Congratulations to May Bowden - Winner of the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award

We are proud to share that May Bowden, Manager of Volunteer Services, has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the sector, winning the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award at the 2025 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Presented by Volunteering WA, the annual awards celebrate the incredible efforts of individuals and organisations who contribute to building stronger, more connected communities through volunteering. The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award recognises professionals who demonstrate best-practice leadership in the coordination, support and development of volunteers.

Reflecting on the award, May said:

“Volunteer managers will tell you there’s never enough money, time or volunteers in pursuit of goals. That might be true for some of the time but to fulfil our purpose we also need a tribe of people to support, encourage and counsel our endeavours and provide feedback, suggestions, creative input, strategic insights, leadership and companionship so we can be impactful. Thank you to all the wonderful and talented people at Vinnies, you make it easy to love what I do, and the award is for all of us. Let’s do more together!”

With so many volunteers across Vinnies WA, May plays a pivotal role in ensuring our volunteers feel valued, empowered and equipped to make a difference in the lives of Western Australians experiencing disadvantage. Her passion, professionalism, and people-first approach have helped build a culture of respect and recognition that touches every part of our organisation.

This recognition is a reflection of May’s dedication to creating meaningful volunteer experiences and her tireless advocacy for the vital role volunteers play across our state.

Please join us in congratulating May on this incredible and well-deserved achievement!

For more information on the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards, visit awards.volunteeringwa.org.au.