Our Staff

While the Children's Tumour Foundation (CTF) has significant community reach and remains the only national charity in Australia supporting those living with NF, we are staffed by a small team, who mostly work part-time. By having a small, agile and cross-skilled team, we ensure funds are invested where they are needed most.

OUR CEO

Renee-Anschau

Leanne Dib EMFIA FFIA

Chief Executive Officer

Leanne has over 20 years of leadership and fundraising experience in the for-purpose sector and is also a mentor and tutor with the Fundraising Institute Australia. She is driven to deliver on the Children’s Tumour Foundation’s objectives to increase awareness, education, support and research for Neurofibromatosis.

In 2022, Leanne was named a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australia in recognition of distinguished service and contribution to the fundraising profession.

Email: leanne.dib@ctf.org.au

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OUR marketing & fundraising TEAM

Renee-Anschau

Renee Anschau

Head of Marketing and Fundraising

Renee is an experienced marketer and confident campaigner with over 15 years of experience in media, marketing, fundraising, event management and digital communications. She has a passion for purpose-driven projects, people and brands that challenge you to think about the world differently.

She has spent the past 5 years using those skills to protect and support some of the most vulnerable and is now completely focussed on improving the lives of those living with NF in Australia.

Renee is responsible for the brand health of the organisation, growing corporate and community revenue, as well as overseeing the marketing and communications portfolio. As a mother herself, she empathises deeply with the families wrestling with the implications of such a devastating condition.

She believes that when we know better, we do better and wants to use her time and expertise to elevate the Children’s Tumour Foundation from a little-known charity to a highly recognised and respected national brand. A brand the NF community can be proud of.

Email: renee.anschau@ctf.org.au

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Michelle Olofsson

Marketing and Fundraising Manager

Following a desire to work for purpose, Michelle has been engaged in the non-profit sector for over eight years, connecting important causes with active supporters.

Michelle is grateful to have worked with many wonderful charitable organisations, in various marketing and communications roles, having championed for the support of veteran’s families at Legacy, and promoted the saving of lives through first aid, at St John Ambulance Australia NSW.

Her most recent appointment was in the marketing team at the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in British Columbia, Canada, working across the corporate and community giving portfolio on local and national fundraising campaigns, to increase research and equipment funding.

Michelle is particularly interested in working in the areas of health, wellbeing and medical research and is looking forward to advocating for the NF community for greater recognition of and funding for the condition.

Her qualifications in marketing, experience in brand building and knowledge of fundraising will allow her to enhance the profile of the Children’s Tumour Foundation.

Email: michelle.olofsson@ctf.org.au

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Donna-Jayne Samofal

Communications and Fundraising Manager

Hailing from Adelaide, Donna has a long history working with not for profits across Australia particularly in the areas of marketing and communications, but certainly understands that when you work for a charity you wear many hats.

Before commencing with the CTF Donna ran her own Public Relations Consultancy for over 10 years working specifically with charitable and community focused organisations across Australia. She has sat on various committees including the Mother's Day Classic event committee and was chair for the Royal Society for the Blind's 125th Anniversary Celebration.

Before her own consultancy, Donna can also boast working for The Animal Welfare League and Guide Dogs Australia.

Some of the proudest moments in her career include helping launch a world first pink fire truck for breast cancer awareness and managing media relations for a royal visit in QLD in conjunction with Buckingham Palace.

Donna is most excited about sharing people's stories and loves a good chat.

Email: donna.samofal@ctf.org.au

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OUR support TEAM

Natalie-McCloughan

Ruth Lindsay

Head of Support Services

Ruth is an experienced case management and community development professional. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and was previously the editor of a leading airline magazine. After having her son in Amsterdam she moved back to Sydney and continued her freelance magazine career; however, when her youngest child started school she knew it was time to make a change and follow her dream of studying social work.

Before starting at the Children's Tumour Foundation, Ruth worked at an organisation that supported homeless women and children as community development coordinator. She’s a trained parenting group facilitator and is passionate about connecting people, creating communities and encouraging people to tell their stories. Her hope is that every person with NF feels empowered and able to have their voice heard.

Email: ruth.lindsay@ctf.org.au

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Meredith-Fanelli

Meredith Fannelli

National Support Co-ordinator

Meredith graduated from Sydney University as a Speech Pathologist in 1994 and commenced working in acute adult services at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, specialising in Head and Neck Cancer and Brain Injury. After her return to Sydney, she worked at several large teaching hospitals while simultaneously completing a Masters of Health Administration at UNSW.

She then transferred to the Community Health sector and managed Frail Aged and Dementia Specific Day Care Centers, Carer Respite Services and Complex Community Case Management Services.

After the birth of her two children, she transitioned to private enterprise, partnering with her husband in their own engineering business. Following the sale of the company in 2019, Meredith was able to reassess her options and decided to return to a focus of helping others in the community. She became one of our Support Service Coordinators, while also leaving room for her passion projects - volunteering for animal charities (Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Cat Protection Society).

The Support Services Coordinator role enables her to utilise her skills and experience in patient/client advocacy, service development and health professional education and training. She readily admits that she had not previously heard of Neurofibromatosis, but has made it a mission to learn and research the condition and to raise awareness, particularly amongst medical and health professionals.

Email: Meredith.fannelli@ctf.org.au

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02 9713 6111

fundraising@ctf.org.au

PO Box 454, Five Dock, Sydney, NSW, 2046

ABN 26 1488 155 34

All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible in Australia

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