About Me.
I have always been driven by my values and a desire to do as much good as I can in the world. Most recently CEO of Vegan Australia I am proud that I’ve been able to use my leadership and non-profit experience to try to make a positive difference for the planet, for animals and for human health.
Having gained an honours degree in zoology from Imperial College I spent my early career working as a molecular biologist. I then undertook a PhD in Healthcare Ethics at City University, London, winning a full scholarship from Barts and The Royal London Hospital. After my PhD I split my time between teaching medical ethics at University College London medical school and lecturing in Healthcare Ethics at City University, while also establishing a successful, small business teaching archery. The business grew into a sustainable club and events provider, employing around 15 staff at any one time, helping a wide ranging community of participants in London to grow and develop through supported participation in sport.
I relocated from the UK to the US in 2013 and, having met my Australian partner, Michael, while teaching on a Summer Bioethics program at Yale in 2016, I moved to Australia in 2018. I was then enormously fortunate and privileged to have the opportunity to transition into non-profit leadership, becoming CEO at Emerge Australia, a national organisation supporting, advocating and educating people about myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). After a very happy few years at Emerge, having built the team from three to fifteen and greatly expanded the range of impactful programming, I transitioned into a new role at Humanists Australia. I loved being part of an organisation dedicated to living a life with values front and centre and I was able to build on my knowledge of the non-profit sector in Australia.
In terms of fundraising I am proud to have raised more than A$2m in operational funding for Emerge Australia to strengthen the organisation and provide the foundations for long term growth and stability, and more than A$4m for biomedical research into ME/CFS through advocacy to Government and philanthropic partners. At Humanists Australia, a brand new organisation when I joined, I developed the initial strategies for digital outreach and fundraising, building a list from less than 200 to 2000+ in under a year, alongside a recurring giving program bringing in $2000+ per month. In early 2024 I helped Sydney Vegan Market to raise more than $20,000 through a crowdfunding campaign and I’ve helped Edgar’s Mission grow and strengthen their recurring giving along with raising $400,000+ in their 2024 ‘Cost of Kindness’ campaigns.
As I step into this ‘third phase’ of my career I am now working across a number of different ‘portfolios’ including leaning heavily into impactful volunteering, plus consulting and mentoring.
Emma Schwarz, Executive Director International Vegan Film Festival
“Heidi has been nothing short of extraordinary in her mentorship, guiding me through transformative growth in my career. Her expertise in fundraising, nonprofit management, event coordination, donor and Board relations, and strategic leadership has been instrumental in the successes I’ve achieved in my current Executive Director role. Her ability to break down complex challenges into actionable insights has made her guidance invaluable, whether navigating donor relations or spearheading new organizational initiatives.
What truly sets Heidi apart is her generosity and the genuine investment she makes in her mentees. She goes above and beyond to provide her time, expertise, and encouragement, creating a supportive environment where I felt empowered to take bold steps in my professional journey. Working with her has been an honor, and I credit much of my career progression to her mentorship. I am incredibly grateful for Heidi's unwavering support and wisdom.”