Panel discussion about fundraising as a sector to work in - questions from the floor and then a chance to mingle and network.

The aim is to provide a platform in which people wanting to get into the sector or those in the sector wishing to develop their career can talk to key figures and make some useful contacts.

Panelists confirmed so far:

Dr Jill Mordaunt — senior lecturer in Social Enterprise at the Open University Business School — Jill has been extensively involved in the development of specialist courses for public and nonprofit organisations including Winning Resources and Support, a course that leads to Institute of Fundraising accreditation. Her edited book Thoughtful Fundraising (Mordaunt and Paton, 2007, Routledge) deals with some of the tensions and ambiguities that confront fundraisers. She has research interests in the role of institutional funding in shaping non-profit activity and more recently her main work has focused on issues of organisational failure, turnaround and recovery in public and nonprofit organisations.

Jo Swinhoe — director of Fundraising & Marketing at the Alzheimer’s Society. A professional fundraiser for over 15 years, Jo has led a re-brand of the Alzheimer’s Society and restructured the fundraising operation leading to a 33% increase in gross voluntary income. Jo promotes mentoring to fundraisers, and is a regular contributor to UK and International fundraising conferences.

Paul Marvell — director of Learning at the Institute of Fundraising — Paul has been a professional fundraiser for the past 17 years in leading organizations such as RNIB and the British Red Cross, and before that was a learning & development manager in the retail sector. Paul is currently consulting within the profession on a new learning strategy.