Who AM I?

Hi -

In 2022, I founded Breakthrough Strategies Co. to bring my expertise in building and scaling breakthrough organizations to the Australian nonprofit sector. My goal is to help organizations achieve sustainable, high-impact results by applying the strategies and insights I’ve developed throughout my career in both the U.S. and Australia. To this work, I bring over two decades of experience leading and campaigning for high-impact, outcomes-driven advocacy organizations, as well as supporting nonprofit and political leaders in the United States and Australia.

At Breakthrough Strategies, I work directly with CEOs, executive teams, and boards to provide strategic guidance in areas like performance evaluation, strategic planning, communications, executive coaching, digital communication, and fundraising. My clients have included key organizations in the social services and environmental sectors.

Most recently, I spent two incredible years as Chief Engagement and Communications Officer at Environmental Leadership Australia (ELA), where I coordinated efforts with and coached over a dozen climate organisations.

Before moving to Australia, I led The Fairness Project in the United States, stabilizing and growing the organization while achieving major wins in 20 of 21 campaigns across Republican-led states. These victories helped raise wages, expand healthcare access, and protect millions from predatory lending practices.

I’ve also had the privilege of being the first Executive Director of Educators 4 Excellence-New York (E4E-NY), leading the policy team for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), working Capitol Hill in the Senate and House of Representatives, and teaching middle school in the South Bronx. I’m passionate about social justice and have dedicated my career to driving real change.

FWIW, I hold graduate degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Columbia University’s Teachers College.

I look forward to working together —

— jcs