FIA Conference 2024 Guest blog by Sally Shepherd, Executive Manager Membership and Marketing - Fundraising Institute Australia. FIA Conference 2024 is the meeting ground of curiosity and creativity, empathy and action. Fundraisers from across the country bring their passion for change to this event to develop their skills, innovate, share and be inspired to increase their impact further. It attracts leaders, managers and specialist fundraisers alike, with sessions to suit all levels of expertise and fundraising experience. The conference features plenary sessions, masterclasses, international keynote speakers and over 100 local experts and Australia’s largest fundraising exhibition of companies dedicated to supporting the for-purpose sector. The Role of the CEO in Fundraising Excellence This year’s program features a leadership track for emerging and embedded leaders with individual speakers from charities and supplier organisations and several expert panels to address key issues including: Leading Through Fire; Building Trust The Importance of Overheads, and Behaviours for High Impact Leadership. One of the keynotes speakers, Usha Menon, says, ‘ Show me an organisation where fundraising thrives, and I will show you an organisation where the CEO leads and sustains a culture where every stakeholder believes in resourcing the mission .’ Her masterclass will unlock the power of leadership in fundraising excellence and show how it can be the catalyst for change. Usha will explain how essential effective leadership is for driving engagement, performance, and organisational success. The role of the CEO in fundraising excellence is that of the strategist and its Chief Ecosystem Officer, to drive this success. This session will delve into the mindset required to deliver fundraising excellence, breaking down the psychological barriers that could potentially be holding an organisation back. It will provide practical tools designed for CEOs, Senior Management, and Board Members, including frameworks for fundraising evaluation and decision-making. Delegates will share and compare goals and related strategies with like-minded leaders moving from insights to actionable plans needed for fundraising to not only survive but thrive.