QLD Chapter Special Interest Groups (SIG): People & Culture, Fundraising, and MarComms, Alumni & Community Engagement
As the QLD Chapter celebrates its 35th anniversary, join us for a special 2026 Special Interest Group (SIG) event that brings our community together to learn, share and reflect – and to celebrate this milestone with colleagues from across the sector.
The 2026 QLD Chapter SIG event will be held at Ballymore Stadium, the home of Queensland rugby, providing a fitting backdrop for a conversation about leadership, philanthropy, and community impact. The program will open with a feature event, an In Conversation with Ben Thurlow, Head of Foundation at the Queensland Rugby Union, facilitated by Lara Pickering, QLD Committee member, before breaking into three SIG sessions.
Ben Thurlow is an accomplished fundraising and stakeholder engagement leader with more than a decade of experience across sport, education and the not-for-profit sectors. In his current role at the Queensland Rugby Union, Ben leads philanthropic strategy, major giving, business development, and premium hospitality, having raised almost $6 million to support the growth and sustainability of rugby in Queensland.
This opening conversation will set the strategic and practical context for our first 2026 SIG, exploring the shared challenges and opportunities faced by advancement professionals across education and sport. Drawing on Ben’s experience building successful philanthropic programs – often with lean resources and emerging infrastructure – the discussion will focus on how to mobilise people, build trust, and create lasting impact.
Key themes include:
- The intersection of philanthropy, sport and education
- Building and scaling campaigns from the ground up
- Engaging donors, volunteers, alumni and supporters early
- Moving from transactional fundraising to long-term, values-led giving
- Emerging trends shaping the future of sport philanthropy
Following this feature conversation, participants will transition into three SIG sessions:
- People & Culture
- Fundraising
- MarComms, Alumni & Community Relations
Registrations are essential.
Register by 18 Feb to go into the draw to win 4 Gold Tickets to Queensland Reds vs Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 27 Feb… plus receive a 35th Anniversary gift! (The Winner will be announced at the conclusion of the event)
Members are encouraged to attend the full program to gain maximum value from both the feature conversation and SIG discussions.
People & Culture; The Role Behind the Title: What People & Culture Really Means
Facilitators: Hayley Wilson & Scott Huntington
Join us for a discussion forum to unpack responsibilities, influence, and organisational impact of the People and Culture role can have on your school.
Fundraising; Running a Lean but Effective Fundraising Operation
Facilitators: Julia McKenna & Lara Pickering
Transform volunteer burnout, scattered efforts and unclear priorities into predictable revenue, strong relationships and a sustainable workload. This session will discuss practical strategies to streamline fundraising, reduce wasted effort, and increase impact within your organisation.
MarComms, Alumni & Community Relations; Getting Buy-In from School Leadership: Strategies for Securing Support for Marketing & Alumni Initiatives
Facilitators: Helen Turner, David Miles, Brady Downes & Beth Kitson
Securing leadership buy-in is critical to the success of marketing and alumni initiatives in schools and universities. This session will highlight:
- Proven strategies for aligning projects with institutional priorities
- Effective use of compelling data and narratives to influence decision-makers
- Approaches to position marketing and alumni teams as strategic partners
Participants will gain practical tools to overcome resistance, build trust, and ensure their initiatives are not only supported but actively championed by school leadership. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own examples, insights, and suggestions to enrich the peer-to-peer discussion as we work together through case studies in this space.
Event Details
Date: Thursday 19 February 2026
Time: 9:00 – 11:00am
Arrival: 8:45am
Venue: Murrayfield Room, Ballymore Stadium, 91 Clyde Road, Herston QLD 4006
Parking: Street parking is available on Clyde Road or on Butterfield Street, which surround the stadium and the respective playing fields. Once parked, walk down John Isley Drive toward the roundabout and the National Rugby Training Centre is directly ahead of you. The entry to the function spaces is down the left-hand side of the building, once in the foyer you will be directed to your designated room. Limited parking is also available off John Isley Drive (turning right at the Koala) but is subject to availability and on a first in first served basis.
There is additional parking available at the end of Clyde Road (last driveway on the right near the blue shed) that your guests can utilise as well should the other parking location be full.
Further information can be found on the following Ballymore Access Map and Instructions document
Cost: Free for Members. $75.00 (+gst) for Non-Members
