Liz Dawes

Liz, an Australian-American originally hailing from a small Wisconsin town, earned her Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Finance and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin. She subsequently held prominent positions overseeing multi-million-dollar sales and marketing accounts across the United States before moving to New Zealand and later settling in Melbourne in 1999.

While balancing the responsibilities of raising three young children, Liz founded Art by Kids, a creative fundraising venture, and spearheaded fundraising campaigns for the American Women’s Auxiliary, generating significant contributions for the Royal Children’s Hospital. However, in October 2011, Liz's life took a devastating turn with the diagnosis of brain cancer in her eldest son, Connor, who was only 17 years old at the time. Over the course of 16 months, Connor bravely battled against an Ependymoma before ultimately passing to the disease on April 20, 2013.

Despite enduring unimaginable loss, Liz has channelled her grief into a powerful mission, dedicating herself to advocating for young people fighting brain cancer and striving to prevent other families from experiencing similar hardships. Her relentless efforts have rallied support from thousands, raising awareness and crucial funds for a once overlooked disease.

Today, Liz shares her resilience and business acumen, believing that the strategies she has honed can benefit anyone, regardless of their personal experiences with tragedy.