Eli Sutherland (they/them) is an experienced consultant in the creative, arts, and not-for-profit sectors. A finance and operations specialist, they are passionate about cultivating diverse representation in literature and progressive social justice movements.

Eli provides expert advice and support across a range of areas, including:

• Funding applications and acquittals.
• Governance, financial, and compliance support.
• Advocacy and policy reports and submissions, including communication materials.
• Strategic, operational, and staff work plans.
• Operational, project, and staffing management and advisory.
• Internal policies, procedures, and continuous quality improvement projects.

Please enquire via email or phone for rates and availability.

Experience

Trans Book Festival (September 2025 – present): Festival Director

Trans Book Festival is the only writers’ festival in the southern hemisphere focused on uplifting and celebrating trans and gender diverse literary excellence. As Festival Director, I lead all aspects of Trans Book Festival including strategic and creative direction, curation and programming, people management, event logistics, fundraising and financial management, key stakeholder and media relations, and non-profit organisation establishment (underway).

Creative Consultant (Feb 2022 – present)

Strategic, business, and financial management consulting with organisations across the non-profit movement as well as individuals and collectives in the arts, such as Constantly Training, Meridian Australis, Let’s Talk About X, and the National Association for People with HIV/AIDS (NAPWHA).

Overland (Nov 2023 – present): Treasurer (voluntary)

Overland is Australia’s only radically left literary magazine, and nurtures a community of activists, artists, writers, and readers. As the Treasurer of the board, I provide a financial lens to decision-making, develop and reforecast the budget, coordinate the audit and other financial compliance requirements, and progress fundraising strategy development and implementation.

Centre for Australian Progress (Feb 2023 – May 2025): Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary

Australian Progress is a non-profit building the capacity of civil society to advocate and win progressive, transformative change. I managed all aspects of organisational operations, including: finances, governance, strategy, people and culture, and systems.

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (Nov 2021 – Feb 2022): Senior Policy Officer

VACCHO is the peak representative agency for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in Victoria. I was responsible for policy, advocacy, and stakeholder relationships in the Justice Health, Mental Health, and Alcohol and other Drugs portfolios.

Positive Life NSW (May 2015 – Nov 2021): Senior Policy Officer; Manager; and Program Administrator

Positive Life is the non-profit voice of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) in NSW. Across a range of roles over seven years, I was responsible for 2IC to the CEO, finances, governance, policy and advocacy, funding applications and acquittals, project management, accreditation, and HR.