2010 President’s Report, Stephen Wood

AIM

We aim to increase the exposure of the Cranfield Australian Alumni Scholarship Foundation (CAASF) throughout Australia and find and select at least one talented candidate to send to Cranfield School of Management (Cranfield) for the one-year MBA programme.

CRANFIELD STARS

In 2010, the Cranfield one-year MBA was ranked 1st by The Economist in its survey of the best MBA programmes world-wide. This complements the view of the Wall Street Journal which rated the Cranfield MBA as 1st in the UK and 3rd in the world.

PROMOTING THE SCHOLARSHIP

A key factor in our promotion of the Scholarship has been our “viral” email campaign. By the end of 2010 we had 191 registrations of interest from potential candidates, all of whom are managed from our database.

The Graduate Management Admission Test is a challenge even for strong applicants and in the 2010 scholarship year we lost three candidates at this hurdle. The Cranfield screening process is also extremely testing, so those who make it through this process and gain a place on the MBA programme have demonstrated a level of persistence and determination we like to see from our Australian scholarship applicants.

Our marketing is also helped when Cranfield faculty members come to Australia and promote the scholarship during their presentations. Thanks to Susan Vinnicombe, John Bank and Simon Knox for their support in 2010.

CAASF MEMBERSHIP

Since incorporating in 2008, Alumni membership has grown and at 31 Dec 2010 we had 50 members (36 in 2009). Communications regularly take place with the wider Australian Alumni community in an effort to remain inclusive and to seek new and active members. We invite those who wish to become CAASF members to contact us.

WINNERS 2010

In May 2010 Frank Horwitz, Director of Cranfield visited Australia and presented the 2010 Awards. He also gave an excellent MasterClass attended by over 30 people. Todd Myers won the 4th CAASF Scholarship. Adam Cox and Charles Honner won Fee Share scholarships. Thanks also go to Frank Horwitz and Cranfield for their support.

Mark Ellis, NSW State Representative, won the President’s Award, (supported by non-CAASF funds). Mark won this award for his magnificent efforts in NSW over recent years.

Damini Singh, 3rd CAASF Scholarship 2009, is back in Australia and remains with the NAB. She is due to be married to a fine young MBA that she met at Cranfield – the Cranfield Experience working again!

Robert Milagre, 2nd CAASF Scholarship 2008, is also back in Australia and has joined the CAASF board as a NSW State Representative. He is forging the circle – Australian Alumni helping new candidates who go on to do great things with their careers, and in turn help further talented people.

Alexandra Chapman (MBA 1988) was awarded the CMA Honorary Member Award. This CMA award is for alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to the CMA, the alumni body or to the school. Alex now joins John McFarlane and Prof. David Corkindale as Australians who have won the CMA Honorary Member Award. Well done Alex.

Finally I was delighted to accept from Frank Horwitz a 2010 CMA Alumni Service Award for helping establish and run the CAASF programme. I am pleased to be part of a process that continues to send a growing number of talented Australians to Cranfield.

FINANCE

Our scholarship fund remains small and is only capable of supporting one full scholarship. It is a major task to raise sufficient money to ensure the continuing success of the scholarship. Our applications for DGR status, making donations tax deductible, have not yet been accepted but we are continuing to press our claim with the ATO.

SUMMARY

2010 has been a steady year for CAASF during which we have received further recognition and support from Cranfield. However, the global financial crisis has caused individuals to reflect how they allocate charitable donations making our task somewhat more difficult. In spite of this, we remain passionate about supporting excellent candidates in their personal development and for the greater good of Australia.

Stephen Wood (EMBA 1994) President, CAASF