Arete Podcast With Richard Triggs

I had a fascinating discussion recently with Nigel Harris, CEO of Mater Foundation, the fundraising and community relations division of Mater Misericordiae, a not-for-profit Catholic health care organisation with interests in hospitals, medical research, health education and laundry services in Brisbane. When Nigel started with the organisation back in 1996, total revenue was only $2 million. They have since grown to annual revenues of $70 million and with only 85 full-time equivalent staff - an average revenue of over $820,000 per employee. Most of this income is from fund-raising efforts and is a testament to how strong the 200 year-old brand is in Queensland and Nigel’s mastery of the art of philanthropy, not to mention the business acumen it must take to manage such an organisation. Nigel’s employment history includes sales in refrigeration and heating and since 1988 he has been in the not-for-profit sector, including stints with organisations such as the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation and the Ar