North West Committee

Head of Philanthropy at Anthony Nolan

Stacey Lavery has been a fundraiser for almost 17 years, and recently joined Anthony Nolan as Head of Philanthropy. Before that, Stacey spent seven years at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Stacey has worked for organisations such as The Liverpool Comedy Trust (who she is now a Trustee for) and The Royal Court Trust, whilst undertaking consultancy work for a variety of organisations including The Anthony Walker Foundation, Capoeria CIC, The Liverpool Athenaeum, St George’s Quarter CIC, Employability Solutions, and the James Bulger Trust. She is a member of the CIoF National Convention Board and stepped into the role of Chair of the North-West Committee in 2023. Stacey is passionate about the impact that philanthropy can have on the lives of others and, as a Scouser born and bred, is delighted to represent the professional development needs of fundraisers in the North-West. Outside of work Stacey enjoys walks in the hills and mountains, wild camping, learning to map read and cooking.

Head of Fundraising at David Lewis Centre

Having begun her career in modern languages and retail, followed by time in hospitality, Sarah’s charity journey began 17 years ago with a three-month internship at Mines Advisory Group in Manchester. She has since worked with local and national charities including North West Air Ambulance, Kidney Research UK, PDSA, Hope House Children’s Hospices, St Ann’s Hospice and Adoption Matters. She was also the Head of Fundraising at Stick ‘n’ Step, a North West charity which supports children with cerebral palsy and their families.

Fundraising Manager at Pets at Home Foundation

Amy has been working in the charity sector for over 20 years, having started her fundraising career at Macmillan Cancer Support, running an appeal to fund 3 nurses, which transitioned into £1.5m building appeal following receipt of a legacy. Upon completion Amy moved to East Cheshire Hospice where she headed up the Fundraising Team before moving to Pets at Home to establish their charitable trust – The Pets at Home Foundation, who raise money to support rescue and rehoming centres who work to find loving homes for pets.

As the trust grew, Amy is now responsible for all of the fundraising activity across all 460 Pet at Home stores, vet groups, Support Office and Distribution Centres. Combining her love of pets and fundraising, Amy has also been a member of the North West CIofF Committee for over 8 years and is currently the Treasurer for the Committee and champions corporate fundraising having seen both sides of the activity.

Outside of work Amy enjoys the outdoors, with her rescue dog Wilma!

North West Regional Manager – RABI

After starting her career as a fundraiser in 2015 on a North West Conference bursary, Lauren has worked in a variety of roles and charities across the North West. Including roles and experience at Blackpool Carers Centre, Blue Skies Hospitals Fund and Trinity Hospice. Currently, Lauren is the North West Regional Manager for an agricultural charity, supporting farming people across England and Wales, RABI. Lauren joined the committee in 2022 after offering volunteering to the national CIOF Convention and seeing the need for developing a strong network for fundraisers across the North West. With a strong passion to creating a better future for the lives of others, she is keen to support and develop a strong and supportive environment for everyone in the fundraising sector.

Fundraising Manager at RNLI

Sophie has been a Fundraising Manager with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the charity that saves lives at sea, for 12 years and is also trained in Executive Coaching. Working with a passion for people and partnerships, she regularly delivers innovative training, coaching, and mentoring both virtually and face to face to collaboratively empower and achieve goals. 

Prior to working with RNLI, Sophie was the National Coordinator for Disability Snowsport UK, ensuring anyone with any disability can access the slopes. Outside of work Sophie enjoys wild water swimming, singing in her local choir, cooking and travelling.

Fundraising Consultant

Laura has held leadership positions for over 18 years including 15 years in fundraising at a range of regional and national charities. As Head of Development at Tate Liverpool this included setting the strategy for a £25m capital project alongside creating and achieving the fundraising plan for the exhibitions and community programmes. Prior to Tate, Laura led teams as Director of Fundraising at Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation; Head of Events, Corporate and Community at North West Air Ambulance and Senior Fundraiser for Clatterbridge Cancer Research and Claire House Children’s Hospice. Outside of the Third Sector, Laura was a Manager at John Lewis Partnership and Business Development Director for a property company which expanded her skills in HR, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service.

As a freelance consultant Laura supports charities to develop and implement effective fundraising plans and activities which ensure sustainable growth and excellent donor stewardship across all areas of giving. Clients include Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation, Wirral Youth Zone, Tate, Bluecoat, Turn End Trust, Shakespeare North Playhouse and Harewood House. Laura has been a member of the North West Committee since October 2022 and co-ordinates our training events and supports the annual conference.

Fundraising Manager - Merseyside and Isle of Man at British Heart Foundation

Tessa has been working full-time in the third-sector since 2019, having forayed in 2015-2016 within a social integration charity in the Midlands. Starting her professional fundraising career in 2019 as a Community and Events Fundraiser, for Zoe's Place Baby Hospice. Tessa has also worked for North West Cancer Research, and focussed on community fundraising, plus outreach and education across the North West. In previous workplace's she has worked both public and private sector including Marketing and Training/Apprenticeships.

Tessa joined the NW CIOF Committee in 2024 as the Co-Networking Lead for Liverpool and is keen to develop her career further in Fundraising. 

In her spare time, Tess loves attending festivals - 2024 is her 7^th Glastonbury, gigs, the theatre (as a Drama graduate it goes hand-in-hand) and spending time with her family, friends and more importantly her dog!

Founding Director of Keepace Consulting

Clare Sweeney is Founding Director of Keepace Consulting, an Income Generating Consultancy working across sectors to help charities and businesses forge meaningful partnerships and raise vital funds. Keepace provides training and marketing support across the full fundraising mix with a special focus on Legacy and Corporate Fundraising. Clare is the exclusive consultant for Smee and Ford who are the only company with access to reading and recording data from every Will that goes through probate (the legal signing off process for Wills) in the UK.

Keepace works closely with the top 150 charities in the UK as well as with smaller clients and Clare is a well known contributor on the speaker circuit, nationally and internationally, sharing data based insights on fundraising as well as drawing upon over 25 years experience in marketing and communications both commercially and for charities. Clare speaks at Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CioF) Events, volunteers with CioF Events in Manchester, is part of the Better Business Network, and represents the Association of Fundraising Consultants and Freelancers.

Keepace is frequently nominated for Awards and Keepace Clients were award winning in four categories of the Legacy Fundraising Awards, including Legacy Fundraising Campaign of the Year 2024.

Fundraising Manager at The Whitechapel Centre

Ruth began her career in marketing and event planning in Manchester before moving into fundraising with Anthony Nolan, where she worked for 10 years in the regional community and events team. In 2012 she became the first Fundraising Manager at The Whitechapel Centre, a homelessness charity in Liverpool. The role and team has grown and Ruth now leads on fundraising, retail, volunteering and comms. Ruth also spent several years as a trustee of a local pre-school and nursery.  She is keen to share her love of fundraising and the charity sector and joined the committee in 2024 as a Networking Lead for Liverpool.