Fundraising for better treatments for children with cancer

Owen Finegan is a former Aussie Rugby Player and current CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project. He is this weeks Pro Bono Australia change maker!

The Kids’ Cancer Project is an independent national charity supporting childhood cancer research. Since 1993, thanks to strong community support, they have contributed tens of millions of dollars to scientific studies to help children with many types of cancer.

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

After sixteen years in professional rugby and an aging body it was time to get a real job. During my rugby career training, an education was encouraged and supported financially by the Rugby Union Players Association. I was very lucky to be able to achieve a range of tertiary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Business (International Business & Finance) from Southern Cross University, a Masters in Education (Coach Education) from Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Northumbria University.

Across the same period, I also gained experience in business as a director of two family owned child care centres and as a Managing Director in Canberra during my playing career of a national facilities management company that gave me some business acumen and the fundamentals of managing business strategy, people and operations.

 Take us through a typical day of work for you.

My role as the CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project has several direct reports across finance, IT and data, marketing and Communications, community fundraising, campaigns, events and partnerships. With the breadth of activities across The Kids’ Cancer Project there is never a boring day and I learn something new every day across the business. Stakeholder engagement is a critical component of my role along with providing direction, strategy and leadership towards the achievement of the charities mission and vision and growing our ability to commit to more world class pioneering research.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it?

 The transition from being a professional rugby player was my biggest challenge. Any transition from being a professional athlete to a more regular role can be difficult. Athletes are less regularly in the rigours of their sport, the adrenaline and the spotlight. Many struggle to find a new sense of purpose but I think I was lucky to move straight into the for-purpose sector and lead the team at Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter and then the team at The Kids’ Cancer Project for the last decade and that purpose continues to drive me to succeed.

 If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career?

 There is no such thing as failure, trying is how you are going to learn things that make you sharper, more intelligent and capable of managing things better next time. Not sweating the small stuff – asking ‘will what is bothering me know bother me in 3, 6 or 12 months’ time?’

 How do you unwind after work?

I have three kids that are also chasing their sporting passions. My oldest daughter is playing netball and I have two boys that are playing a mixture of rugby league and rugby union. I love supporting their sporting passions where I can. That includes on and off the playing fields I am a board director of a netball association and a couple of different rugby boards.

Since coaching the Brumbies professionally between 2009 to 2011, I have a Level four coaching accreditation and have been coaching rugby for over a decade across the U 10’s age group, rugby academies and senior 1 st grade rugby clubs. I love giving back to sports that played such a large part in my life.

 I also enjoy spending down time with my family and friends, a bit of training and swimming at the beach