We invite you to attend the Evans and Partners annual Not-For-Profit Leaders Forum, an exclusive afternoon of ideas, strategy, and connection for leaders across the for-purpose sector. Join industry leading experts from Nexus Australia, Donor Republic, Impact100, White Box Enterprises and many more, as they deliver insights on the topics that matter most to not-for-profit organisations.

This year’s theme Think Differently, challenges us to consider unique and creative methods to access capital and fundraising, outside of traditional granting. As trusted Financial Advisers to over 140 not-for-profit organisations, at Evans and Partners, we understand that empowering mission-aligned organisations to effectively grow ultimately drives their purpose forward.  

Over the course of the afternoon, we will cover a broad range of topics including: 

• Engaging the next-gen: How the next-generation gives
• Collective giving: Appealing to the increasing number of giving circles
• Creative capital: Unique methods for program funding

We will also bring you a funder's perspective, examining how traditional funders are changing their approach to giving. Closing out the afternoon will be our keynote speaker, Andrew Sabatino, from Donor Republic. Andrew will share his insights from working on some of Australia’s largest fundraising campaigns. 

Register now to join us for an inspiring afternoon designed to empower your mission. Following the forum, we invite you to continue the conversation over canapés and drinks.

Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM AEST

1:45pm - 2:00pm - Arrival afternoon tea

2:00pm - 4:30pm - Conference

4:30pm - 6:00pm - Networking drinks & canapes

Location: Evans & Partners
Level 32, 1 O’Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Lucy Steggles is passionate about philanthropy and social entrepreneurship, and using her time and skills to help bring about positive social change. She has over twenty years’ experience in strategic planning and growth, business development, marketing, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, and holds a Bachelor of Business with majors in Management and Marketing. 

Lucy worked in the professional services sector for 13 years both within Australia and abroad, before transitioning to the not-for-profit sector working where she has worked for the last 6 years in the executive leadership team at youth mental health charity, batyr and as the Executive Officer of next gen philanthropic networking, NEXUS Australia. Lucy has been a delegate and speaker at several NEXUS Global Summits at the United Nations in NYC, including representing Australia on the NEXUS Global Mental Health Council (2020-2022). In 2019 she was selected as a an official delegate to the UNFPA brains trust on Youth Creating a Resilient World. 

Lucy has been a member of Philanthropy Australia’s Next Gen Program since 2014; and is a Board member of the Environmental Music Prize, and Cana Communities/ Cana Farm.

Joshua Penn is co-chair of the Gold Dinner Committee. Under his leadership the past two years Gold Dinner has grown significantly, each year setting Australian and global records for gala events.

The 2023 Gold Dinner raised an astounding $19.2 million, doubling the previous year’s result, fully funding the Kookaburra Centre at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and smashing records for an Australian gala and a global children’s hospital foundation gala. This achievement was surpassed with 2024 Gold Dinner raising a record-breaking $33.4 million, supporting new emergency departments, children’s playgrounds, and cancer centres at Sydney children’s hospitals.

Josh is a dedicated and passionate fundraiser for SCHF. He has brought new donors to the Gold Dinner and is actively working with Management on plans to expand Gold to create a series of events that foster meaningful, ongoing touch points with donors.

Over the past 7 years as a member of Equity Trustees’ Charitable Trusts & Philanthropy Team, Denise has been supporting individuals, families and corporations embarking on their philanthropic journey.  Equity Trustees works with sector partners to amplify a culture of philanthropy across the country.  She specialises in introducing philanthropists and professional advisors to structured vehicles, a powerful platform to deliver thoughtful and purpose-led giving, as well as facilitating stronger partnerships between the for-purpose sector and funders.

Denise’s career spans philanthropy, business development and fundraising, account management, marketing and stakeholder engagement, across a range of industries including professional services, membership associations, telecommunications and for-purpose organisations.  Immediately prior to joining Equity Trustees, Denise was a fundraiser with The Reach Foundation, and YWCA NSW.  Denise is a graduate of the Australian Institute Company Director's Company Directors Course, and has had non-executive board roles with Dress for Success Sydney and PROJECT ROCKIT Foundation.  
 
In late 2024, Denise along with Lisa Allan of the Smith Family became Co Chairs of the Pay-What-It-Takes (PWIT) Initiative, a sector-movement to amplify the critical need to cover all costs and overheads to allow the sector to deliver impactful solutions to society’s challenging social issues.

Kristen has been involved with The Funding Network Australia since its inception, first working with co-founder Lisa Cotton on the initial pilot events in 2013 and later serving on the Sydney Leadership Council before becoming CEO in July 2022. Previously Kristen was TFN’s General Manager and has been responsible for driving day-to-day operations, developing TFN’s technology roadmap, enhancing TFN’s event delivery model and building strong relationships with clients, partners and supporters.

Kristen has extensive experience across marketing, stakeholder engagement and communications in the US and Australia and held leadership positions in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Kristen is a former Senior Vice President & Partner with Fleishman Hillard in San Francisco, where her clients included Visa, Netflix and Dell, and has held senior marketing and communications roles at Compass Group Australia and Good Guys Inc. She is also a certified leadership coach.

Corinne Kemp is a dynamic force in collective philanthropy, serving as Co-Chair of Impact100 Sydney, where she empowers everyday philanthropists to create transformative change through significant community grants. Over the past 10 years Impact100 Sydney has mobilised $1M to support innovative local charities and create lasting social impact.

Currently leading the Keeping Women out of Prison (KWOOP) Coalition and drawing from her experience as former co-founder of Migrant Women in Business, Corinne brings deep expertise in social inclusion and community-driven change. Her career spans roles as Director of Engagement at the Centre for Social Impact and former Board Director of the Sydney Community Foundation.

With a proven track record in both public and social sectors, Corinne's commitment to collective giving and inclusive leadership continues to shape Sydney's philanthropic landscape, demonstrating how collaborative action can create powerful community transformation.

Luke established White Box Enterprises in 2019 to systematically address the constraints that he routinely faced when launching social enterprises: access to affordable space, access to capital, and access to partnerships that would help bring social enterprise into the mainstream fabric of employment in Australia. In five years, White Box has helped to create more than 900 jobs for vulnerable people, incubated four social enterprises, attracted over $51M in capital for job creation projects, supported 34 social enterprises, and has the backing of 23 corporate and philanthropic organisations.

With more than 15 years’ experience in the social enterprise and not-for-profit sectors, prior to launching White Box Luke founded Vanguard Laundry and had been integral in the start-up of several large-scale employment-focused social enterprise projects that have created meaningful work pathways for people facing barriers to employment here and in the UK.

Izzy is the Managing Partner of the Transition Accelerator and the Chief Investment Officer of Kakariki Capital, where she leads efforts to unlock private capital for climate and nature solutions.

With over a decade of experience in carbon and environmental markets, Izzy previously spent seven years at Morrison & Co, where she established a $100 million carbon development platform and led research and origination in decarbonisation and broader environmental markets.

Izzy also serves as a non-executive director of Verity Nature and Treasurer on the board of the Montessori East Foundation.

For more than 20 years, Patricia Edwards has been a trusted advisor to corporate and private family office clients interested in how to develop more strategic giving, with a focus on changing some of the entrenched social and environmental issues and building greater engagement with key stakeholders. She has worked with some of Australia’s biggest organisations in aviation, resources, telecommunications, logistics, energy and transport. She has held senior executive roles at ANZ Banking Group and, under her leadership, helped reshape and repurpose the community investment portfolio, including major-scale partnership programs that have been recognised as international best practice. Her private office clients represent both established and newer family offices and their philanthropic endeavours who share a commitment to both give and learn on how to best direct their donations to make a meaningful difference.  Patricia is known for building high-trust working relationships, and a strong commitment to shaping purpose-led strategy, engaging key stakeholders and delivering measurable impact.

Andrew is Co-Founder of Donor Republic, specialising in strategic fundraising plans, appeals, regular giving, digital, middle & major donor, corporate partnerships, and Gifts in Wills.

He is a past state and national winner of the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s Fundraiser of the year award, as well as being nominated as a pro-bono Change Maker, and Fundraising and Philanthropy Change Maker.

Prior to Donor Republic, Andrew led Guide Dogs SA/NT to experience significant fundraising growth from $1m to $9m over seven years. He also chaired the Guide Dogs Australia Fundraising Committee, overseeing an increase in revenue from $57 to $89m in four years.