Walker-Franks Consultancy Directors Lea Walker-Franks and Peter Franks have spent their entire careers, a total of 68 years working in schools, residential colleges, university and TAFE colleges across New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. Institutions include co-educational and both boys and girls single sex schools, public and private, low fee to the highest price point, including both GPS and CAS schools as well as Christian to secular institutions.
Lea as a classroom teacher, Alumni and Development Officer, Director of Development – Archives, Alumni & Foundation, Director of Community Engagement and Executive Officer of Foundation. Lea has worked in many volunteer roles including P&F President and as the immediate past Chairman of Educate Plus Australasia, the professional association for those working in advancement roles in education – philanthropy, alumni, marketing and admissions.
Peter as a classroom and specialist teacher, in regular and intellectually disabled schools, as cluster behaviour management consultant, as a Deputy of Junior School, Head of Junior School, and as Deputy Headmaster in two GPS schools in NSW and Queensland. Peter also spent time in the tertiary sector as Director of Domestic Student Recruitment. Peter has also been a member of Educate Plus since 2005 and has served in various capacities including Queensland Chapter Conference Committee member.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Walker-Franks Consultancy experience comes from working ‘in the trenches’ at the following institutions:
Australian Industry Trade College, Gold Coast, Queensland
Bond University – Gold Coast, Queensland
Brisbane Boys’ College – Queensland
Brisbane Girls Grammar School – Queensland
Duchesne College (UQ) – Queensland
Inaburra – New South Wales
Newington College – New South Wales
Ravenswood School for Girls – New South Wales
St George Christian School – New South Wales
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School – Queensland
St John’s College – Nambour, Queensland
St Joseph’s College (Terrace) – Queensland
St Philip’s Christian Education Foundation Ltd – New South Wales
TAFE – New South Wales
Trinity Grammar School – New South Wales
A variety of State Primary, Secondary and District High Schools – Tasmania
TESTIMONIALS
‘You started with a zero base of philanthropy, culture, resources, information or plans. Yet, in just over five years, you have changed the culture, led a highly successful capital campaign, established a Founders’ Society (0 to 100 known bequests), established an Archives section, established a scholarship/bursary campaign, improved the ONU structures and organisation, revitalised the AISUSA Foundation and fostered key individuals to re-engage with the College. An overall campaign that will bear great benefit to the boys of Newington. You have simply planted so many trees!’
Dr David Mulford – Former Headmaster, Newington College
‘I first met Lea at BBC as an exceptional leader on the Foundation. Energetic, passionate on engagement, very focused and persistent on raising monies for the various important issues facing the Foundation. Highly recommend Lea. Very effective at extracting money ……. and still I’m writing a recommendation!’
Bevan Slattery – Founder at SUB.CO, Cloudscene, Superloop, Megaport, NEXTDC and Co-Founder PIPE Networks
‘What a great result – thank you for the advice, the plan, the execution and the warm engagement with our community. So glad we decided to be “brave not perfect”!‘
Michelle Allan – Head of College and Chief Executive, Duchesne College
‘Thank you for your contributions …… the third year of the fundraising campaign has been successful, particularly given the ongoing economic gloom and there remains a distinct change in the culture. To achieve $4.35 million over the life of the campaign to date, in difficult GFC times, is most significant. You have indeed changed the culture of philanthropy at Newington College. This will bear so much fruit in the future. You brought the College from a ‘standing start’ to be an exemplary model for development. Your drive, passion, work ethic, energy and success have been most noteworthy, especially in this difficult and complex area. Thank you for your fine pioneer work.’
Dr David Mulford – Former Headmaster, Newington College
‘I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Peter’s outstanding contribution to the College ……. Over the past three years he has had overarching responsibility for the key areas of operations including Advancement, Marketing & Communications, Admissions, IT, HR and Property & Facilities. Peter is held in the highest esteem by all those who have worked with him and for him. He is a person of integrity and has brought a wealth of educational experience, knowledge and wisdom to the College and to the teams with which he has worked and led. He is a man of singular ability and talent and has demonstrated a profound commitment to the vision and mission of the College.’
Paul Brown – Former Headmaster, Brisbane Boys’ College
‘Whilst at Newington College, Peter held two significant leadership positions – firstly as Head of Wyvern House Preparatory School (Kindergarten to Year 6) and secondly as Deputy Headmaster (Kindergarten to Year 12). All duties and roles were performed with distinction. Peter is an excellent educational leader.’
Dr David Mulford – Former Headmaster, Newington College
‘Lea has recently worked alongside our Foundation, sharing valuable expertise and experience with Directors, in a supportive and growth-focused context. In my mind there is no one better than Lea Walker-Franks to assist schools in their philanthropic development and fundraising. She builds confidence and provides the practical know-how to deliver ‘the ask’.
Toni Riordan – Principal, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School