DonorTec & Connecting Up Australia head wins Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit 2008 CEO Award

The Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Up Australia, Doug Jacquier, has won the award for significant innovation in the 2008 Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO Awards.

Adopting new information and communications technology (ICT) can be daunting for any business, but it can be particularly difficult in the community and Not For Profit (NFP) world, where resources are tight and expertise limited.  That’s where Connecting Up Australia comes in.

Since 1981, Connecting Up Australia (formerly known as Community Information Strategies Australia Inc – CISA) has provided essential community services information to South Australians by producing first a hard copy publication and then an online directory, and developed an events website, Eventspool.  This work highlighted the NFP sector’s need to embrace changing technology and new ways of communicating.

Since starting as CEO in 2000, Doug has launched a number of initiatives that are proving invaluable to the NFP sector.

Although not a ‘tech-head’, Doug understands the potential for low-cost technologies and the emerging social web to re-empower sectors of our community that have become somewhat lost in the commercial media and lower prioritised by governments.

As a strategic thinker and innovator, he has gained the support and trust of his board and built Connecting Up Australia into a team that is helping thousands of NFP organisations and their customers.
In the past 4-5 years, he has built links with international organisations with similar interests and identified a model for his small South-Australian NFP to become less reliant on government funding and to take on a national role.

Doug negotiated with TechSoup Global to be the Australian partner of a program whereby major companies like Microsoft and Cisco donate software and hardware.  Launched in 2007, DonorTec is helping Australian NFPs to get the latest in ICT, saving them thousands of dollars and millions of dollars for the sector.

Other initiatives of Doug’s include starting, in 2004, the annual ConnectingUp conference that focuses on technology in the NFP setting and instigating the Australian Community ICT Awards in 2007.

The Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO Awards recognise outstanding achievements of chief executives working in the Not For Profit and charitable sector. This year there were more than 60 nominations from across Australia. The awards recognise excellence in delivering services, enhancing the organisation’s image and building strong and successful partnerships.

“CEOs in the Not For Profit sector generally don’t receive the recognition or the rewards they deserve,” said Equity Trustees Managing Director, Mr Peter Williams.

“It is a difficult task to deliver services while raising funds, securing sponsorship and building important partnerships.  CEOs of Not For Profit and charitable organisations also need to motivate and inspire staff in what are often challenging operating environments.  This year’s winning CEOs have demonstrated they are more than capable of meeting these demands and leading their organisations to achieve great things.

“Equity Trustees is proud to have initiated Australia’s pre-eminent awards for leadership of Not For Profit organisations.  This is the seventh year of the awards and it continues to be a great honour to recognise the commitment, passion, drive and sacrifice of these CEOs.”

The winners of the Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO Awards were announced at a ceremony on Thursday, 30th October, at The Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road Melbourne.

2008 Winners
CEO of the Year  Don Henry, Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation
Significant Innovation Award  Doug Jacquier, CEO, Connecting Up Australia
First Year Achiever Award  Neil McWhannell, CEO, HeartKids Australia
Long Term Achiever Award Deborah Tabart, CEO, Australian Koala Foundation
Equity Trustees’ Judges’ Award  Eric Leach, Executive Director, Every Home Global Concern
ENDS

For more information, contact Carolyn Munckton, on mobile 0407 874 393 or Talei Acciarito, Equity Trustees, phone (03) 8623 5234 or 0434 919 547

Past Winners Include
Jill Weekes, CEO of the Starlight Children’s Foundation (2007 CEO of the Year)
Margaret Douglas, CEO of Save the Children Fund (2006 CEO of the Year)
Bella Irlicht, Principal of the Port Phillip Specialist School (2005 CEO of the Year)
Lyn Swinburne, CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia (2004 CEO of the Year)

The 2008 Not For Profit CEO Awards are proudly sponsored by
KEY SPONSOR (SINCE INCEPTION)

Equity Trustees

GOLD SPONSOR  

AON

SILVER SPONSOR

Deloitte