It’s been a big week of events! Tessa shares her insights from attending the CEOs in Fundraising event, the Down-Under Tour with Ken Burnett, and speaking at the FIA Victoria event on growing your donor pool, strategies for donor acquisition and retention.
We were so excited to see that Francine Poisson was awarded the FIA fellowship.
With over two decades of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Francine is the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at the Black Dog Institute, a leading Australian medical research institute dedicated to mental health across the lifespan.
Here is what Francine has to say after we put her through the Gem Spotlight questions…
Sharon Hillman FFIA has received the prestigious Arthur Venn Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to fundraising. With over 30 years of experience, she has been a leader, innovator, and advocate for best practices.
A dedicated member of FIA, Sharon has served as Past President of FIA Victoria, a Board Member, and a volunteer on key committees, helping to shape the future of fundraising in Australia.
Let’s see what Sharon has to say when we caught up with her…
James recently had the honour of being named Fundraiser of the Year 2025 at FIA’s prestigious Awards of Excellence, an accolade that recognises his extraordinary impact and leadership in the fundraising sector.
A common theme emerged across many of the discussions: investing in the right people and resources isn’t just an expense—it’s the key to long-term success. If we want to put more great in our good, we need to ensure we have the right foundations in place to drive impact.
This year marks five years since I joined Gembridge. It’s been an eventful five years for me both professionally and personally. What a ride!
An important part of a recruitment process is the phone screening. This stage allows recruiters narrow down the pool of possible candidates to take through to formal interview. From a candidate perspective, this is your second opportunity to shine (first being your written application!).
Gembridge was launched in 2019 with a fresh logo, website, a strong vision, and a wealth of recruitment experience and passion. I’m very proud on how far we have come.
With the rise of candidates using AI tools during interviews, it’s tempting to rely on an AI co-pilot to assist you in real-time. However, it’s important to exercise caution.
Starting a new job is a journey—one that’s both exciting and challenging. The important thing to remember is that you’re not starting from scratch in a new role; you’re starting from experience. Let’s unpack all the emotions you may feel when starting a new role.
A few last updates from Gembridge to close out 2024 and to welcome in 2025.
According to Team Gembridge, these are some of the best ways to spend your holiday season in Melbourne - eating, watching, listening and doing!
At this time of year, we have a fresh opportunity to reflect on the recruitment trends shaping the future. It’s time to look ahead at the key trends that will define the landscape in 2025 and beyond.
Whether stepping onto a senior leadership team, transitioning to an executive position, or taking on the CEO role—we often recommend engaging a formal coach as they can be an invaluable partner during these career transitions, providing a safe space for reflection, growth, and strategy.
Many candidates spend hours perfecting their resumes, tailoring their cover letters, and preparing for interviews. However, choosing your referees often goes overlooked in the process. References can play a pivotal role in securing a job offer. Read on to learn how to select those that will provide your stellar reference.
Unna Goldsworthy, Founder of Unna Movement, is a Performance Coach, Breath Science Practitioner, and Exercise Physiologist. She generously shares valuable tips to help you finish 2024 on a high note.
Huge congrats go out to all of the FIA Awards for Excellence in Fundraising finalists and State Winners for 2025! Team Gembridge enjoyed the end of year Melbourne celebration and cheering the inspiring fundraisers and organisations on.
Marietta began her Senior Philanthropy Manager role at Peter Mac in the middle of this year. She talks about her journey into the ‘for purpose’ sector, her love for connecting people to cause, achieving positive impact and her formative first job in face-to-face fundraising.
Humaira joined the Settlement Council of Australia as their Communications Lead just over six months ago. Here she shares her passion for storytelling, commitment to creating change and her lifelong desire to work in the development sector.
Last week saw the much-anticipated return of F&P’s BIG4 Fundraising Conference. Hosted in Melbourne, attendees from across the country gathered, eager to dive into a day abundant with learning, networking and strategies to further enhance the impact in the Australian NFP sector.
For the month of September our team decided to get moving. Coming out of winter time could be the perfect time to get started. “Let’s start a step challenge”, we said! So, team Gem-Steppers was created, and the competitive streaks came through. Have you done a step challenge for your team?
October is Mental Health Month, which is a great reminder to check in with ourselves and make sure we are looking after our own wellbeing. To do just that, we checked in with Team Gembridge to find out how they look after and/or maintain their wellbeing.
Bree was hired as Eastern Health’s Head of Donor Engagement around 18 months ago, and she is currently their Acting Director, Foundation. Bree has kindly shared a little of her journey from first job through to her current role, along with the strategy that keeps her team happy and advice for a satisfying work life.
A plan, timeline and milestones are important for any key project to achieve results. Recruitment is no different. There are many steps and moves forward, so planning is essential to ensure a successful and timely appointment.
We often hear from candidates from the corporate world eager to transition into the for-purpose sector and work with organisations that offer meaningful and fulfilling work. We understand this desire to make a shift to more values-aligned work and have loved being part of many successful career transitions.
Lisa recently joined Team Gembridge as a Senior Recruitment Consultant. Here we learn about her extensive travels, her love of shopping, what prompted her move into the NFP sector and how a manager’s comment gave her the confidence to shine.
Wendy Cole, Leadership & Productivity Coach at iMastery, is an integral Gembridge partner. Here Wendy shares her article with us about gratitude and its place in the workplace. A great topic to keep top of mind with October being Mental Health Month.
Shifting careers can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re making a significant change, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and fulfilment. Have a look through our list for tips on actions you can start now, that will help set you up for success.
Gembridge was so proud to be the partner of the inaugural People and Culture Stream Sponsor for the 2024 Educate Plus Empowering Success International Conference, recently in Perth.
Navigating the job application process can be challenging, and rejections and uncertainties can be disheartening. But cultivating resilience is essential for maintaining motivation and achieving your career goals.