Deb Samuels joined FRRR in 2022, as our People Portfolio Lead. In December 2026, she was appointed Head of Partnerships. In this interview, we asked Deb to tell us a little about her career journey, as well as what drew her to make the change to this role.
Can you give us a snapshot of your career to date?
My career spans more than three decades working in leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector across Australia and the US, largely focused on expanding opportunity and building strong, sustainable organisations.
In the US, I led and scaled youth-focused organisations and built multi-year philanthropic, corporate and community partnerships that opened education and leadership pathways for thousands of under-served young people. That work taught me how powerful relational, values-aligned philanthropy can be when it’s done well.
Since returning to Australia in 2018, I’ve had the privilege of working with several grassroots rural not-for-profits, supporting them with program design, culture building and fundraising strategy. When I joined FRRR four years ago, I immersed myself in working directly alongside communities to test place-based approaches, next-gen leadership and translate those learnings into broader impact. Stepping into the Partnerships role feels like a natural evolution, connecting my on-the-ground insight with the capital and relationships that make long-term change possible.
What made you want to take on the Head of Partnerships role?
One of my core beliefs is that generosity is everywhere, in philanthropy and in the smiles of the volunteers at my local op shop. I love digging into what values and lived experience motivates someone’s giving and generosity, and what they dream of changing in the world, then connecting the dots to lasting impact.
I’ve also seen first-hand what happens when the right resources connect with locally-led solutions. After working closely with remote, rural and regional communities and the dedicated local leaders heading up grassroots not-for-profits over the past few years, I’m so excited to help scale that kind of impact. The Head of Partnerships role allows me to honour the heart of the work, while building the systems, relationships and long-term investment needed to strengthen rural and remote communities for generations.
What are you most excited about in this new role?
I’m really excited about the opportunity to invite partners into building something truly catalytic for the future of remote, rural and regional Australia. Yes, funding much needed projects through ongoing granting, but also investing the kind of patient, leveraged capital that takes a community from surviving to thriving long into the future.
I also love connecting with people and finding creative ways we can work together. Some of the best collaborative ideas arrive somewhere between a good coffee, a cup filling conversation and an 80’s power ballad – ‘Don’t Stop Believing!’
What do you think makes FRRR a great partner?
FRRR is in the unique position of combining deep connection to place with national reach, strong governance and efficient delivery. FRRR is trusted by communities and partners because we listen and walk alongside them. We make space for communities to lead with their own solutions, and we ensure partners feel deeply connected to the impact they are supporting.
We also understand that real impact in rural and remote Australia requires patience, flexibility and long-term commitment. FRRR is not just about distributing grants; we’re building capacity, resilience and local leadership for the long-term. For anyone who cares about meaningful, community-led change, that approach makes FRRR a powerful partner to achieve reach and impact into rural and remote communities across all corners of Australia.
What will be your immediate focus in the role?
My immediate focus is to listen and learn from the great partnerships work already happening. That means spending time with our partners, our board and the team to understand what’s thriving and where there are new opportunities. Internally, I’ll be strengthening our systems, resourcing and team alignment so we can grow our corpus and multi-year funding, while staying true to the relational heart of our work.
Share one thing that our donors / partners might like to know about you
I’m a fierce competitor at trivia night, a shameless fancy‑dress and dance the night away enthusiast, a prolific podcast consumer on my daily walks and a committed volunteer who loves staying connected to my local community. Basically, if there’s a way to blend purpose, people and a bit of fun, I’m there!