GOVERNANCE
Apra-Australia was established in 2017 as an Incorporated Association. It is governed by a committee, elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting for a 2-year term.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
President
Steven Bärwald
Associate Director, Prospect Development, University of Sydney
Steven joined the University of Sydney as Associate Director, Prospect Development at the start of 2020. He has over 10 years of management experience and has worked across sales research, business operations, e-commerce, market research and HR tech. In his current role, Steven has designed due diligence methodologies and principles and also vast experience in CRM database management and reporting, strategic analysis and data analytics, pipeline management, and process improvement. Steven is passionate about putting prospect development in the Aussie and Kiwi vernacular and is committed to further growing and engaging members through professional development opportunities with Apra Australia.
Vice President
Stephanie Kenéz
Senior Prospect Researcher, University of Melbourne
Stephanie has worked in the prospect development field since 2016. She spent approximately three years in the higher education sector at Deakin University where she worked with a team of researchers to complete proactive and reactive research across various faculties and project, including preparation work towards a future campaign. She then moved across to the arts sector in 2019 as the first dedicated prospect development employee at Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM). In this role, Stephanie worked to establish various processes related to prospect development and best practice approaches to information storage in the organisation’s CRM, as well as ensuring that ACM was campaign ready as it continued to move into the quiet phase of their capital campaign. In 2024, Stephanie returned to the higher education sector as Senior Prospect Researcher at the University of Melbourne. Stephanie is passionate about expanding Apra Australia to better represent all members of the profession, not just those from the university sector, and ensuring Apra Australia provides opportunities and content relevant to members of both small and large shops.
Secretary
Shaun Hayward
Senior Prospect Management & Research Adviser, Monash University
Shaun has over 10 years of experience as a prospect researcher and alumni researcher in the higher education and not-for-profit sectors. He has been in his current role at Monash University as Senior Prospect Management & Research Advisor since November 2021. Before this, Shaun was a Prospect Research Officer with Save the Children Australia, a Senior Prospect Researcher at Deakin University, and an Alumni Researcher at The University of Auckland. He is passionate about prospect development and advancing the field within Australasia.
Treasurer
Julian Kuzma
Senior Prospect Researcher, University of Otago
Julian is a Prospect Researcher at the University of Otago, where he commenced building a prospect development program in 2013. He specialises in prospect research in constrained environments and is data driven. Julian is an advocate of the value and impact of prospect development and acts as a voice for New Zealand prospect research professionals and the specific challenges they face.
Ordinary Committee Member
Mark Mahony
Manager, Prospect Development & Strategy, University of New South Wales
Mark has over 10 years’ experience in prospect development across higher education and arts organisations. Mark has been involved in several major campaigns, with a consistent track-record of success in fundraising and fundraising research support, including as the lead Prospect Research officer for the Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Modern Project capital fundraising campaign and the Development Research & Information Manager responsible for the major gift pipeline. Mark has NFP Board experience with the Australian homelessness charity The Footpath Library.
Ordinary Committee Member
Natalie Rugiano
Senior Prospect Researcher, University of Melbourne
Nat has over eight years experience in prospect research in the higher education sector. She was the first dedicated prospect researcher at the University of Wollongong (UOW), where she built and enhanced the prospect research function in her role as Advancement Services Specialist. In 2024, she joined the prospect research team at the University of Melbourne, continuing her passion for prospect research in the higher education sector.