Annie Turnbull
20 years ago, Annie started her career in humanitarian and development organisations, working overseas and from the UK on programmes supporting communities displaced by conflict. In the last 10 years, she’s focused on fundraising and strategic partnerships roles at Teach First (a UK education charity) and, more recently, as Head of Partnership Development at Oxfam GB.
Annie’s next step career-wise is to take this experience, and her huge willingness to learn and develop, to a new Deputy Director role at Medical Aid for Palestinians (starting in February 2025).
Favourite Leadership Quote
“To lead people, walk beside them… When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!'”
~ Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism.
I applied for this Elischer Foundation mentorship programme because I’m at a transition point in my career. I’m moving from leading fundraising teams (Supporter Experience, Major Gifts), in ‘Head of’ roles to a newly-created Deputy Director role. I’ll be responsible for leading and expanding Medical Aid for Palestinian’s (MAP’s) fundraising across Trusts and Foundations, Major Donors and Corporate Partnerships. I am deeply committed to addressing power within the charity sector. I want to make sure that charities’ decisions, resources and power sit, as much as possible, with the communities they’re there to serve. I envision this mentorship being a real catalyst for my growth and development as I work towards this.