Jes Bland has worked in the for-purpose sector for 17 years, supporting charities across New Zealand and Australia. She is currently the Individual Giving and Digital Fundraising Manager at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington, New Zealand, where she brings first-hand experience leading digital and integrated fundraising programs within complex organisations.
Since joining Malaghan in 2021, Jes has led a shift away from campaign-by-campaign thinking toward a more connected, supporter-led model, using insight, testing and long-term investment to inform decisions across acquisition, retention and legacy fundraising. Her work has focused on questioning long-standing assumptions, rebuilding internal foundations, and demonstrating that financial sustainability is driven not by bigger campaigns, but by smarter, more integrated ways of working.
Jes was recognised as a 2023 F&P Mover & Shaker by Fundraising & Philanthropy Australia, with her nominator describing her as “a true powerhouse of fundraising” who has modernised systems, approaches and ways of working. She has spoken at conferences across New Zealand and Australia, sharing her knowledge and practical insights to help others build more sustainable and impactful fundraising programs.