# CIoF announces first Convention plenary speaker

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/05/18/ciof-announces-first-convention-plenary-speaker/
- Published: 2023-05-18T09:00:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Birgit Smith Burton** **has been announced as this year’s Fundraising Convention
plenary speaker, taking the stage on day two of the event.**

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2023/05/unnamed-25.jpg)

Smith Burton founded the [](https://email-ciof.org.uk/5IM3-SGUJ-1V1L5W-KT3NI-1/c.aspx)
[African American Development Officers Network](https://www.aadonetwork.com/)[](https://email-ciof.org.uk/5IM3-SGUJ-1V1L5W-KT3NI-1/c.aspx)
at Georgia Tech in 1999 to provide professional development, education, employment
support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for fundraisers of colour.

She is a speaker on fundraising and diversity, and has authored articles on diversity
in the fundraising profession. Her book [Collecting Courage](https://email-ciof.org.uk/5IM3-SGUJ-1V1L5W-KT361-1/c.aspx)(
published in 2020), tells her personal story and shares the lived experiences of
Black women and men working in the nonprofit and charitable space.

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Smith Burton is on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
and was the the first African American woman in its 62-year history to be voted 
chair of the AFP Global Board. In 2020 the R.I.S.E. Fund was established in her 
honour with a mission to advance women of colour in fundraising by providing resources,
inspiration, support, and education.

This year’s Chartered Institute [Fundraising Convention](https://ciof.org.uk/fundraising-convention/home)
takes place on 3 and 4 July at the [new location of the QEII Centre](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/03/02/fundraising-convention-moves-to-qeii-centre/)
in London.