Introduction to the new chair of the Partners forum

I am one of THINK’s Directors and lead on strategic consultancy and sector knowledge and insight via THINK Intelligence. I have been in the sector for nearly 30 years but like most, came into fundraising by accident. I wanted to be a practical conservationist but didn’t like being out in the snow in Northumberland in February so opted to write grant applications for the team in a nice warm office instead. From there, I’ve worked as a fundraiser and learned my craft mainly as a philanthropy specialist in some amazing places over more years than I would like to remember and joined THINK in 2014. I now run a number of fundraising forums as well as delivering consultancy projects. I still manage to get my fix of conservation working for some clients in that field but I am also a trustee for a conservation charity.

THINK has had a long-lasting relationship with Chartered Institute of Fundraising, sponsoring the convention and speaking at various events, and we have welcomed the Chartered Institute to our events over the years. I think it has been a really fruitful partnership. As someone working with and for the sector, I wanted to do what I could to develop the relationship further and make sure agencies, consultancies and suppliers have a voice.

Without our organisations, the sector would simply not thrive. We enable charities to do what they do, providing expertise, knowledge, practical support and even funds but I sometimes think our contribution is lost. Put simply, corporate members support the sector achieve its goals but we need to know how we can best help and support. We are businesses so support is not just out of the goodness of our hearts even if most sector suppliers do pro-bono work. We need to know what charities need so we can adapt our products and services and I think the Forum provides an opportunity to hear from charities and the Institute about where the sector is going and what is happening. It should be a place for corporate members, charities and the Institute to share knowledge, ideas and views so we are all equipped to meet the challenges the sector faces.

That’s up to the members. I’m simply the Chair – members need to help shape what the Forum is and does. I can work with the Chartered Institute team to help deliver expectations but members need to tell us what they want. That said, I do want the Forum – and wider membership - to be something that members get real benefit from. So to that end and in the words of Blue Peter, ‘answers on a postcard to, The Chair.’

We have a special room at home full of phasmids – stick insects in common parlance. Their tanks sit alongside ones for a variety of geckos and poison dart frogs so it’s a bit like a zoo’s tropical house in parts of my house. Getting our electricity bill can be a bit of a shock but it keeps me connected to my wildlife passion. Dogs are great but lizards rule!