By Molly Magennis
Footscray’s Volunteer West regional program manager has been awarded Emerging Leader of the year at the Third Sector Awards.
Marijke Fotia has been at Volunteer West since May 2020, but has spent her whole life being involved in the volunteering sector.
Ms Fotia said she wasn’t expecting to win, and was happy enough to be announced as a finalist.
“I didn’t even expect to be a finalist. To then head up to Sydney and be announced as the winner on the night was pretty amazing,” she said.
As the regional programs manager, Ms Fotia oversees the organisation’s program delivery and runs a volunteer engagement network for people who look after volunteers, whether they be in a paid role or whether they volunteer themselves.
“I also run some training programs for managers or coordinators of volunteers, particularly at the moment we’re focused on inclusion and diversity, so we’re looking at how we can ensure that people with disabilities, people from migrant backgrounds and different first nations backgrounds [are] involved in volunteering.”
Ms Fotia said her favourite thing about the role is meeting and connecting with volunteer engagement practitioners.
“I think anything to do with volunteers is amazing, but what I love hearing is the stories of the people who support the volunteers and what they do,” she said.
Before joining Volunteer West, Ms Fotia volunteered at Migraine Australia, after having suffered from chronic migraines herself.
“I think it’s a really great way to gain some control back when you are a patient yourself, it’s a way to gain a bit of control and understanding back over your illness or health issue,” Ms Fotia said.
She is very passionate about volunteering and although she’s not involved at Migraine Australia anymore, she still finds time to volunteer at her daughters school.
“Volunteering and volunteer engagement has been a part of my life for a really long time.”
