit leadership program?

Thanks to The Myer Foundation, The NonProfit Alliance is pleased to announce the introduction of a new scholarship for one social sector senior executive to join a NPA Leadership Hub for 12 months.

As a long-term peer-to-peer leadership program, The NonProfit Alliance lets you collaborate, learn and share your issues and opportunities, helping you to achieve organisational and personal success.

With few opportunities for non-profit leaders to step back from their day to day operational responsibilities and invest in yourself and your team, research* shows that investing in leadership development has systematic positive effects and can increase organisational capacity and impact.

The NonProfit Alliance’s Leadership Hub Program allows for real-time thinking – working on genuine issues and opportunities, harnessing extensive peer experience that allows for invaluable insights and creates change.

Applications close on 13 April 2018 so make sure you apply today.

Download the application form here NPA – TMF Application Form and send it to jane@nonprofitalliance.com.au 

*Learning for Purpose research, led by the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia Business School.

As a member organisation who works with nonprofit executives we believe in standing alongside our members and advocating for our sector. Currently there are a number of serious issues that are facing us, in particular the following two items that will have direct and significant impact on most, if not all, charities:

1. The Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 – Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform & The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017; and
2. The ACNC’s submission to the review of 2012 ACNC Legislation.

The objections to the above two items have been widespread, with peak bodies and voices of influence in the sector imploring charities to speak loudly in opposition to their implementation.

• The Electoral Legislation Bill – There is a call for charities to be exempt from the above areas of this Bill which essentially treat charities the same as political parties. Many have warned that the Bill will impose a huge red tape burden for charities and strangle their attempts to advocate for policy change for the Australian community.

• The ACNC Submission – As part of the review of the 2012 ACNC Legislation, the ACNC seeks to add two new objects: one in regard to the effective use of resources and the other in regard to increased accountability of charities, to donors and the public. Both of these additional objects are regarded as complete overreach for the Regulator and it is predicted they will result in significant and unnecessary impact/restrictions on charities.

These are warnings that we need to listen to – and we need to act.

The NonProfit Alliance will be supporting the stand taken by the Community Council for Australia on both these issues:

https://www.communitycouncil.com.au/content/submission-jscem-inquiry-electoral-legislation-amendment-electoral-funding-and-disclosure 

https://www.communitycouncil.com.au/content/cca-news-summer-2018

We note and support the fact that the ACNC has also taken a strong stand for charities to be exempt from the Electoral Legislation Bill (Point 1). As have the FIA, Philanthropy Australia and many other reputable sector entities.

2018 will bring opportunity for three non-profit leaders to benefit from this unique social sector leadership program

 The NonProfit Alliance (NPA) and the Australian Scholarships Foundation (ASF) have announced the recipients of their 2018 Leadership Hub Scholarships at their final Keynote Speaker series for 2017. The 2018 recipients are:

• Mr Shane Nichols, CEO at Good Return
• Ms Elizabeth Svoboda, Executive Manager & Company Secretary – NSW Police Legacy
• Mr Jason Juretic, CEO at Sydney Stepping Stone

The Leadership Hub is the brainchild of NPA co-founders, Carmel Molloy and Kelly Beaumont, who have each held CEO and Executive roles in the sector and between them have more than 35 years’ experience working with local and international not-for-profit organisations, including World Society for the Protection of Animals, UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, Camp Quality, Redkite and Kids Help Line.

ASF is the only Australian organisation solely focused on funding and facilitating scholarships for Australian not-for-profit directors and staff to undertake education, training and mentoring programs that improve their ability to lead and manage their organisations.

Molloy says, “These scholarships support the ASF initiative to enhance the management and accountability of not-for-profit organisations and we are delighted to collaborate with ASF to offer this opportunity to some of the amazing social sector leaders based here in NSW.

Research shows that one of the most successful ways leaders can improve their performance is by sharing insights and practical advice with peers who grasp their industry’s distinct challenges and complexities.”

Applications were opened in November for consideration for three scholarships for the 2018 program. Senior level executives who work in non-profit and social purpose organisations, and are leadership/executive/senior team members within their respective organisations (both paid and unpaid roles) were eligible to apply.

Applications received were of a high standard and the decision to award this year’s scholarships was difficult. The final decision was made by a peer judging panel of NPA current members who looked at those applicants who met the key selection criteria, which included being unable to secure funding through their own organisation; being able to articulate how the NPA peer2peer network can enhance their leadership journey and their willingness to be open and transparent – and sometimes vulnerable – in a collaborative, shared learning environment.

ASF CEO, Sam Sayers, added “The calibre of applicants for our NPA Leadership Hub scholarships has been extremely high, reflecting the quality of leadership we have in the social sector today.  ASF is delighted to be able to assist sector leaders to participate in this innovative peer-to-peer mentoring program, to further develop their skills and capacity.”

“The NPA’s Leadership Hub is designed exclusively for Australia’s not-for-profit sector,” says Beaumont. “That unique focus creates an environment of trust and openness in which our leaders can help each other grow, innovate and create new standards of professionalism. We are looking forward to welcoming our new members in 2018 and helping them to develop and prosper on their leadership journey.”

Do you currently work (in a paid or voluntary role) for an Australian charitable not-for-profit organisation or social enterprise as a CEO or executive?

Looking for the chance to experience a vibrant, supportive, learning and mentoring network focused on developing your skills and expertise?

We are excited to announce that we are partnering with The Australian Scholarship Foundation to offer three full scholarships to the NPA Leadership Hub Program. Scholarship recipients will start the program start in early February 2018 and will receive access to the NPA Leadership Hub program for 12 months. Applications close 17 November 2017 – click on the link below to get more information and find out if you are eligible http://bit.ly/2ytn5DX

Another day, another negative media story about the non-profit sector. Whether focused on fundraising practices, administration and business costs or “fat cat” non-profit CEO salaries, the sector is constantly put under pressure to deliver huge social impact with impeccable governance, whilst justifying the need to invest in being a well-run and more importantly a high achieving organisation.

And that was the mighty topic our September Keynote Speaker Series used to create a conversation that ranged from Board engagement, composition and diversity; rebranding the sector and changing our language; the economic impact of the social sector; data collection; collaboration; and many other issues. There was a lot of food thought and our keynote today was only the start of the conversation. But the final message succinctly seemed to be: it costs to deliver outcomes and we shouldn’t apologise for that. What do you think?

A huge thanks to our panel and facilitator, Gretel Killeen. Our next Keynote Speaker Series event will be held in November. Watch out for more details to come.