Martin J Cowling possess 20 years of leadership roles within the not for profit sector with

organisations including UNICEF Australia, The Smith Family, Victorian Relief, AIDS Council of NSW and AFS Intercultural Programs. He has been CEO of People First -Total Solutions since October 2003. Martin has gained practical experience and key ideas through the mobilisation of both volunteers and paid staff. He has also conducted one of Australia's largest studies on volunteer management.

 

Mr Cowling believes that people are the key to success or the very reason for failure of a project, strategy or company. He is passionate about ensuring that both organsation and their staff (employees or volunteers) have mutually beneficial relationships.

 

Martin is an engaging and entertaining speaker and a very skilled presenter. He provides training, facilitation and consulting services in seven countries and is in demand by commercial, government and nor for profits for advice and direction. Martin is available to present in your local event or area in 2007/8. Please contact us to make a booking.

 

 

Martins' Qualifications:

BA (Psych),

Graduate diploma in Adult Education and Training

Graduate diploma in Human Resource Management

Diploma in Volunteer Management

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

 

 

Martin's Publications:

Cowling M J and Fryar, A (2008) Messing It Up: How Not-For-Profits Sabotage Their Volunteer Programs, e-volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteering Community. Volume VIII Issue 2

 

Cowling M J and Cravens, J (2007) Sabotage Part Two: How Managers of Volunteers Diminish Their Role e-volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteering Community. Volume VII Issue 4

Cowling, M.J,. and Spinks,K (2007) The Energy Retail Code –One Year On

 

Cowling, M.J,. and Spinks, K (2006) Project X Generation X in St Vincent de Paul Society

Cowling, M.J. (2006) Why I Learnt to Hate Icebreakers e-volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteering Community. Volume VI Issue 4

 

Cowling, M.J. (2005) 40 Conferences 40 Stories: A Snapshot of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria

Cowling M. J. (June 2005) Case Studies of Low Income, Disadvantaged and Rural Energy Consumers.Submission to Committee of Inquiry into Financial Hardship of Energy Consumers

Cowling M. J. (March 2005) Sabotage! The Five Lethal Factors Volunteer Managers Employ to Harm Their Programs e-volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteering Community. Volume V Issue 2

Cowling M. J. ( 2005) Protecting Your Most valuable asset: You! Nationwide Networking

 

Cowling M. J. (December 2004) Balancing the Needs of Volunteer and Project; Turn Your Organisation into a Volunteer Magnet p56 to 58

Cowling M. J. (January 2004) Confessions of a reforming workaholic OzVPM Hot Topic

Fryar, A. and Cowling M. J. (June 2005) Reflections on Building the Profession in Australasia. e-volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteering Community. Volume V Issue 3 (With accompanying audio sound bites from retreat participants)

Stukas, A. A., Daly, M., & Cowling, M. J. (January 2005). Volunteerism and the creation of social capital: A functional approach. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans , LA , USA.

 

 

Comments on Martin

Martin J Cowling brings a personable, perceptive and professional approach to training, immediately connecting with participants and giving them a sense of value in shared learning. His knowledge, expertise and delivery style make for entertaining and engaging training with very positive learning outcomes.

Jennie Loveridge, Volunteering Western Australia

 

 

We had heard that Martin was a very good presenter - and we were not disappointed!

Heather Kemp, Volunteering Waikato

 

 

We always expect the very best from Martin- has an excellent grasp of the N.Z. volunteering scene, as well as knowledge of global trends. His energetic presentation keeps people's interest and he inspires them to try new things.

Ruth Gardner, Volunteering Canterbury

 

 

Martin really engaged the audience with stories that were relevant to the topic; he was witty and very informative. The attendees all indicated they'd learned something and would do something different as a result of the program.

Judy Kingsbury, Dane County Administrators of Volunteer Service

 

Martin's information was valuable, and the presentation style and personal experiences communicated in his stories made it come to life. Everyone left with an idea they could put into action, and they were energized!

Bonnie Andrews, Volunteer Center of Milwaukee