The year of 2009 was a busy, exciting and challenging year for Kidney Health Australia. It was marked by operational stability in the midst of juggling the impact of the global financial crisis for the second year in a row, as well as innovation and new business development. Financial stability for the first half of the year was largely driven by consistent revenues from lotteries helping to underpin infrastructure costs for service delivery. A downturn in traditional and business revenues in the second half of the year resulted in a significant loss to year end.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer's Report
The work of Kidney Health Australia continues to be funded solely by the generosity of the Australian community and our corporate partners enabling ongoing delivery of Kidney Health Australia’s quality core services to stakeholders primarily in the areas of GP and allied health education, patient/carer support programs, kidney kids programs and funding of research among others. Health Services Managers have now been trained to provide telephone support to those seeking information related to kidney cancer and a new kidney cancer coalition of stakeholders was brought together to identify arenas for action and advocacy.
The role of Kidney Health Australia’s National Consumer Council under the leadership of David Parker continues to be pivotal in identifying potential health policy issues across Australia and channelling these to the appropriate government and policy jurisdictions. Government advocacy is a major strategic focus for Kidney Health Australia going forward.
2009 saw the Kidney Health Australia Board meet to address the organisation’s strategic direction. In doing so the organisation’s mission and vision were reviewed. The new vision and mission statements reflect World Health Organisation goals to 2020 for chronic non communicable diseases. Organisational activities have been transformed where necessary to align with the new strategic direction.
Underpinning delivery of health, medical, advocacy and research for Kidney Health Australia are business units of Sales and Marketing, Customer Operations and Corporate Affairs and Finance. Marketing under the leadership of Frank Daly has focussed on identifying a range of new revenue generating strategies for 2010 and beyond while Customer Operations under the direction of Derek Finch saw the launch of Solution K and KHA Comms – two new call centre commercial operations that complement our successful national lotteries and call centre activities.
Systems and IT stability throughout the year under the leadership of Jacqueline Manche allowed for seamless operations across the business earning the organisation the National Professional Advantage Business Improvement Award for 2009.
The appointment of Australian singing legend Normie Rowe as Kidney Health Australia Patron has provided entrée into the entertainment market and newly appointed Global Ambassador Bob Pritchard’s work with the organisation is already delivering new opportunities that are expected to deliver significant returns long term.
We are indebted to our Patron-in-Chief, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia for presiding over the launch of Kidney Health Week and Patrons Sir Jack and Lady Margaret Brabham have worked tirelessly together with Ambassador Tim Mathieson in support of our work during the year.
The year of 2010 will see the organisation move ahead in new directions as a means of raising greater awareness of both the disease and the organisation. The focus will be on implementation of strategies that differentiate Kidney Health Australia from others in the NGO space while retaining the core elements of our existing business that are aligned with the new mission and vision.
Kidney Health Australia has been well represented at international meetings throughout 2009 through our involvement with The International Federation of Kidney Foundations and the newly formed International Kidney Detection Prevention Network.
Speaking engagements at both of these together with the opportunity to present the Australian perspective on Live Organ Donor Expense Reimbursement Programs in Toronto mean that the organisation continues to be cognisant of both global and national perspectives on kidney related issues in our attempts to positively impact
Kidney Health Australia has come a long way in the past 7 years. Our commercial approach to business, will see us strive to secure corporate and government engagement to double revenues in order to underpin our work over the next five years. At a time when pressure on the charitable dollar continues to sky rocket and interest rate projections trend upwards, management is poised for the challenge to deliver sustainability long term.
I extend my appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all our loyal and committed supporters across the country. To those who regularly donate to our appeals, purchase lottery tickets, bequeath their estates or support our events such as our Kidney Kar Rally, Golf days, Big Red BBQ and others - your support ‘makes a difference’ to the lives of Australians affected by kidney disease.
To our countless numbers of volunteers whose time commitment to our work and supporting those with kidney disease is invaluable – our heartfelt thanks.
We are indebted to all our corporate partners in particular Mitchells Communication, Marketforce One, Hopedell Communications, Shannon’s Way, Repco, Neverfail, In Systems, City Mazda, Lokkii, The Cranberry Institute, Jaguar Power Tools and our pharmaceutical industry partners Amgen, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Roche, Servier, Genzyme, Pfizer, GSK, and Baxter among others. Without your assistance and generosity, delivery of our programs and services would not be possible.
I am privileged to head a team of highly skilled and committed professionals across our business. The achievements of Kidney Health Australia are a testimony to your work and I thank all staff and their families who often sacrifice much for your dedication to our cause and our work.
Finally, my sincere thanks to the Board of Kidney Health Australia led by Chair Ms Angela Reddy. You continue to demonstrate extraordinary commitment and dedication to the organisation through your strategic leadership, direction and support. Together, we strive to achieve our vision and mission to save lives, reduce the need for dialysis and advance the public health agenda on behalf of all kidney stakeholders in Australia.
Click here to view the Kidney Health Australia 2009 Annual Report.