Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA), the peak body for professional fundraisers, announces the appointment of a new chair to its board of directors.

The new chair is Meredith Dwyer, a digital fundraising expert who is the director for Brisbane-based consulting firm, HomeMade Digital Australia. She joined the FIA Board of Directors in 2018 and is the current Arthur Venn Fundraiser of the Year.

She will take over the reins of the voluntary role from the current chair James Garland on 27 February 2020, after the organisation’s annual general meeting.

Garland, who is stepping down after his maximum two-year term as chair, has served for four years on the board and plans to remain as a director to support Dwyer and the work of FIA.

Garland said the board was pleased to appoint a new chair of Dwyer’s calibre.

“Meredith is highly regarded in the local and overseas fundraising community. She brings a wealth of experience to the board, which will be incredibly valuable for the sector. She has a passion for ethical best practice and driving innovation and sustainability in fundraising,” he said.

Delighted and honoured by the appointment, Dwyer said: “It’s an honour to chair the board of Australia’s pre-eminent body representing professional fundraising. I’m particularly looking forward to working with my colleagues on the board to further our work in enhancing the professionalisation of the sector, to demonstrate that fundraisers make a vital impact on their organisations and the communities they serve.”

She also praised the work of her predecessor.

“I would like to thank our outgoing chair James Garland for his considerable contribution and tireless work over the past two years, especially around the FIA Code and fundraising best practice. Having served alongside him for the past year, I have seen first-hand his commitment to FIA, the membership, the board and the wider fundraising community,” she said.

Katherine Raskob, FIA’s chief executive, said: “Meredith brings unique skills and incredible experience from over 30 years working in the sector. I’m looking forward to working closely with her as we continue our work to move fundraising forward in Australia. I also want to thank our outgoing chair, James Garland, for his valuable contributions in helping build the sustainability of the fundraising sector over the past two years as chair of FIA.”

Dwyer has an impressive track record, having raised $130 million for a variety of causes in the last eight years alone. She has established non-profit organisations in Australia, the US and the UK, and has extensive experience in fundraising governance. Past employers include Kids Help Line Australia, BoysTown, Cancer Council Queensland, Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, Royal Society for the Blind, the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and CauseForce.

At HomeMade Digital Australia, Dwyer works with non-profit organisations globally, helping charities to create engaging integrated supporter experiences to raise more money and reach more people through digital marketing, outstanding creative and storytelling.

Last February, Dwyer won the 2019 Arthur Venn Fundraiser of the Year award at the FIA National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising in Melbourne. The award is given to an outstanding fundraiser who has demonstrated consistent excellence and ethical best practice through their actions and leadership.

Dwyer has served on the FIA Queensland Committee since 2010, and in 2011, she qualified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She was elected a Fellow of Fundraising Institute Australia in 2017.

Dwyer is also a breast cancer survivor and volunteer who co-founded Amazon Heart, a global peer support program for breast cancer survivors.