Helen Crew

A not-for-profit charitable and member based organisation which provides accommodation, patient transport services, counselling for all regional families whose child has been diagnosed with cancer. The organisation is strongly family focussed, providing support to the affected children, their families and communities through each stage of their cancer journey.

Overview of Role:

The role of the General Manager is a key and crucial role within the organisation. It is a hands on multi-faceted role which not only ensures all day to day operations run smoothly, but also provides strategic advice and reporting to the Board. The job is not for the faint hearted! This position shows empathy for those supported by the organisation but there is a need to remain impartial and ensure the organisations business plus policies and practices are implemented and adhered to.

My role has overall responsibility for the effective implementation for the strategic and operational responsibility for staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. As General Manager I developed a deep knowledge of the field, core programs, operations and business plans.

I transformed the organisation to more professional organisation including –

• Revised Strategic Plan and implemented an Operational Plan which was non-existent when I commenced in the role.
• Represented organisation at industry conferences and events.
• Marketing Collateral
• Annual Event – Talk Like a Pirate Day and the annual 3 day Camp Crystal
• Administration Processes
• Human Resources
• Collaborations, including with the Executive of Queensland Children's Hospital and the Director of Oncology (who sings our praises).
• Financial Management/Budget
• Secured the Governor of Queensland as Childhood Cancer Support’s first vice-regal Patron
• Increased Family Ambassador program throughout regional centres in Queensland (NQ, SEQ, CQ, Southern Downs, Gold Coast).
• Appointed a Family Social Worker to assist oncology families with mental health supports, navigating the child's cancer journey, palliative care supports.
• Developed and implemented strategies to increase customer service experiences and the need in the community for our services.
• Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
• Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organisational growth.
• Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
• Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
• Maximised operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, and company procedures.
• Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
• Reduced operational risks while organising data to forecast performance trends.
• Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
• Provided thoughtful guidance to personnel in navigating and resolving snags in productivity.
• Implemented a ChildSafe organisation with strict regulations and rules on safety for children and vulnerable adults.

Parkinson's Qld (PQI) is a not-for-profit incorporated member based community association and charity which provides support, information, education and counselling for the 17,000 people living with Parkinson’s disease in Queensland.

PQI, together with Parkinson’s state organisations in other states, is affiliated with Parkinson’s Australia Inc and works independently of but collaboratively with those organisations. Their objective is to alleviate the distress experienced by people living with Parkinson’s, their carers and families and to provide an improved quality of life.

Overview of Role:

My role as their CEO had overall responsibility for the effective implementation for the strategic and operational responsibility for Parkinson’s Queensland staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. I developed a deep knowledge of the field, core programs, operations and business plans.

People with Parkinson's have limitations on their movement, speech and dementia is very common with people suffering with Parkinson's.

As the CEO, I transformed the organisation to a better reflect an improved professional organisation including –

• Marketing Collateral
• Seminars throughout the state working alongside neuroscientists and neurologists. to provide 15 educational seminars and workshop meetings with 1500 attendees.
• Conducted first full-day seminar in Brisbane in 2014 coinciding with National Parkinson’s Month. Secured Dame Quentin Bryce to open event.
• Annual Event – A Walk in the Park - increased profits for this event by 125% in 2 years.
• Secured Dame Quentin Bryce to attend the 2014 Walk and in 2015 she agreed to be Walk Ambassador.
• Secured 10 Health Ambassadors (researchers and neurologists/surgeon)
• Administration Processes
• Human Resources
• Implemented Strategic Plan and Operational Plan
• Initiated revision of PQI Constitution in 2015.
• Submissions - Wrote Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist submission documentation for presentation to government and hospital and health services.
• Collaborations
• Financial Management/Budget
• Grant Applications
• Instrumental in leading the State CEOs with national re-branding of Parkinson's
• Established foundational processes for business operations.
• Managed partnerships and strategic business relationships by negotiating contract terms and handling conflicts.
• Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
• Made large-scale financial decisions and supervised company spending to reduce material losses and maximize profits.
• Identified new revenue generation opportunities to maximise bottom-line profitability.
• Engaged positively with staff and leadership colleagues, soliciting and encouraging feedback and collaborative spirit.
• Updated business processes, products and team makeups to generate more business opportunities and cater to audience needs.
• Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
• Implemented strong hiring and training techniques to promote team cohesiveness and streamline overall workflow.
• Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimise business performance.
• Established and maintained strong relationships with customers, vendors and strategic partners.
• Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with regulations.
• Monitored key business risks and established risk management procedures.
• Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.
• Oversaw business-wide changes to modernise procedures and organisation.
• Represented organisation at industry conferences and events.
• Devised and presented business plans and forecasts to board of directors.
• Directed technological improvements, reducing waste and business bottlenecks.

Spinal Research is a non-profit philanthropic member based organisation facilitating research and the

raising of funds for spinal research. They think differently about life and human potential. Their belief is that people deserve a healthy, happy, active life and chiropractic helps them achieve it.

Overview of Role:

The position manages all processes and systems relating to project management, office management, financial and accounting obligations, financial analysis and reporting, board governance, legal financial requirements, HR, event management, membership services, donor management, bequest management and administration to ensure they are performed effectively, in pursuit of best organisational practice and comply with all appropriate regulations and legislation.

• Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
• Developed systems and procedures to improve operational quality and team efficiency.
• Managed inventory and supply chain operations to achieve timely and accurate delivery of goods and services.
• Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
• Implemented process improvement to shape organizational culture, optimize procedures for higher efficiency and help company evolve and grow.
• Increased profit by streamlining operations.
• Directed initiatives to improve work environment, company culture or overall business strategy.
• Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
• Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
• Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.

Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

A Non profit organisation assisting rural and remote General Practitioners with upskilling their qualifications of Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics and Surgery to the rural and remote communities of Australia.:

• Assessing claims for The Rural & Remote Procedural Grants Program
• Supervise staff to ensure accurate data entry of information onto the College database and Medicare Australia PKI Systems
• Provide support to the Procedural Medicine Collaboration committee as well as other reference groups to advise on particular education courses/initiatives
• Prepare, collate and present data, reports, submissions and correspondence to Medicare Australia and Department of Health & Ageing at their quarterly meetings.
• Design and conduct professional development activities in areas of unmet need, in collaboration with other Professional Development Program staff
• High level of reliability and adherence to privacy requirements
• Demonstrated excellent in interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate tactfully and discreetly with a wide range of people
• Created systems to work through the back-log of unfinished claims to be processed
• Created a workable centralised filing system for the retrieval of claims and queries
• Re-developed the data reports for the ACCRM, Medicare Australia and Department of Health & Ageing quarterly meetings and present the data at these meetings on behalf of the company
• Structured written communications such as reports to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience. An example is the 60 page data analysis document I developed at Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM - a non-profit organisation). I, on behalf of ACCRM, verbally presented this document to the Department of Health & Ageing and Medicare Australia demonstrating the increase or decrease in claims and dissection of various categories for analysis. At the conclusion of my presentation, I was commended by the CEO of ACCRM for my professional presentation to these Government Departments.

Global Philanthropic Pty Ltd

(International consultancy that provides strategic fundraising advice to the not-for-profit sector, educational, health, arts and charitable organisations worldwide)

Responsibilities:

• Manage the business, assist in maximising consultancy contracts and other revenue
• Develop all financial reporting systems
• Travel and event management of 18 events in one calendar year
• Preparation/compilation of contracts to clients
• Preparation/compilation of all company presentations for trainings/seminars and client presentations
• Maintain corporate database and website
• Client liaison
• Seminar and conference management
• Maintain financial records (MYOB)
• Oversee the establishment of offices in other locations
• Liaise with affiliated companies internationally in Hong Kong, USA, NZ and UK
• Set up the Australian/New Zealand operations of this Brisbane based company including all financial systems, initiated and maintained templates for entire organisation (accounting and business), developed procedural manuals and protocols for every aspect of this consulting company, initiated advertising strategies and communications with existing and new clients

Administration & Project Manager for The Waiting List Practice (WLP)

(A chiropractic consulting and training organisation based in Austin, Texas USA)

Responsibilities:

• Financial management and reporting
• Creative preparation of marketing/advertising flyers promoting seminars and trainings (from initial marketing ideas to final print and distribution to the chiropractic community)
• Manage 150+ conference volunteers and place in their respective team to assist in the logistics of the 2 ½ day seminar training
• Manage training product material and market to chiropractic community
• Overseeing and implementing of all financial and administration issues associated with the Australian operation
• Set up the Australian operations including all financial systems, initiated and maintained templates for entire organisation (accounting and business), developed procedural manuals and protocols for every aspect of this consulting company, initiated advertising strategies and communications with existing and new clients
• Travelled to the USA to observe and develop seminar practices to be used in Australia.

Spinal Research is a non-profit philanthropic member based organisation facilitating research and the

raising of funds for spinal research. They think differently about life and human potential. Their

belief is that people deserve a healthy, happy, active life and chiropractic helps them achieve it.

Responsibilities:

• Financial Management
• Board Secretary
• Integration and maintenance of donor members and client database and non-client database
• Budget reporting
• Organised main fundraiser each year (500+ attendees)
• Managed 150+ conference volunteers. This event is largest Chiropractic Congress held in the Southern Hemisphere (818 attendees in 1995)
• Assist DG Trade Convenor in securing in excess of 25 trade booths annually for DG Congress by marketing and phone campaigns to interested stakeholders
• Organiser of Inaugural Gala Ball Fundraiser
• Operations representative with Research Chair and Research Referees regarding distribution of Research Grants
• Developed financial reporting system with IT specialist
• Formulated new protocols and systems for the client management software
• Exemplary reports annually from the auditors for record keeping and attention to detail