Justine Cain may have high hopes for Australia’s not-for-profit sector, yet as one of the key changemakers within the industry, these are hardly pie-in-the-sky ambitions.

“My hope is that it will continue to go from strength to strength, for the benefit of the most vulnerable in our community,” says Cain, Group CEO of Diabetes Australia.

“The sector employs around 1.5 million Australians, which shows how important our organizations are in the fabric of society.

“Whether it’s healthcare, community services or environmental sustainability, it’s hard to imagine our country without robust not-for-profits leading with vision and having a strong, positive impact in people’s lives.”

Cain’s determination to improve people’s lives has helped earn her the Highly Commended accolade in the Not-for-Profit Executive of the Year category at The CEO Magazine’s 2025 Executive of the Year Awards. With the vision to continue developing an organization that supports all Australians living with or at risk of diabetes, she is optimistic about what the future holds.

“I am determined that Diabetes Australia continues to build on our incredible legacy of advocacy and impact,” she says.

“With an estimated two million Australians living with all types of diabetes, it is vital for Diabetes Australia to be a strong, fit-for-purpose and contemporary national peak body that can make tangible contributions to people, health systems and society.”

Maximum impact

When Cain became the inaugural Group CEO of Diabetes Australia in 2021, she brought with her a wealth of knowledge, boasting extensive experience in executive roles at companies including Medibank Health Solutions. That’s in addition to a number of board appointments including the Starlight Children’s Foundation – QLD State Advisory Board, as well as the Board of UnitingCare, which is a position Cain still holds.

“I lead with a commercial mind and a social heart,” she reflects.

“I’ve been involved in building, leading and evolving large-scale, high-performance organizations in the health and human services sector for much of my career. I am focused on achieving maximum impact for the community we serve, donors and funders.”

Having learned that delegation and making the right trade-offs are essential skills for a CEO, Cain believes that leadership is ultimately about having the intention to grow every day, supporting one’s team and being guided by integrity.

“Because great leadership isn’t just about what you know, it’s about how you grow and, critically, how you help other people to grow – this is how compounding impact is achieved,” she points out.

As well as advocating on behalf of Australians living with diabetes, the organization funds research and provides additional support in numerous other ways. It contributes on an international stage through its work with the delivery of the Life for a Child program, supporting almost 60,000 children across 53 countries.

Back home in Australia, having introduced a free membership in 2024, Diabetes Australia is hoping to give assistance to a much broader cross-section of Australians.

“Nobody’s bank balance or postcode should be a barrier to good health, so we introduced Diabetes YOUnited membership to support Australians living with diabetes, and those who are at risk and want support to manage their health,” Cain explains.

“It has increased equity and access to diabetes support at a time when cost-of-living pressures are forcing people to make difficult choices about how to manage their health.

“This initiative has the potential to fundamentally change the future of diabetes support and self-management by ensuring Australians have free access to trusted information.”

Partnering for impact

One of the major hurdles Diabetes Australia has faced is how to maximize its impact best.

“We have an appropriately ambitious agenda,” Cain notes. “With a forecast that up to 3.6 million Australians could be living with diabetes by 2050 and our estimate that Australia’s diabetes epidemic is currently costing the health system a staggering US$5.93 billion each year, there is much to do.

“One of the ways we are responding to the challenge is by leveraging partnerships with other not-for-profits to increase our impact and reach.”

Through a particularly prominent partnership as the health partner of the Shane Warne Legacy, Diabetes Australia supports the Shane Warne Legacy Health Check, providing the opportunity for Australians to receive free health checks at major events.

“Working with the Shane Warne Legacy’s founding partner, Latrobe Health Services, together with Novo Nordisk and SiSU Health Group, 13,416 people undertook health checks at the 2024 Boxing Day test in Melbourne, leading to 1,134 point-of-care diabetes checks and referrals,” Cain reveals.

“We are partnering with some of the most innovative and impactful organizations in the country to pursue transformational goals that will improve the health of Australians for generations to come.”

In December 2024, Diabetes Australia announced a US$26.1 million investment into diabetes research over the next decade – the largest ever commitment by a non-government funder in Australia. Plus, with a reach of 100 million through media and social campaigns, awareness is at a higher level than ever before.

“From a health perspective, prevention, customer experience, convenience and empowering self-management for individuals are all important,” Cain explains.

“The breadth of expertise required to have an impact to support people living with and at risk of diabetes, and the financial pressures all not-for-profits face, are significant factors for us.”

United by purpose

The challenges it is up against may be substantial, but Diabetes Australia is continuing to exceed goals year in, year out. In addition to support for people living with diabetes, the organization is also actively exploring preventative measures for type 2 diabetes, while avoiding complications for those already living with all forms of diabetes.

“In early September 2025 we launched 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes), which is a free information and referral service supporting individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes to navigate health resources,” Cain explains.

“It’s a national hotline and website that’s designed to cut through the noise and give individuals access to information and free local services in their state or territory.”

Cain is endlessly inspired by the people she comes into contact with whose lives have been affected by diabetes, the very lives her organization seeks to improve.

“It is a privilege to hear and share stories of hope and resilience, of the daily challenges faced by people living with diabetes, and hear about the areas that matter most to our community,” she says.

“Connecting with people across Australia who are accessing our services affords me the opportunity to continually refine our services and our advocacy, while simultaneously ensuring that lived experience is central to everything that we do.

“With a membership base of 417,000 that continues to grow every week, there is a deep richness to the feedback I receive and the issues and the opportunities that we are collectively working to solve.”

United through their desire to make a difference, the team at Diabetes Australia is a particularly special collection of hardworking individuals, according to Cain.

“Our culture is dynamic and purpose-driven,” she enthuses. “We’re a national organization with local connections and everyone at Diabetes Australia is focused on our goal of eliminating the impact of diabetes for Australians.

“That shared purpose is what drives the whole team, including myself, to perform at the highest levels.”