The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has presented the 2025 CASE Asia-Pacific Leadership Award to Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice Chancellor and President, Griffith University.
Professor Evans received the award during the 2025 CASE Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference in Hong Kong in mid-May.
The award recognises institutional leaders for their outstanding efforts in promoting and supporting education and advancement.
Since becoming Vice Chancellor and President of Griffith University in 2019, Professor Carolyn Evans has spearheaded one of the most ambitious advancement programs of any Australian university, including being only the seventh Australian university to publicly launch a comprehensive campaign, The Campaign to Create a Brighter Future for All, and the only one from the outset to establish dual objectives for philanthropic and alumni engagement.
“Carolyn is a leader of rare capacity, relentlessly committed to the mission of Griffith University and its mission to create a better future for all,” The Hon Andrew Fraser, Chancellor of Griffith University said.
“Under Carolyn’s leadership Griffith’s culture of staff-giving has been elevated and celebrated, and Carolyn has not just been an advocate but a participant through her personal support of the scholarship funding program that provides opportunity for students to study at Griffith, and the promotion of new pathway programs.
Alongside this Carolyn has driven the University to engage with industry and philanthropy, championing deep partnerships with institutions of standing.”
Philanthropic income at Griffith University has seen consistently high growth with CASE benchmarking noting Griffith as a leading non-Go8 university for funds secured in 2022 and 2023, positioning it as an Advancement sector leader in Australia. Griffith is particularly proud of its high level of staff giving with over 15% of staff providing support for student scholarships which compares to around 4% for the average staff giving program in Australia.
About CASE
CASE—the Council for Advancement and Support of Education—is a global, not-for-profit membership association with a vision to advance education to transform lives and society.
CASE is the home for advancement professionals, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions. CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement, leading, and championing their dissemination and application with more than 97,000 advancement professionals at 3,100 member institutions in 80 countries.
Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently these include alumni relations, development services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may be working in universities, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profits. CASE uses the intellectual capital and professional talents of a community of international volunteers to advance its work, and its membership includes many educational partners who work closely with the educational sector.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE works across all continents from its regional offices in London, Singapore, and Mexico City to achieve a seamless experience for all its stakeholders, particularly its members, volunteers, and staff.
