From the Chapter President

Kia ora koutou, 

It’s been a strong start to the year for our NZ Chapter, with plenty happening behind the scenes as we set ourselves up for 2026. 

Our year began with our first Committee meeting in February. We’ve got a passionate and well-balanced group representing schools, tertiary, partners and regions right across the country. While we’ve said goodbye to a few valued members who have moved on to new industries, we thank Aroha Webster and Jody Clarke for their contribution to the Committee. At the same time, we’re pleased to welcome two new members, with more about them shared elsewhere in this e-news. 

A big focus for the year ahead is connection, and it’s been great to see this already in action. The first of our regional events began with Wellington in April, followed by Auckland and more recently, Hawke’s Bay. Coming up, we also have the AI PD in Christchurch and the Waikato Networking Morning on 18 June. A huge thank you to our speakers and to everyone who has taken the time to attend. It’s fantastic to see our NZ members coming together to connect, share ideas and talk through current trends across the sector. 

We’re continuing to build out the rest of the calendar, with more regional networking events and professional learning opportunities planned across the country. These moments to connect are a real strength of our Chapter.  

We’re also continuing to support members to attend SIGs and the Building Futures International Conference in Brisbane through travel grants, helping ensure strong NZ representation both locally and internationally. (Please note that the closing date to apply for the NZ Travel Grants to attend the  International Conference in Brisbane, is next Friday 12 June. Apply now so that you don’t miss out!)

Membership continues to grow steadily, which is great to see and a reflection of the strength of our community.  

On the sponsorship front, we are grateful for the continued support of our Principal Chapter Sponsors, EnrolHQ, Giving Architects and NZMS. Their commitment to the NZ Chapter plays an important role in helping us deliver professional development, networking opportunities and member engagement activities across the country. We also extend our sincere thanks to Notice Match and Fundraising Talent Recruitment for their support as Event Sponsors this year. Their contribution has helped us deliver successful Chapter initiatives and provided additional value for our members. We thank all of our Sponsors for their partnership and continued investment in the Advancement profession in New Zealand

Looking ahead, our focus is simple. It’s about continuing to strengthen engagement across the Chapter, growing and diversifying our membership, and creating opportunities for you to connect, learn and share. 

Thanks for being part of the educate+ community. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events. 

Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua 
Those who lead give sight to those who follow; those who follow give life to those who lead 

Kā mihi nui, 

Kirstyn Sandall 
Educate+ Chapter President | NZ Chapter 

General Manager
John McGlashan College

E: kirstyn.sandall@mcglashan.school.nz