Have you saved Saturday 16 May for the 2020 AROPS Conference at St Columba's College, St Albans?

This year's Conference will explore alumnae's valuable and diverse support for their School the challenges and opportunities facing modern independent schools and the changing role that Alumni Societies play in the long-term futureof their schools. 

We are dellighted that Christine Fairchild, Director of Alumni Relations at Oxford University has agreed to give our keynote address.












Alumni Relations and Fundraising: exploring the synergies and defining the boundaries’
 
Christine Fairchild has spent the bulk of her career in the higher education sector – 32 years at Harvard University and nearly 10 at Oxford University. She has a keen sense of the dynamics at play between alumni relations and fundraising – both within the institutions and as a committed alumna herself. She’s navigated the cultural differences between how US institutions engage with their alumni and how that does (or doesn’t!) translate to a UK sensibility. Her involvement as a volunteer with her independent school in the US and her work as a member of Malvern College Council also gives her a window into the culture in schools. All this experience will fuel a lively discussion about the dynamics between alumni relations and fundraising, raising questions and posing hypotheses as to what the future holds for the sector. 
 
 
Christine Fairchild was appointed Oxford University’s Director of Alumni Relations in March 2011. 
At Oxford, the Office of Alumni Relations supports links between alumni of the collegiate University through a dynamic offering of events, resources and engagement vehicles. The University has more than 300,000 known alumni, including over 44,000 in 188 countries outside the UK. 
 
Prior to coming to Oxford, Ms Fairchild worked in various capacities at the Harvard Business School; namely, Director of Alumni Relations and, ultimately, Executive Director of External Relations where she oversaw a staff of 80 including development, alumni relations, alumni communications and all related development services. Before arriving at HBS, she worked at the Harvard Art Museums for ten years in the areas of membership, development, special events and public education. She was educated at Connecticut College in the US where she graduated with a BA in Asian Studies. She has volunteered for both Connecticut College and the independent school, Concord Academy serving as Class Secretary for both and as President of Concord’s Alumnae/I Association and member of the Board of Trustees.  In addition, she has volunteered for Hospice of Cambridge, Mount Auburn Hospital, Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic, Learning by Design, and currently serves on the boards of Oxford Limited, Malvern College and the CERN Alumni Advisory Board. She is a Hugh Price Fellow at Jesus College and a Senior Associate at Somerville College. 
 
Full details and booking details will be available at the beginning of February and representatives of alumni associations, School Head Teachers, Development Officrs and Governors are all invited to join us for this day of sharing best practice of School/Alumni relationships.