Deakin announces new Vice President (Advancement)

Deakin University today announced the appointment of Mr Ron Fairchild as its Vice President (Advancement).

The role is a new one for Deakin and will sit on the university's senior executive team, with responsibility for fund-raising, alumni development, events management, government, media and internal relations and community engagement across Deakin's campuses in Geelong, Burwood and Warrnambool.

Vice Chancellor, Professor Jane den Hollander, said the appointment of Mr Fairchild followed an extensive international search with a field of high quality candidates.

"I am delighted to welcome Ron to Deakin and look forward to his leadership of this incredibly important area of the university's operations," she said.

"This role is about much more than just fundraising. It will be instrumental in helping to grow and manage our relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, not the least of which is our impressive alumni around the world."

Mr Fairchild brings to Deakin almost 30 years of experience in advancement activities in universities and hospitals with previous roles in Canada, New Zealand and with a number of Australian universities.

In 2000 he was honoured as the Fundraising Executive of the Year for the Toronto chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Mr Fairchild said that he was attracted to the opportunity to work with Deakin because of the university's reputation for being progressive and innovative.

"I'm thrilled to join the Deakin family and look forward to the opportunity of building a strong Advancement portfolio which will have a positive impact on the university's growth and success," he said.

After leading the Advancement portfolio at Monash University for the last seven years, Mr Fairchild will take up his appointment at Deakin in November.