Recognition of Excellence for the NZ Chapter

Presented at the Educate Plus International Conference, held in Perth, Australia, 10-13 September 2024

We are thrilled to celebrate the success of our members and their institutions.

Fellow Awards:

Robert Brooke, Senior Consultant, Giving Architects

Robert holds a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation majoring in Management and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in Administration Management and Marketing. He has been involved in the educational advancement space as Development Manager at King’s College from 2016 until 2022. During his tenure over $21million was raised for the Next Horizon Campaign. 

Before his appointment to King’s College, Robert had extensive event experience including Super Rugby, Test Matches, Rugby World Cup 2011 and the Motor Sport Hall of Fame in the United Kingdom.

Robert has been a member of Educate Plus since 2017. He joined the NZ Chapter Committee in 2021 and took on the role of Treasurer in 2023. He was also on the committee for the Summits at the University of Auckland in 2022 and Lincoln University in 2023. Robert’s wonderful communication skills and very valuable work on the Chapter Committee greatly assist in making so much happen, from Summits to Regional Events, Sponsorship, Membership, Marketing and Communications, the eNews and as Chapter Treasurer working with Head Office. 

Robert joined the team at Giving Architects in 2022 as a Senior Consultant with the team. He is a very successful conference presenter in both Australia and New Zealand.

Penny Curran, Alumni & Development Officer, Lincoln University

After graduating  from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Parks and Tourism Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce, Penny spent 10 years in Australia working in the agribusiness sector and local and state government in Queensland. 

Penny was appointed as an Alumni and Development Officer at Lincoln University in 2012, focusing on alumni engagement. She is a great team player and in 2022, she very successfully shifted her focus moving into a fundraising role. She delivered the first two Giving Days in 2023 and, in addition, facilitated her first major gifts. She thrives on the connections and relationships part of her role, working closely with donors to find areas that mutually benefit them and also the university. Penny is also a successful conference presenter.

Penny became a member of Educate Plus in 2015. She joined the NZ Chapter Committee in 2018 and was Secretary from late 2019-2022. She is also on the membership sub-committee and was on the committee for the Summits at the University of Auckland 2022 and Lincoln University 2023. Penny worked tirelessly, communicating extremely well with the Summit Committee and Head Office to make the Lincoln Summit such a success in the new Waimarie Building.

Shelley Keach, Senior Development Manager, Christ’s College, Canterbury

Shelley is responsible for major donor engagement and stewarding, managing the corporate sponsorship programme, the annual appeal, marketing and brand management and supporting fundraising and donor engagement. 

She lives what she firmly believes in, ‘that a successful fundraiser must be fully engaged in their work and committed to making a difference within the organisation they have the privilege of working for.’ 

A trained journalist, Shelley is also a former Chair of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand Trust and was Vice President of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand. She is a very successful conference presenter.

Shelley became a member of Educate Plus in July 2015 and joined the NZ Chapter Committee in late 2021. She is a wonderful communicator and is admired by all who work with her. Shelley contributed greatly to the Chapter Committee and was on the committee for the Summits at the University of Auckland in 2022 and the University of Lincoln in 2023. 

Shelley organised the four pre-Summit Workshops held at Christ’s College, before the official Summit opening at Lincoln University. The evening event to welcome delegates held in the Christ’s College Dining Room was a great success because of Shelley’s marvellous organisational skills. She greatly assisted to make it an excellent networking opportunity at the start of the Summit.

Ross Scrymgeour, Consultant, Education Advancement Professional

Ross holds a Masters of Education in Leadership and Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in School Management.

He was very supportive of ADAPE, now Educate Plus, through his Development team when he was Headmaster at Hereworth School, Hawkes Bay, from 2002 to 2015. During these years he made fine contributions to key professional associations, particularly the Association of Heads of Independent Schools (AHIS) from 2002 to2015 and the Independent School of New Zealand (ISNZ) from 2006-2010. He is also a very successful conference presenter in both Australia and New Zealand.

In 2015 Ross was appointed Director of Advancement at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide. He was involved with the Educate Plus SA/NT as a committee member from 2015, Chapter Treasurer from 2019 to 2020 and Vice President from 2018 to 2020. In 2020 Ross was appointed Director of Advancement at Whanganui Collegiate, a position he held until 2022. Ross joined the NZ Chapter Committee in 2021 and was the Chapter Secretary from 2022 to 2023. He was on the committee for the Summits at the University of Auckland in 2022 and Lincoln University in 2023.

His huge knowledge of education as a Teacher, Deputy Principal, Headmaster and Director of Advancement both in Australia and New Zealand has been extremely beneficial to all the team working with him in the Educate Plus NZ Chapter. Ross’s understanding of and appreciation for what best practice looks like in education, leadership and management, has been extremely valuable. 

Ross is a strong people person and combined with his leadership skills, he has shared great learnings. The NZ Chapter is indebted to him for the work undertaken during his time on the NZ Chapter Committee in all areas of Marketing and Communications, Finance, Alliances and Partnerships, Membership and Events, Leadership and Advocacy and Legacy Kaupapa.

Mentor Award Winner:

Angela Coe, F.Edplus: Director of Advancement, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland

The Mentor Award  ‘gives recognition of an Educate Plus member who has provided a strong sense of motivation and encouragement, a willingness to share ideas and experiences and provided practical support to other members.’

Described as ‘the power of Angela,’ Angela has mentored well over 30 professionals in all areas of advancement. She willingly shares her time and expertise offering valuable insights, inspiration and encouragement on all the Educate Plus pillars, leadership, fundraising, marketing and communications, alumni, community relations and admissions. 

Angela has shared information about the capital campaign and other projects at the school, has spoken at many wonderful events she has hosted and offers great support to those who are new in their institutions and others who have been in their roles for years.

Angela is an Old Girl, past PE Teacher, past parent, former Board Member and Board Chairman, at Diocesan School. A remarkable legacy and her knowledge, wisdom and passion for the school is incredible.

Angela’s work in advancement at the school began at the end of the nineties when she was Board Chair. She returned to Diocesan School a decade ago to lead the capital campaign for the new Arts Centre, raising more than $9 million. With her team, Angela continues to grow the culture of philanthropy across the Diocesan community. She is a member of the School Executive Team, liaises with the Diocesan Heritage Foundation, oversees the Diocesan Community Groups and works closely with the  Corporate Partners.

As the current NZ Chapter Vice President, Angela’s caring leadership continues to inspire all those working with her. She participates and leads in many aspects of discussions from Finance, Alliances and Partnerships, Membership and Events, Marketing and Communications, Leadership and Advocacy and Legacy Kaupapa. She was on the Committee for the Summit held at Lincoln University in 2023. Angela is a very successful conference presenter in both Australia and New Zealand. 

Trevor Wigney Award Winner: 
Vicki Fowler, F.Edplus: Executive Director, Connect Futures NZ Trust 

‘This award is the most prestigious recognition of a member for outstanding service in educational advancement in Australasia. It recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution through exceptional advancement success and who have elevated the professionalism of their colleagues by mentoring and giving generously of their time, expertise, vision and conviction.’

Vicki graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in Marketing. She became a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand in 2022.

Vicki joined the Educate Plus NZ Chapter (known then as ADAPE) in 2007. She has been a committee member since 2011and continues to give outstanding service. Vicki was President from 2020 to 2022 during the challenging years of Covid and at this time was also on the Australasian Board. A great communicator, she always kept the NZ Chapter Committee updated and also the CEO and International Board well informed on all aspects of our Chapter, from Finance, Alliances and Partnerships, Membership and Events, Marketing and Communications, Leadership and Advocacy and Legacy Kaupapa.

At the 2019 Dunedin Summit, the then NZ Chapter President Naomi Wilde, congratulated Vicki on her marvellous leadership as chair of the conference sub-committee and said the Summit would not have been possible without her vision, commitment and hard work. Vicki was President for the Summit at the University of Auckland in 2022 and was on the committee for the Summit at Lincoln University in 2023. She is a very successful conference presenter in both Australia and New Zealand.

Vicki is an excellent representative and supporter of all New Zealand schools, particularly state school alumni and development professionals. She is a great sounding board and mentor to more than she would ever realise. 

Vicki was a Parent Trustee for four years and then Community Development Manager at Westlake Boys’ High for seven years.

In 2017 she organised a seminar for Future First Global in partnership with Educate Plus, at Westlake. It was attended by  30 Headmasters, Board members and staff representing 18 state schools throughout New Zealand. The seminar was designed to bring together best practice and ideas to assist these schools to gain a better understanding of how to take the next step, provide support for each other and to develop alumni communities in their schools. Abi Noakes said Vicki has developed one of the most impressive alumni communities that Future First Global has seen in the public sector.

Since 2018 Vicki has been Founding Trustee and Executive Director of Tawai Takapiri Connect Futures NZ Trust, a social justice organisation that supports state schools in low socio-economic areas to connect and engage with their nga taura communities of former students, staff and other stakeholders.

Here are a few words from Vicki’s welcome to the NZ Chapter Summit at the University of Auckland in 2022. Her dedication, commitment and passion, for those involved in education and in Educate Plus, remains very strong, always giving encouragement to make a difference to the lives of the people in our communities.

‘Whether our roles in educational advancement are in the tertiary, state or independent sector, whether we find ourselves immersed in communities of privilege or of hardship, our Tawai, the threads that bind us together, is our shared purpose to enable the giving and receiving of time, talent and treasure that positively impacts the lives of the people in the communities that we serve. Our collective mahi is immensely meaningful and it requires plenty of energy every day, to manifest legacies that symbolise hope, possibility and belonging.’

Excellence Awards Submissions

‘Our membership is filled with expertise, innovation and excellent delivery of inspiring projects. We are delighted to acknowledge  our New Zealand institutions who made submissions for the 2024 Excellence Awards.’

Congratulations to them all for their wonderful submissions.

Congratulations to the following institutions from New Zealand who submitted an ‘excellence award’ nomination

Christ’s College, Christchurch
Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association, Christchurch
Diocesan School for Girl’s, Auckland
Lincoln University, Canterbury
Lindisfarne College, Hawkes bay
Medbury School, Christchurch
Queen Margaret College, Wellington
St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland
Southern Cochlear Implant Programme, Christchurch

We congratulate the following three schools for being finalists in the Excellence Awards.

Alumni and Community Engagement on a shoestring – Finalist: Medbury School, Christchurch
Fundraising Annual Giving- Giving Day – Finalist: Christ’s College, Christchurch
Fundraising Event, recognising excellence in an event focussed on fundraising – Finalist: Queen Margaret College, Wellington.

Our warm congratulations to: Queen Margaret College, Wellington, on receiving the Excellence Award, for their amazing ‘Queendom’ Marketing and Communications Campaign.