Nick Blinco receives CASE Distinguished Service Award

Nick Blinco, Vice-President (Advancement) at the University of Melbourne, has received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Asia-Pacific Distinguished Service Award for 2021.

The award, conferred at a presentation ceremony in Melbourne on 21 April, recognises inspirational advancement professionals whose accomplishments have made a significant and lasting impact on institutional advancement, and whose life and character have earned the respect and admiration of fellow colleagues.

Mr Blinco joined the University in 2015 and has played a crucial role in the most successful fundraising and engagement campaign in its history, Believe.

Since the campaign commenced in 2008, nearly 30,000 donors have made more than 73,000 individual gifts to the University, its colleges and affiliates, with contributions totalling more than $1 billion.

On receiving the award, Mr Blinco highlighted the important role of philanthropy in our society.

“This is particularly so in the work that all of us do in advancement teams in the higher education sector around the world,” he said.

“We’re helping to change that world, and provide opportunity to young people. At the University I’ve watched big ideas get bigger still when partnered with extraordinarily generous people who want to apply their private wealth to ideas that will make change.”

Executive Director at CASE Asia-Pacific Heather Hamilton congratulated Mr Blinco on the award.

“Nick is an exemplary leader who has built strong and supportive relationships within the University community and stakeholders. He is also an inspiration in the sector as chair of the Group of Eight Advancement Leaders Group,” she said.

“As a valued volunteer for CASE Europe and Asia-Pacific, Nick was invited to join the CASE Laureates, the highest accolade for recognising CASE’s community of senior volunteers.”

CASE is a global non-profit membership association of educational associations, helping to develop the communities of professional practice that build institutional resilience and success in challenging times. For more information about CASE, please visit www.case.org.