Case Studies

Skyline Education Foundation

Executive search and placement of two CEO’s, four years apart

Skyline Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that provides intensive support for high-ability students who are gifted or academically talented, with a growth mindset, leadership potential, and resilent in the face of their social and economic challenges. Skyline supports them to find pathways to further study and employment, becoming leaders for change.

Skyline Education Foundation Australia manages and implements programs supporting students across Victoria in their final two years of school in both regional and metropolitan regions. The Skyline Program subsidises and financially reimburses students & their families to cover the educational costs of attending secondary schools, such as textbooks, uniforms, materials, school levies/fees, travel and equipment.

They engage students and schools in unique, enhanced, evidence-based equity Programs, raising money to empower the lives of more high-ability students who are constrained by their circumstances.

Skyline Education Foundation

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Galvin-Rowley Executive partnered with the Chair and Board at Skyline Education Foundation to recruit their inaugural CEO. This was a vital role for the business to get right as they were in a strategic growth position, and the suitability of the new CEO was critical in them achieving their ambitious objectives in expansion and development.

In 2018 Galvin-Rowley Executive placed Jane Sydenham-Clark in the position of Chief Executive Officer, where she was responsible for the overall leadership and reputational, operational and financial management of the organisation, and with the Board, ensuring the impact, growth and sustainability of Skyline.

After four years in this role, where Jane achieved outstanding growth and development, Galvin-Rowley Executive was again appointed to find a suitable replacement CEO.

In 2022 following an extensive executive search, Galvin-Rowley Executive again worked closely with the Board and Chair to find Bridget Sutherland, who joined the Skyline Foundation after working as the Director of Education, Research & Advocacy for the Red Nose Foundation.

“As the Chair of a small, growing not-for-profit organisation, I was acutely aware that we needed to attract an outstanding executive candidate who could take on our Board’s vision forward. Jen at Galvin-Rowley Executive conducted a thorough Executive Search for us, identified a number of excellent candidates and screened them carefully to ensure that our culture, values and experience were aligned. Jen is a consummate professional and extraordinarily empathetic. She took the time we needed to understand the candidates and conduct a high-quality interview process and presentation to the Board. She provided our Selection Panel with the report featuring thorough background information and insightful assessments of each candidate, such that we felt fully supported yet in control of the whole process. Through her positive impression on the Directors, Jen is now one of the Skyline family of supporters. I have no hesitation in recommending Galvin-Rowley Executive to any organisation like Skyline, who are seeking to attract outstanding candidates.”

Katrina Reynen, Chair, Skyline Education Foundation

What Our Clients Say

I first met Jennifer as a candidate. Having touched most of the major search firms as a candidate for executive roles and experienced first-hand their generally low level of candidate care, I have had no hesitation in recommending Jennifer to colleagues who are searching for a new job, or in using her myself as a preferred provider when in need of HR staff.

Mike Johnson

Former HR Director, SKILLED Group

Jen has really invested in understanding our culture and what attributes to look for to ensure a seamless team-fit. In addition, her definition of quality and high-calibre is the same as ours.
That makes life so much easier, and means we are consistently forced to make tough choices at the end of a relatively short recruitment period.
What else could we ask? Highly professional, and a calmly positive influence on us all.

Russell Parker

CEO, Kikki.K
Former CEO, Hallmark International

Galvin-Rowley Executive is a boutique executive placement agency that delivers above and beyond service with integrity to its clients.
The Director, Jennifer Galvin-Rowley, takes the time to understand her clients’ needs and then searches through her amazing network of contacts to find the right people for the right jobs.
Whilst I was CEO of BeyondBlue, Jennifer and her team were a delight to work with and I wouldn’t go anywhere else if I was looking for a key executive.

Dawn O’Neil, AM

Former CEO, BeyondBlue

For nine months we’d searched in vain for a HSE Manager. This was a difficult project: candidates were scarce, our standards were high, and the role was in the country.
When Jen was referred to us, she stood above the other recruiters for three reasons: she dealt in specialist OH&S Managers; she knew how to fill rural roles; and she didn’t advertise—she searched.
Jen approached the task with imagination. Her ideas were unusual, yet so logical. She handled candidates with promptness and respect, and we swiftly found and hired a great fit. I therefore suggest you let Jen recruit your next manager.

Jim Cooper

CEO, Port of Portland

Over the past decade I have engaged Jenny on a number of occasions to source talent across a variety of roles, specifically in HR. She is excellent in her client management as well as her candidate care.
She is responsive to the more challenging assignments and creates a realistic expectation for both the client and her deliverables. Given the service she has provided each time, I have consistently sought her out as a provider and truly value the relationship.