About John Jeffries

John served as long-term CEO of CBM Australia – from his tenure in the early 80’s, CBM grew to be one of Australia’s largest aid agencies turning over in excess of $35 million.

John’s global work with CBM was significant. In 2004 he worked with a small leadership team to develop and implement CBM’s first global strategy which changed CBM from an agency focused on blindness to a development agency specializing in all disabilities throughout the developing world. He chaired the National Directors Committee for over a decade and regularly conducted Peer Reviews of CBM Country Offices and its Global Co-ordination agency.

John led CBM into an innovative partnership with the Nossal Institute of Global Health. This partnership provided professional consultancy services to DFAT, International NGOs and private deliverers of aid, turning over close to $2 million p.a.

John is recognized as one of Australia’s leading fundraisers. He has had the privilege of working with some of Australia’s most generous donors. He has been a regular speaker for the Fundraising Institute of Australia. In 2011 he delivered the Syd Herron Oration.

For many years John benefited from being coached and mentored by two of Australia’s leading mentors. Combining this experience with his own experience as a long-term CEO of a large NGO, John identifies with most problems faced by younger executives.

John (and his wife, Alison) has been one of Australia’s most passionate advocates for women suffering from obstetric fistula and has spoken on hundreds of occasions to tens of thousands of people all over Australia about this issue.