Shawn is a Certified Fundraising Executive with more than 25 years of global experience in the nonprofit sector. Her international expertise in fundraising strategy, board governance, and management training has been crucial to the successes of her client organizations across the globe. Shawn has lived and worked in Europe, North America, and Asia and boasts an extremely diverse client list, drawing from a broad wealth of knowledge and an abundance of real life experience to develop dynamic solutions for her clientele around the world.

Her current work in Singapore has seen her lead the Social Service Institute’s adult educator governance program, which included developing their governance curriculum. She has also worked with Singapore’s cultural leader – National Gallery Singapore – in delivering major gifts stewardship and moves management training and advice. She has also managed Make a Wish International’s global strategic review and implementation strategic plan. Shawn is also giving back to the Singapore community and indeed Asia with her volunteer board roles as a CASE Asia Pacific advisor and South Central Community Center Board Director.

During her time in Paris, she was a Senior Consultant with Brakeley and Marcilhacy & Boulan, working with universities, clubs and associations, as well as international NGO clients including: WWF; The Verbier Festival; Make-A-Wish Foundation International, Canada, and America; Nanyang Technological University; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Incline Recreation Foundation; and Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris.

In Singapore, Shawn served as Resident Senior Consultant for Brakeley Fundraising and Management Consultants and began her private consulting practice specializing in major gifts development, training and Board Governance. She delivered training to nonprofit professionals through the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Center, the Social Services Institute, the Center for Creative Leadership, the International Rice Research Institute, WWF Hong Kong, and several independent schools. Previously, under her leadership, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) launched its first Fundraising Essentials course, through which Shawn trained the organization’s first certified instructors. Shawn is also worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation International on several governance projects, and NUS.

Shawn’s experience in Japan included a stint as Managing Director, Brakeley Japan and being on the faculty at Temple University Japan, teaching the NGO Certificate Program and instructing the Project Management course for pre-MBA students. During this time, she also chaired the Run for the Cure’s first “Calendar Girls” initiative and wrote for the Tokyo Weekender Magazine. Shawn is the global wine writer for Sassy Mama, and the Singapore Tatler.

Prior to moving overseas, Shawn served for more than two decades with Junior Achievement, Inc. This experience culminated in a nine-year stretch as the San Francisco Chapter’s President and Chief Executive Officer. She was responsible for all planning, finance, fundraising, program implementation, public relations, and administrative operations, which served 100,000 students on a $3 million budget. Previously, she functioned as the National organization’s Vice President of Development and the National Director of Development. Over the course of her career with Junior Achievement, Shawn was instrumental in opening new branches overseas and developing and executing multimillion-dollar capital campaigns.

Shawn holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco, with an emphasis in Human Resource and Organizational Development. Additionally, she has participated in various leadership courses and seminars from highly regarded institutions including Dale Carnegie, Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University, and the National Planned Giving Institute. She is also a certified WebEx University instructor. Shawn is an active member of The Certified Fundraising Executives (CFRE), Board Source, and Board Member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Industry Advisory Board.

When she isn’t with clients, Shawn enjoys golf, hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, travel, reading, and wine.