Let’s Meet a Chapter Member

Each eNews, we introduce you to one of our wonderful Chapter Members, through a question and answer type interview article. 

In the hot seat this edition is Karla Paotonu, Director of Advancement at Wellington College. 

Karla Paotonu
Director of Advancement
Wellington College

How long have you been working in Educational Advancement? 
I have been working at the Director of Advancement at Wellington College since April 2024. This is my first role in Educational Advancement but I have been managing Fundraising and Alumni programmes for the past 19 years. In my previous roles I have been privileged to work at Caritas New Zealand, VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) and Outward Bound.

Before working as a professional Fundraiser, I worked as a teacher of Public Speaking and Drama at a number of schools in Wellington and through my own private practice. 

What is the achievement you were most proud of? 
Creating successful teams that feel empowered to own their areas of responsibility, freedom to be creative and explore new ideas, and the support to grow and develop their career. I have been very proud to manage a number of amazing Fundraising professionals who have been dedicated to delivering the best results for the causes that we supported across international development, international volunteering, disaster relief, youth development and opportunities for people with disabilities. They have all inspired me to come to work each day and be the best I can be. 

What is the greatest moment of learning in your career so far? 
There are two that are interlinked. Believe in your yourself, be brave and do the thing that seems too hard. The governance and senior leadership of your organisation/learning institution have put their trust in you for a reason. If they believe in you, you need to believe in yourself – when you do this you can achieve amazing outcomes for those who need support. BUT whilst rising to challenges and opportunities remember that self-care is vital to ensure you maintain the physical health to do your best work. I had to learn this the hard way and I have realised that work life balance is not just a nice thing to say it is essential for all of us.  

What is the most impactful book you’ve read or podcast you’ve listened to? 
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Such a clever woman with an amazing ability to read people and describe the complexities, kindness, sometimes absurdity, and humour of society. 

What are three tips or words of advice you have for new members and/or those new to Advancement?  

1. Connect with your professional development organisation, Educate Plus. They have a wealth of knowledge and people who can support you as you learn your new profession. You are often the only person who is delivering your area of work so you need the tools to learn best practice, and a network of people you can talk to and share ideas with.
2. Get on the phone and talk directly to your Donors, your Alumni, your funders, your suppliers, and as much as possible have face to face meetings with them. This how you build good relationships and achieve great outcomes.
3. Have a vision, a plan, and targets. The vision keeps you focused, keeps you going, and keeps you motivated. The plan is the building blocks for how you will get to your goal. Things can change and can go wrong and sometimes plans need to be changed, but if you have that inspirational goal and a roadmap to get there, it is much easier to maintain momentum.

What do you do in your spare time? 
I am married to Dallas and we have two adult children, Isabella, and Oliver. Spending time as a family is really important to us, whether that is Sunday dinners, Facetime with our daughter in Brisbane or family holidays. Our parents live close by so we try to see them every weekend. Spending time with friends is also very important to us and we love meeting at a restaurant or hosting people at home. Winter is always busy supporting my husband as coach and our son as a player in a premier rugby team. I go to the gym regularly for enjoyment and to try to keep healthy. I love interior design so I am often doing projects around my house and I follow lots of different designers on social media or listen to their podcasts. I also enjoy reading, going to movies, visiting exhibitions and enjoying a weekend away! 

Thank you Karla Paotonu – it’s been wonderful getting to know you!