Founder and Associate Professor Leanne M Zalapa to retire, Andrew Giles appointed as CEO

The Directors of the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation, Randwick, announced that CEO and Founder, Associate Professor Leanne (Lulu) M Zalapa, is retiring and accomplished fundraising industry expert Andrew Giles has been appointed as the new CEO to lead the charity of the Prince of Wales Hospital into the future. Coinciding with this announcement, the Foundation’s Founding Chairman Tom O’Callaghan will step down from the Board of Directors.

Lulu has an extraordinary career in nursing and philanthropic services, starting the Foundation in 2004 to raise funds and support for vital projects to enable the best care possible for patients at the Prince of  Wales Hospital. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $25 million in funds for infrastructure, research, equipment, professional development and patient care. The Foundation today continues its important role, currently focused on fundraising to support the hospital’s new Acute
Services Building set to open in 2022 with state-of-the-art medical technology and health services.

Lulu says, “Creating this vibrant Foundation has been a highlight of my life. The past 15 years are filled
with so many milestones and memories. Our Foundation has contributed to nearly every department and ward in this hospital and thousands of patients and staff have benefited through the support we have channelled from our donors, partners and friends. One such valued partner has been the Mater
Foundation QLD and their Prize Home Lottery, which raised over $10 million. Our landmark projects also include the Prince of Wales Hospital Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre with the Foundation providing $11.7 million, and our annual Grants program which has delivered $3.6 million to priority projects and vital programs.”

Lulu is a recognised industry leader and has played a pivotal role in the Australian fundraising landscape
launching other charities like Dry July and Dreams2Live4, both of which started with the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation before becoming independent bodies. She also set up the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation Louisa Hope Fund for Nurses, following Louisa’s time in hospital for treatment and recovery after the Lindt Café siege in 2014. In 2017, Lulu was awarded Coogee Woman of the Year in recognition of her tireless work as founder and CEO of the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation, and she also holds the title as Associate Professor of Industry in the Faculty of Health at UTS, Sydney.

“I would like to thank the Prince of Wales Hospital, the Foundation Board of Directors and our dedicated employees and volunteers for all of their support over the years. I would also like to extend my sincerest gratitude to our donors. Through their generous support, the Foundation has been able to make a tremendous and lasting impact at the hospital and in the community. I look forward to watching the Foundation continue to grow and prosper under Andrew’s guidance,”she said.

Incoming CEO Andrew Giles has long standing and extensive experience in the philanthropic sector with
some of Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisations, most recently as CEO at the Garvan Research
Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. During his time there,
Andrew established national initiatives including World Ovarian Cancer Day, the Australian Genomic
Medicine Program and The Pancreatic Cancer Alliance.

Andrew was previously CEO of The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia where he launched the
Movember fundraising campaign in 2004 – today widely regarded as the nation’s leading body for
prostate cancer. He has held executive leadership roles with UNSW, The Shepherd Centre, The Scots
College, The University of Sydney and The Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Andrew has also served on industry peak bodies like Fundraising Institute of Australia as NSW Chair and is a Board Member of Research Australia. In 2017, Andrew was elected Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australia in recognition of his outstanding contribution to fundraising and the charity sector.

Commenting on his appointment Andrew says, “It is a huge honour to take on the role of CEO of the
Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation – an organisation that has achieved such significant funding and
support for the hospital since its inception, with Lulu at the helm. I look forward to working collaboratively with the Foundation team and Prince of Wales Hospital staff to deliver and expand the Foundation’s partnerships and campaigns, particularly as we work towards the opening of the new Randwick Hospital Campus Redevelopment and Acute Services Building.”

Tom commenced his role as Founding Chairman with the Prince of Wales Foundation in 2004 alongside Lulu, serving two terms before moving on to become a Director.

“I was absolutely honoured when Tom, previously a lawyer with Gilbert and Tobin, accepted the position as Founding Chair. Over the time we have worked together, he has provided thoughtful counsel, wonderful leadership, gentlemanly professionalism and a great sense of humour,” Lulu continued.

Throughout the years with the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation, Tom developed strong and
significant fundraising partnerships within the business community, particularly via his position as Vice
President of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association, securing the Foundation as the beneficiary of their
annual Racing Night of Champions fundraising event.

Commenting on his departure, Tom says, “It has been an absolute privilege to work with Lulu and watch the Foundation expand enormously through her guidance and leadership. I’m particularly passionate about funding medical research and supporting our staff and academics, and it has been rewarding to see so many incredible research projects take place across the hospital campus, thanks to the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation Annual Grant Awards.”

Andrew’s appointment as Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation CEO was effective from Monday 6 January 2020, with Lulu supporting the transition. Tom will also be awarded a life membership to the Foundation.

Pearl Dy

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Pearl Dy is a community manager and journalist. She is passionate about business and development particularly involving not-for-profits, charity and social entrepreneurship.

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