Outgoing President’s Message

Kia ora koutou,

It’s hard to believe that we’re on the downhill journey toward the end of another calendar and academic year! We trust that your final few weeks go smoothly as you all navigate the exam season and the usual series of end of year events in your institutions. Thanks to those of you who travelled from far and wide to be part of the 2022 Educate Plus NZ Adapt Strive Thrive Conference kindly hosted by the University of Auckland on Friday 9 September. We were treated to an insightful keynote address by former University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon; and many generous, inspirational presentations and panel discussions involving members, Chapter Partners and supporters.

Combined with the many opportunities to network with fellow members during the day, we departed feeling replenished by a healthy dose of Educate Plus connection, support, sharing and learning. Our sincere thanks, as always, to key sponsors and partners Enquiry Tracker, Giving Architects, NZ Micrographic Services, Potentiality and NoticeMATCH, and to our Australian colleagues who made the trip across the Tasman to be part of the reunion event! To view photos of the event, click here.

For those who weren’t able to attend this year’s Chapter Conference, the good news is that you don’t need to wait the usual two years until the next one! You can lock the 2023 Educate Plus NZ Chapter Summit (same gig, different name!) into your 2023 budgets now! The format is likely to be a full day Conference with an optional half-day of Masterclasses. We have had a hiccup with our original dates but hope to announce confirmed dates and venue within the next week.

In the meantime, the current series of five regional networking events give us all a chance to reconnect with our local colleagues and Chapter Partners. Thanks to our hosts over the past week at University of Otago, University of Victoria Wellington and Palmerston North Boys’ High School. See details in this newsletter of events in Auckland at Dio this Wednesday 23 November and in Christchurch at Christ’s College on Friday 16 December. It’s not too late to register!

On a personal note, last month’s AGM marked the official conclusion of my two year term as NZ Chapter President, and several years as a Committee member. It has been a privilege to serve our Chapter members throughout this time. In my early days in the sector, Educate Plus colleagues kindly showed me the way and continue to provide daily support and collegiality. To you all, my sincere thanks. To any new members, I promise that you have found “your whānau” – we are all here to support you, please do reach out, and if you feel you would benefit from a more formal support partnership, please make contact with Membership Manager, Tina Fleming and have a chat about the Educate Plus mentoring programme.

A final and heartfelt thanks to my fellow Committee members – it has been a significant couple of years and I feel that we all, members and Committee, deserve a mighty pat on the back for getting through it, culminating in the celebration of the 2022 Chapter Conference and the bolstering of our Chapter Partner ‘family’. It was such a treat to be back amongst the special, quintessential Educate Plus connection and kindness!

My sincere best wishes to Nicole Bassett and members of the incoming 2023 Educate Plus NZ Chapter Committee – embrace the opportunities ahead – you have much to look forward to.

I leave you with the words of Nelson Henderson that, for me, symbolise the substance of our collective mahi in advancement:

“The true meaning of life is in planting trees under whose shade we do not expect to sit”.

Ngā manaakitanga

Vicki

Vicki Fowler

Chapter President (2021-2022)

NZ Chapter Educate Plus