Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

DONNA BURGESS

UMINA,NSW

Summary

Energetic and reliable research administrator with over 10 years working in a fast paced and demanding university research environment. Skilled at working with a diverse range of people and projects to ensure timely completion in a deadline-driven environment. Strong organisation, communication and relationship-building skills, I am confident engaging with and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders. I am eager to bring my strong administrative skills to a growing company in need of top-level support. High-performing professional with integrity and leadership skills. Applies knowledge and abilities to positively impact organization. Flexible in different situations and dynamic conditions. Works great under extreme stress and deadlines.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work History

Research Awards Officer

Macquarie University
08.2022 - Current
  • Responsible for lifecycle management of all MQ awarded grant and research projects
  • I am an integral part of a team who provides case management of awarded projects ensuring effective communication to a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure MQ is adhering to contractual obligations and governance
  • I provide a positive point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, effectively communicating on a wide range of tasks from guidance and interpretation of funding rules to ensuring the awardees responsibilities from reporting requirements to meeting contractual obligations are understood and adhere to
  • I help ensure the reputation of MQ research community is positively recognised by various stakeholders

Project Coordinator

Art Department
01.2011 - 03.2018
  • Employed as an Art Department Project Coordinator across a significant number of National and International Television Commercials, my role is responsible for the coordination of people, logistics and products in order to deliver high quality work, meeting budget and multiple stakeholders demands
  • The Art Department is the largest department on TV Commercials and Feature Films
  • My main responsibility is to co-ordinate information between the following departments: Set Decorating, Props, Production, Locations and Construction
  • Reporting directly to the Art Director I provide day-to-day administration and support to ensure department runs efficiently
  • Highly capable and organized to deliver multiple project components of the film, relating to art department, whilst working with high workloads in a demanding, fast-paced environment
  • Proven ability to stay within approved budgets, schedules & achieve objectives
  • Excellent computer and office management skills; Apple Mac and Microsoft Office operating systems, databases, and record management
  • Mature, confident and self-motivated with strong communication skills
  • Team player, outwardly helpful, happy to share information
  • Experienced at working unsupervised and under pressure to tight deadlines
  • Able to prioritise and time manage effectively
  • Creative, quick thinker, attention to detail, with a dedication to problem solving

Research Proposals Officer

Macquarie University
03.2018 - 08.2022
  • Part of a small team responsible for the review and submission of MQ’s grant applications
  • I was responsible for monitoring, coordinating and administering the submission of research proposals to external research funding sources
  • My main duties involved providing expert advice and guidance to MQ researchers on competitive funding schemes including timeframes, budgets, eligibility requirements and clarity of responsibilities
  • In addition to providing comprehensive research funding rule compliance advice, I provided training and support to researchers on processes and systems relating to research grant proposal submissions, in particular ARC and NHMRC funding schemes
  • The role involved process improvements through identifying and streamlining uniform best practices across various schemes
  • Through building and managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including academics, faculty research professionals, federal and state funding bodies (including ARC, NHMRC) and international funders, I was seen a valued team member able to meet competing submission deadlines
  • As a part of this small team, I contributed to managing over 1000 grant applications through approximately 300 highly regulated funding bodies per annum with a less than 1% error rate
  • Furthermore, I was tasked with administering and managing the pre award stage of the MQ Flagship Fellowship, Macquarie Research Fellowship for two years
  • To this day I still maintain excellent working relationships with Panel Coordinators, members and applicants of the MQRF scheme

Project Manager

UTS Commercial Unit
04.2009 - 04.2011
  • Company Overview: UTS Commercial Unit provides a broad range of consultancy project services to government, business, industry, and community
  • As a Project Manager I was responsible for new business development and collaborative projects working with UTS Facilities to deliver innovative education and training solutions to business
  • Extensive knowledge and experience in developing successful project and tender proposals and managing complex projects
  • Highly developed consultation skills with an ability to form open, trusting and highly productive interpersonal and inter-organizational relationships
  • Strong analytical skills combined with a creative and practical approach to process, strategy and policy implementation
  • Displays personal drive and integrity ensuring I protect the politically sensitive and commercial –in-confidence material I review
  • UTS Commercial Unit provides a broad range of consultancy project services to government, business, industry, and community

Senior Research Grants Officer

UTS Research and Innovation Office
07.2007 - 04.2009
  • As the Senior Research Grants Officer I was responsible for coordinating strategic research initiatives and provide high level and complex advice and services on a wide range of research projects, including operational planning, research governance, risk management, pre and post award management, ensuring compliance with University policies and procedures, current legislation and/ or funding guidelines
  • Coordinated and provided high-level support for various research initiatives and projects, ensuring timely and high quality delivery
  • Assisted with the management of mandated schedules and deadlines, liaised with internal and external stakeholders
  • Supported the compilation and distribution of reports, ensuring all data is analyzed by undertaking thorough investigative actions, to produce accurate information with insightful and contextual recommendations
  • Contributed to new initiatives and provided input to assist to develop and improve the University’s research practices and processes
  • This included workshops and training sessions to relevant stakeholders
  • Some achievements included being part of a team of four who lead by our Manager redeveloped the grants advisory services, which in turn contributed doubling the value of income from Australian Competitive Grants during a five-year period
  • Worked with the Research Grants Team to formulate policy and procedures for UTS internal grant schemes leading to the introduction of enhanced and new schemes with stronger sector and strategic alignment
  • Responsible for the collation, entering and analyzing the data for financial reporting to Australia’s largest funding Body

Research Grants Officer

UTS Research and Development Office
01.2002 - 01.2007
  • My responsibility as the Research Grants Officer was to provide high quality pre-award and post-award grant administration services to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) community and key stakeholders
  • The objective was to increase external funding for UTS research, and ensure that the University maintains a good reputation for effective grant management and administration
  • Some achievements included, designing, developing and facilitating information sessions
  • Contributed significantly as part of a team of four, increasing number and value of successful research grants and workshops on grant application and proposal writing
  • Provided proactive and excellent customer service oriented support to the UTS research community and other stakeholders for all types of competitive grant and fellowship applications
  • Responsible for logistics of grant applications reaching their destinations before deadlines
  • Often competing with internal deadlines and quick turn-around times

Education

Professional Development -

UTS
01.2011

Pathways for Professional Women -

UTS
01.2010

BACHELOR OF ARTS - Business Psychology

Massey University
01.1999

Skills

  • Grant Management
  • Grant compliance
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Database management
  • Grants management
  • Time management
  • Continuous improvement
  • Adaptability
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Task prioritization
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Compliance monitoring
  • Data management

Timeline

Research Awards Officer

Macquarie University
08.2022 - Current

Research Proposals Officer

Macquarie University
03.2018 - 08.2022

Project Coordinator

Art Department
01.2011 - 03.2018

Project Manager

UTS Commercial Unit
04.2009 - 04.2011

Senior Research Grants Officer

UTS Research and Innovation Office
07.2007 - 04.2009

Research Grants Officer

UTS Research and Development Office
01.2002 - 01.2007

Professional Development -

UTS

Pathways for Professional Women -

UTS

BACHELOR OF ARTS - Business Psychology

Massey University

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