COVID-19 has impacted not for profits in various ways and complexity, forcing some to make simple operational changes and others to question their long-term viability. Whilst JobKeeper and JobSeeker have provided some assistance, these measures have been insufficient or inaccessible for many NFP’s unable to provide their usual services to the community they serve.
So how have NFP’s innovated and adapted in this changing environment?
Watch our free webinar as we hear from three NFP leaders who have made responsive and forward-looking changes in their organisations to take hold of opportunities and safeguard against risks.
Featured Speakers include Michael Perusco - CEO, Berry Street, Rebecca Oelkers - CEO, BHC and Mark Broadhead - CFO, Tierra Health Aged Care Management. Grant Thornton’s National Head of Not for Profit, Simon Hancox facilitates as they discuss:
Mark has over 25 years finance experience with a proven track record in Mergers, Acquisitions, Financial Leadership, and Internal Business Improvement. He has been integral in over 30 mergers and acquisitions; across Finance, Manufacturing and Aged Care. His roles spanning the last 20 years include:
Mark is a fellow of the Australian Society of CPAs and also the Governance Institute of Australia. He is also the deputy Chair of the CPA Australia’s NFP discussion group and facilitates an Aged Care CFO thought leadership group which covers 20,000 beds, 10% of the industry in Australia.
Michael Perusco commenced as CEO of Berry Street in February 2018 – the 28TH CEO since Berry Street’s establishment in 1877. Michael has had extensive experience working in senior leadership roles and has been CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW and Sacred Heart Mission in Victoria. He has also worked at the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet leading the social inclusion agenda, not for profit reform agenda and other social policy areas. Michael is a member of the Victorian Government’s Roadmap for Reform Ministerial Advisory Group and the Aboriginal Children’s Forum and is on the Board of the Federal Government’s Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.
Rebecca Oelkers is the Chief Executive Officer of BHC, one of the largest Community Housing Providers in Queensland, with over 1,700 homes developed and under management. Rebecca brings to the role a strong vision for strategic growth and a deep understanding of the company, having held Executive roles with BHC over the past 11 years, including as Chief Operations Officer and Business Development Manager.
Rebecca’s experience in the affordable housing sector spans over 18 years, across a variety of affordable housing projects including the establishment of Catalyst Affordable Housing, partnering with LNG proponents in an Australian-first, to provide affordable housing in regional Queensland. Rebecca is committed to growing the supply of safe, secure affordable housing, and delivering services that enable tenants to achieve increased wellbeing and inclusion. Rebecca is the Deputy Chair of the national Community Housing Industry Association. She has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and recipient of the 2018 UDIA Women in Leadership Award.
Rebecca is a passionate advocate for affordable housing issues and has presented at national, state and local housing forums on housing affordability issues.
As well as being one of Grant Thornton’s most experienced auditors, Simon is the national head of the firm’s Not for Profit (NFP) industry group, a passionate group of people dedicated to supporting and helping grow Australian NFPs.
As NFPs strive to adopt higher professional standards and adapt to an ever-changing regulatory landscape, Simon and his team assist some of this country’s most admired NFPs with internal and external audits and advice covering investments, governance and business and technology risk.
The not-for-profit sector is diverse with more than 600,000 not-for-profit organisations and nearly 5,000 trusts and foundations delivering a variety of services. We’ve seen an increase in spending in 2020, but expect this to be temporary and targeted. The sector needs more funding, and it also needs reform to ensure its long-term sustainability and viability as an important service provider to the community. In our 10 year retrospective budget report, we look at where else we need funding, what’s missing, much needed reform for the sector and what not-for-profits can do without long-term consistent funding.
