Press Release
Recognized for Exceptional Dedication to Social Impact and Purpose-Driven Leadership
The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), the global association representing the + billion executive search and leadership consulting industry, has awarded Watermark Search International with the AESC Commitment to the Community Award.
“Watermark’s work goes beyond corporate responsibility—it reflects a profound commitment to using their expertise and resources to create real, lasting impact,” said James Edmund Datri, President and CEO of AESC. “They have set a new benchmark for how our profession can serve the communities in which we operate.”
For Watermark International, community engagement is not an afterthought—it is woven into the fabric of the firm’s identity. Each year, the firm commits to at least one pro bono executive search, a program designed to provide mission-critical leadership to organizations making a difference. Over the last five years, these searches have placed high-impact leaders into roles at organizations such as St John Ambulance Australia, Red Cross Australia, and Injalak Arts Centre—organizations whose work directly improves lives.
One such example was Watermark’s support for the Injalak Arts Centre, a remote Aboriginal-owned art center in Arnhem Land. Facing a period of urgent transition, the Centre needed immediate leadership to stabilize operations and secure its future.
“Watermark delighted us by identifying a suitable executive within days of our request,” said Jacqueline Jennings, NED at Injalak Arts. “The interim CEO was able to rapidly stabilise the Corporation from an operational perspective and thereafter to develop and implement clear strategies for a sustainable future providing a smooth handover to the long-term incumbent. Throughout the interim appointment Watermark provided support and advice to both the Corporation and the interim CEO which assisted confidence and collegiality for Board and executive.”
Beyond executive search, Watermark’s efforts consistently surpass expectations. Every employee participates in STEPtember and The May 50K, collectively raising nearly $20,000 for Cerebral Palsy and MS Australia in just the last few years. The Melbourne team volunteers with FareShare, cooking meals for those in need, with one partner committing fortnightly hours year-round and the entire office joining annual sessions. The Sydney team engages in environmental action, from beach cleanups with HarbourCare to upcoming “Cooking for a Cause” initiatives with OzHarvest.
Watermark’s approach to giving back is creative and inclusive. Through its Christmas Giving Program, clients and partners select charities for the firm to donate to on their behalf—a tradition of more than six years that has provided over $6,000 in donations to organizations such as Lifeline and Make-A-Wish. Most recently, their 2025 Interim Executive Survey extended this initiative to survey participants, distributing funds to Lifeline, Movember, and MS Australia.
Their impact extends beyond immediate contributions to the long-term advancement of purpose-driven sectors. More than 50% of Watermark’s engagements serve public sector, government-owned, and for-purpose organizations, and the firm offers heavily discounted fees when fully pro bono work isn’t feasible—savings that allow critical resources to flow directly to mission-driven efforts.
During times of crisis, Watermark has stepped up with pro bono expertise. In partnership with St John Ambulance Australia, Watermark sourced interim executives to develop a national communications strategy for delivering mental health training in the wake of Australia’s devastating bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“St John Ambulance Australia were recently provided a wonderful opportunity by Watermark Search International with access to highly talented executives who helped us develop a national communications strategy for mental health training,” said Len Fiori, CEO of St John Ambulance Australia. “This was during a time of immense need, following devastating bushfires and the pandemic. Watermark didn’t just support us—they became a vital partner in helping us serve communities in crisis.”
Watermark’s commitment to community mirrors its leadership within the profession. Through its Interim Executive Survey, Board Diversity Index, and active contributions to AESC thought leadership, Watermark demonstrates that professional excellence and social responsibility are not mutually exclusive—they are mutually reinforcing.
About the AESC Commitment to the Community Award
The AESC Commitment to the Community Award honors an AESC Member (individual, office, or firm) that demonstrates extraordinary contributions to the community through volunteerism, philanthropy, or pro bono efforts. Recipients of this award embody the profession’s highest ideals, showing that the impact of executive search and leadership consulting can extend far beyond business to strengthen communities and improve lives.
