Tony Bretherton has developed and then implemented successful fundraising strategies and has led major comprehensive fundraising campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and England for nearly three decades. Tony has been Director of Development and Community Relations at Xavier College, Melbourne and previously at Geelong Grammar School where he led the school to a campaign result of $31 million. In prior appointments he led Advancement at the 1100-year-old Wells Cathedral School, England; the University of Limerick, Ireland; and the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Tony has also led fundraising for social services at Presbyterian Support Services (Waikato) in New Zealand.  

Tony is a member of Fundraising Institute of New Zealand (MFINZ) (since 1992), a Fellow of EducatePlus, and is a former member of Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Commission on Philanthropy. Tony has twice won EducatePlus awards for large capital fundraising campaigns; FINZ awards for best capital campaign, direct marketing and telemarketing; and a CASE ‘Circle of Excellence’ award.  

Tony is a professional broadcaster and has worked with BBC and Radio NZ. He received the NZ Mobile Radio Award (1993). Tony is also skilled in photography and film making (for which he has also received several awards) and was a firefighter for 11 years.   

Tony is an impassioned fundraising professional who has developed successful fundraising strategies and improved the operations of not-for-profit organisations in New Zealand and around the world, including in Ireland, UK, and Hong Kong. He has built strong Advancement teams in all his institutions and he has raised funds successfully from alumni and others in North America and Asia.