Who and how
Exuberance was founded by Creative Director, Mary Anne Plummer in 2018. She had spent much of her career in 'big agency' culture, and wanted to work with clients in a more direct and personal way. Most of all, she wanted to focus on quality copywriting.
"Good writing starts with clear thinking," is one of many MA-isms. Here are the sharp-thinking, deeply experienced, and extremely talented people on the Exuberance team.
Mary Anne Plummer
Creative Director
MA did her first fundraising when she was a kid – selling Christmas cakes from the back of a flat-top truck for the Lions Club.
Later in life, when she was a news reporter, Mary Anne visited countries where she saw terrible need, but also the impact of Australian aid.
MA founded Exuberance after careers in journalism and advertising, and a seven-year stint as the Creative Director of Pareto Fundraising. She teaches the FIA’s Copywriting For Impact course, and loves supporting the sparkling talent of her colleagues at Exuberance. She’s happiest when in water or a garden, and playing with words in her head.
Felicity Kitson
Writer
You can feel the emotion coming off the page or screen when Felicity Kitson writes the copy. She’s a ‘writer’s writer’ with superb natural skill enriched by many years as a fundraiser. Your donors will never have to work to read anything Felicity writes. Instead, they’ll be carried along effortlessly (though their hearts might break on the way).
Felicity is someone who puts her values into action. She volunteers, marches and protests for causes that matter to her. She’s also an award-winning burlesque performer who writes and performs original works, some of which have been showcased at festivals in Australia and abroad.
Alice Nixon
Writer
Alice made the leap into copywriting after many years as a fundraiser and comms professional, and her work is richer for the insights and experience she gained on ‘the other side’. Good copy starts with clear thinking – and you’d be hard pressed to find a better brain than Alice’s.
Her writing considers the reader, the needs of the client’s fundraising team, data implications, key sector trends, and a whole lot more.
Alice is a parent (which might be why she can do eight things at once), a musical theatre tragic, and one of the nicest, kindest people you’ll ever meet.
Tracey Middleton
Writer
Tracey has some pretty ‘out there’ work stories. From the years when she taught psychology, the time she co-founded an arts marketing company in London, and the heady days as director in an award-winning PR agency. Despite it all, or perhaps because of it, Tracey’s a natural fundraiser. She understands what makes a great story and great story-telling.
She writes (beautifully) simple and powerful copy. Tracey was working for an American charity when we lured her to Exuberance. She currently lives in rural Scotland where she gets to watch bees and leaping lambs – or grey fug, depending on the season.
Ines Habben
Business Manager
Ines could head up the fundraising team inside a charity, consult as a strategist, or run her own agency. Happily, for the Exuberance team and all our clients, she’s our Business Manager instead. Ines has formidable organisational skills. She understands creative, data and print production.
She also understands what people need. Some businesses do ‘process’, but Ines does ‘management’. There’s a very important difference. Ines was born and raised in Germany, but fell in love with Australia. She now spends as much time as possible enjoying the natural beauty of her adopted home.
Need more than copy and ideas?
Exuberance works in collaboration with other great fundraising sector suppliers who share our values.
It’s a model that gives you the best possible combination of resources on a job-by-job basis, with transparent pricing direct from each supplier involved.
Project management is often included in the arrangement and price.
