Search past winners/finalists


  • MESA logo

Inspired Adventures, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Gold Stevie Award Winner 2012, Click to Enter The 2014 American Business Awards

Company: Inspired Adventures, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Company Description: Inspired Adventures is the leading fundraising agency in Australia and New Zealand, working with Australian and international charities to manage bespoke charity challenges around the world. We work one-on-one with participants, expertly coaching charity teams to raise on average $80,000 per adventure. Since 2004, we have helped to raise over $14 million for charity.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Asia, Australia or New Zealand

Nomination Title: Justine Curtis, Founder and CEO

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

Justine Curtis is the Founder and CEO of Inspired Adventures, arguably one of the most successful social enterprise start-ups in Australia.

In November 2013, Inspired Adventures reached $10 million raised for charitable fundraising organizations, and in the months to date has raised a further $3.5 million. In the past 12 months, Justine has increased the profit margin of Inspired Adventures by 7.3%.

As a result, between 2013 and 2014, Inspired Adventures doubled in size. From staff numbers to the number of charity challenge events, since July 2013 there has been an increase in the capacity of Inspired Adventures of almost 50%.

In August 2013, Justine founded Inspired Travel, the sister company of Inspired Adventures. Inspired Travel manages all travel arrangements and enquiries for Inspired Adventures. The decision to move this process in-house directly impacted the bottom line and increased cash flow for Inspired Adventures. The results are reflected in the profit of approximately $520,000 in the 2014 financial year and the predicted savings for charity partners. With the savings, charity partners have invested in another Inspired Adventure, or used the money to fund internal projects to better the community, and the world.

This has further established Inspired Adventures as Australia and New Zealand’s premier fundraising agency.

Capitalising on increased profits and the demand for fundraising adventure travel, in 2013 and 2014, Justine expanded Inspired Adventures into the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Justine was a speaker at Blackbaud’s BBCON in October 2013 and at the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand conference in 2014. She also held a Masterclass in Event Management at the Fundraising Institute of Australia conference in Melbourne.

Justine has driven the success of Inspired Adventures by recognising the potential of building a community around a cause, thus contributing to making the world a better place.

Upload a collection of supporting files and web addresses to our server to provide more background information to the judges. You may upload any number of attachments and URLs through the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above. (Do NOT list your URLs below.)

 

Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 125 words):

Justine began her career in media sales and direct marketing, holding senior and executive positions at Centurion Press (London), Harte Hanks and Creative Response, before becoming General Manager of Good Cause.

In 2001, Justine oversaw the creation of Australia’s largest face-to-face fundraising agency, growing the business to 250 employees in three years. She lead her team in raising $25 million for Australian not-for-profit organisations.

Her experience in the not-for-profit sector, coupled with her innate love of travel, motivated Justine to create Inspired Adventures in 2004—a business focused on making a difference.

Since then, Inspired Adventures has developed and managed over 300 adventures, each raising an average of $100,000 for charity partners. This year, Inspired Adventures will exceed $14 million fundraised for charity.