Jen Kane

Managing Director of the Grants Network
  (202) 957-7207

Jen (Nielsen) Kane joined McAllister & Quinn as Managing Director of the Grants Network in September 2020. In her role, Jen provides increased leadership, strategy, support and guidance to the firm’s network of more than 250 consultants.

Prior to joining the team, Jen served as Associate Director of the University of Queensland’s North America office for nine years. In this role, she managed key relationships, strategic partnerships, alumni engagement, and business development opportunities. Jen’s work supported growth of research grants with US collaborators from A$7.4 million in 2011, to more than A$17 million in 2019.

Although a US national, Jen has spent the majority of her career working in the Australian higher education sector. She previously served as Education Manager and Business Development Manager at the Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC. During her six years at the Embassy, Jen assisted higher education clients with market entry and market development strategies in North America, and promoted the Study in Australia brand in North America.

Prior to joining the Australian government in 2005, Jen spent two years working for IDP Education in Washington, DC, and Sydney, Australia, where she developed and implemented strategic US marketing campaigns for Australian universities, and managed market research and business development projects on behalf of clients.

Jen’s early career was focused on journalism, and she has worked for a variety of local and trade newspapers. She spent six months in 2002 living and working in London, England, on a working holiday visa. Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in English Writing from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.

Highlights

  • Associate Director (North America), University of Queensland
  • Business Development Manager, Australian Trade Commission
  • Education Manager, Embassy of Australia
  • Marketing Associate, IDP Education

Expertise

  • Business Development
  • Strategic Planning
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Project Management
  • Partnership Development

Education

  • B.A., DePauw University