How do you turn an organisation with a tarnished reputation into a thriving charity? By working towards a shared mission with the right staff and innovative technology.
In this episode, I chat to Mark Townend who has been CEO of RSPCA in Queensland for 19 years. He has local government, commercial and not-for-profit experience and likes to think outside the box to find creative solutions.
RSPCA QLD deals with some 56,000 animals a year - more than anyone else in the Southern Hemisphere - and has an 88% save rate with a $51m budget. Its 340 staff, 5,300 volunteers and 24 inspectors deal with 18,000 cruelty complaints a year
As well as significantly strengthening RSPCA QLD’s future health, Mark has several Board responsibilities with Bio Security, Animal Welfare, St Paul de Chartres and Regional Development Australia (RDA), a government initiative.
He’s also the director of Tap Tins, a fully self-serve contactless payment system for donating to charity, and Pet Cloud, an Airbnb-type setup for animals.
Episode highlights:
RSPA stats - 56,000 animals
How RSPCA Queensland has the highest save rates
Mark’s background - born in Sydney, early jobs, moving to Queensland and children
Running for local government elections in South East QLD and holding a place for 8 years
Moving on from politics and working on his commercial business
Mark’s opinion of Logan City government
An offer to buy Mark’s company and partnering with an American businessman
The struggle for small and medium businesses and state governments
Why federal and state governments don’t support small and medium businesses
Moving into the RSPCA
Mark’s enterprise software initiative to electronically coordinate animals’ and peoples’ records
Key milestones - first site to have animals online, first to introduce animals into pet shops
Trial adoptions of animals and working with people to find the right pet
Creating a positive RSPCA presence in Queensland
From $5m to $50m turnover
New innovations to help generate $51m for RSPCA Queensland
Why Mark steers RSPCA QLD away from face-to-face fundraising
What Mark does to help him continue to generate ideas
RSPCA’s latest innovation - Pale Tale Beer
Mark Townend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-townend-am-80b19317/
RSPCA QLD: https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/
Arete Executive Website - areteexecutive.com.au/
Richard Triggs LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/
Tap Into the Hidden Executive Job Market: http://areteexecutive.com.au/free-book/
