In this episode, I’m chatting with Bill Petch, CEO of the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, about his first CEO role and how he’s managing such an important sector during a time of exciting change.
The charity is the only national charity dedicated to helping those with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.
Bill was first appointed CEO of the Queensland branch in 2012 and led an agency-wide program to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness with a focus on impact and sustainability.
Under his watch, the organisation released the very first ‘State of the Nation’ report on blood cancer in Australia and has put together the very first national task force that will improve equity of access to current treatments and new emerging therapies to improve survivability.
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Episode highlights:
Who Bill is and his current professional responsibilities
Big moments for the foundation recently - released first ‘State of the Nation’ report on blood cancer and put together the first national task force
The Foundation’s strategy to get to zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035
Hopes for the next 10 years - zero preventable deaths
Bill’s fascination with how charities are founded and evolve
The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia’s work over the past three years
Making information available to people diagnosed
Bill’s background - born in Sydney, one brother, went to a Catholic school
What Bill did after university - moved to the UK and went backpacking around Europe
Working for Barnardos for over a decade in the UK and Australia
Blending philanthropy with reality
Bill’s views of the charity sector and its ability to deliver services to the community
What charity was 100 years ago is not what charity is today
Not-for-profit vs profit-for-purpose
An important period for the charity world - building collaboration not competition in the sector
Bill’s consultancy work in Australia - constructing social responsibility programs
His first CEO role and not wanting to ruin it
The importance of building his knowledge and skills
How the organisation has changed since Bill became CEO
The organisation’s future goals and how to make that change
How science and the healthcare industry is changing for the better - new technologies and treatments
Bill’s hopes for his future in the role - driving the national task force and what will come from that
What Bill does in his spare time - rugby and travelling
“The thing about philanthropy is that it’s inherently unsustainable. The way to make it sustainable is by embedding it and finding sustainable income streams.” - Bill Petch #HeadhuntedShortlists #NotForProfit
