Eighteen months into his postgraduate studies at the University of Sydney, just when his research and finances had hit the wall, he saw an advertisement for a Development Assistant in the newly established Office of the Director of Development pinned to the noticeboard. Despite not knowing what he would be “developing”, he applied, was interviewed and was hired. The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the past twenty-five years, he has held leadership roles at the Garvan Research Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, The Shepherd Centre, UNSW, The Scots College and Sydney Children’s Hospital. Through these roles, he has orchestrated every kind of fundraising activity from car rallies, horse races, gala dinners, backyard BBQs, and 70,000 AFL supporters wearing blue ponchos at the MCG, to turning Parliament House (Canberra) blue, helping 150,000 people farewell Crowded House on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, and assisting a lone unicyclist on his record-breaking ride around Australia to promote his breast cancer message.

The project that stands out most in his career is Movember. In its first year, 2004, 430 MoBros raised $55,000 for prostate cancer research. Fifteen years on, Movember has raised $837,000,000 (USD) and is living up to the original vision that it had the power to change the face of men’s health.

As part of giving back to the sector that has given him such a diverse and rewarding career, he has undertaken a range of senior volunteer roles, including:
• Director, Fundraising Institute of Australia March 2016- March 2018
• Member, Sector Sustainability Taskforce, Fundraising Institute of Australia 2016
• Award Judge Fundraising Institute of Australia 2016
• Chairman, Fundraising Institute of Australia (NSW) Executive Committee 2014-2015
• Member, Fundraising Institute of Australia (NSW) Executive Committee 2012-2018
• Conference Speaker, Fundraising Institute of Australia 2012, 2014,2015, 2016
• Director at Research Australia 2014-2018
• Member of the Perpetual Foundation Committee of Management 2016-2018

In 2017, in recognition of “outstanding contribution to fundraising and the charity sector,” he was elected a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australia

As a partner at Relevant Andrew works across all aspects of the business. He is available to meet and engage with all clients on any issues relating to their interaction with Relevant.

For more information on how Relevant can help your organisation please contact Andrew Giles on 0408 235 161 or andrew@relevant.com