From the Chapter President

Kia ora e te whānau | Greetings to all our Educate Plus members, 

As 2024 nears its end, I want to thank you all for your continued Educate Plus membership and for an incredible year. Yes, it’s been a busy one, and I’m sure you’ve all appreciated, like me, the moments of fun and connection through Educate Plus events that have allowed us to learn, engage and know we belong to a great network of professionals.

Last month, many of you joined the online AGM and heard the ‘Top Takeaways’ from the Empowering Success Perth International Conference – a great hour of sharing and connection! (For those that missed it, or would like to view the ‘Top Takeaways’ recording, CLICK HERE)

Speaking of Perth, check out this Newsletter’s section celebrating our New Zealand members who were recognised at the Conference. A special shoutout to Vicki Fowler, Executive Director and Trustee of Tāwai Takapiri Connect Futures NZ Trust,  who won the Trevor Wigney Award—Educate Plus’ highest honour! 

It’s been a privilege serving with the amazing New Zealand Chapter Committee from across Aotearoa. I’m grateful for your vote of confidence as your 2025 President. In the new year we will be introducing the new 2025 NZ Chapter Committee, but in the interim I wanted to be sure to thank all of our incredible volunteers who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support our sector this year: Angela Coe (Chapter Vice President), Nicola Parsons (Chapter Secretary), Robert  Brooke (Chapter Treasurer), Jane Ball, Chris Bristol, Penny Curran, Martine Foster, Vicki Fowler, Georgia Harvey, Shelley Keach, Carolyn Prebble, Kirstyn Sandall and Aroha Webster. 

A big thank you also to all Partners and Sponsors, especially our loyal NZ Chapter Partner, NZMS (Allison Barnett), for their ongoing support, and Clive Pedley and his team at Giving Architects for being one of the Educate Plus Strategic Partners, who specifically and actively supports the NZ Chapter. We also thank our Promotional Partner, Fundraising Talent Recruitment and our Event Partners Chapel & York, NoticeMatch, ToucanTech and Salesforce. Next year, with the bi-annual NZ Chapter Summit we’ll be seeking even more Partners and Sponsors to help make this event a huge success. Mark your calendars and confirm your budgets to allow for all your team members to attend! 

Reflecting on my first President’s message last year, I said, “The more you engage with us, the more you will feel part of our wonderful community of NZ advancement professionals and the more you’ll truly benefit from your membership!” I’m thrilled to report that you did! This year saw record participation in events, strong engagement with our socials and eNewsletters, and a growing membership, now close to 200 in New Zealand alone (with over 2400 members in total across Australasia … that’s amazing!) 

 As we look ahead to 2025, we’d love your feedback on how we can improve. Please take a moment to fill out our Member Survey and help shape the future of Educate Plus. It is quick with just three simple yet important questions: 

1. STOP – What are the things you don’t actually value or feel we don’t need to be doing?  
2. START – What are the things we should consider starting to do, or that you’d like to see as part of your membership? and 
3. CONTINUE – What are the things you love from EP and want to see continued? 

That’s it… I encourage you to please have your say. This is your membership, and only through your feedback can we consider and make changes to improve. CLICK HERE for the survey or visit it in the ‘Share Your Voice’ section. 

Save the Date … 2025 NZ Chapter Summit

Our 2025 NZ Chapter Summit will be held in Wellington on 19 and 20 August so save the date!! 

This will be a fantastic opportunity to attend a wide array of practical, relevant professional development sessions and network with peers from around New Zealand. Further details including the programme will be shared in 2025. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Wishing you, your teams, and your loved ones a wonderful year-end and festive season. Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2025!

Ka kite ano i nga tangata katoa. 

Emma Zigan
NZ Chapter President

Director of Advancement
Dilworth School

Welcome to our Newest Members

We can’t wait to meet you!

We extend a very warm welcome to our latest Members, who have recently joined us since the last eNewsletter.

We are thrilled to have you as part of our NZ Chapter community!

We’d Love to Hear from You!

Membership Survey – Stop, Start & Continue

The NZ Chapter Committee is seeking your feedback to improve what we do for our members. This is a quick, easy and important survey with only three questions:

1. STOP – What are the things you don’t actually value or feel we don’t need to be doing, 
2. START – What are the things we should consider starting to do, or that you’d like to see as part of your membership and 
3. CONTINUE – What are the things you love from EP and want to see continued? 

That’s it…just three questions. We encourage you to please share your voice. This is your membership, and only through your feedback can we make the changes to improve. 

To complete the survey, CLICK HERE

Thank you so much for your participation!

Convenient Online Learning

ONLINE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG) | Marketing: Diagnosis, Strategy, Tactics – The Difference between Good, Great and Expert Institution Marketers

Are you ready to take your institution marketing to the next level? In this webinar, Bianca will reveal key elements that separate good marketers from exceptional ones:

• Master the art of tactics – best practices for implementing effective marketing tactics that support your overall strategy.
• Develop a winning strategy – A marketing plan that aligns with your institution’s goals and drives results.
• Harness the power of data – How to use data to inform your decision-making and measure effectiveness.

Bianca will dive into how to become the expert marketer that knows how to combine the tactics with a strong strategy that is underpinned by data. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and elevate your institution’s marketing. Join us for this informative and engaging webinar!

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 19 November
Time: 3pm-4pm NZDT
Location: Online (via Zoom)
Cost: Free for Members; $35.00 (+gst) for Non-Members

To Register

Register Here / More Info | Online Marketing SIG

Presenter:

Bianca Coleborn, Director of Marketing,
Faith Lutheran College

Bianca Coleborn spent eight years working in the corporate sector before transitioning to school marketing in 2010.

She has held senior marketing positions in four independent schools in Queensland and is currently the Director of Marketing at Faith Lutheran College, Plainland.

Bianca is also the Founder and Director of School Marketing Manifesto and is dedicated to making life easier for school marketers through the Strategic School Marketing Framework and Strategic School Marketing Retreats.

Take Your Career to the Next Level – Advancement Practitioner Training

If so … the Educate Plus Advancement Practitioner Training is exactly what you need!

Training Details
Dates: Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 March
Times: 2 full days
Venue: Stamford Grand Adelaide

This is your opportunity to invest in yourself, connect with like-minded professionals, and take your career to the next level.

We look forward to seeing you in Adelaide for a rewarding and energising experience!

Course Outlines, Payment Details and Registration
For Course Outlines (4 concurrent programs in Admissions, Alumni & Community Relations, Fundraising and MarComms), Payment details and to Register, click below:

Register Here / More Information | Advancement Practitioner Training

A “First Timer’s” Journey to the Educate Plus International Conference 

This article was submitted by Nicola Parsons | Director of Marketing & Advancement, Lindisfarne College, NZ

As the Director of Marketing & Advancement at Lindisfarne College in New Zealand, my professional journey has led me to many New Zealand Chapter Conferences and Summits over the years. However, attending the recent Educate Plus International Conference in Perth was my first time at an international event of this scale – a true ‘virgin’ experience for me! 

For those who don’t know me, I spent over 15 years in the marketing and project management industry, predominantly within agriculture, before stepping into my current role in 2018. Since then, I’ve been an active Educate Plus member, joining the NZ Chapter Committee three years ago and serving as the Chapter Secretary for the past year. I joined the Committee because of how much I gained from being a member, this network and its resources have been instrumental in my transition from a competitive industry to one rooted in support and shared learning. The openness and willingness of Educate Plus members to share their knowledge was not just refreshing, it was astonishing! 

For someone from a small, regional school, getting to an international conference was a significant commitment of budget resources, and I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from the NZ Chapter. This support helped me convey the benefits of attending to my school, making the financial side of things a lot more manageable. I can’t thank the chapter enough; it truly opened the door to a transformative experience. 

Arriving in Perth, I felt both excited and grateful. This was not only my first time in the city but also a unique opportunity to connect with nearly 700 advancement professionals from around the world. The camaraderie among my fellow NZ Chapter members was heartwarming; they welcomed me as part of their team, making me feel right at home. In advancement roles, we often work as ‘one-man bands,’ so being able to come together with a community of like-minded professionals was a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our challenges. 

As I reflect on the key takeaways from the sessions, here are a few that particularly resonated with me: 

1.Beyond the Parent Survey: This session prompted me to consider the full spectrum of what our ‘customers’ (our students and families) experience. It’s more than just feedback on academics—it’s about tapping into feelings of happiness, connection, belonging, gratitude, confidence, and understanding. Listening and responding to these “felt” experiences helps our school to lead by empathy. 

2. Sponsorships Matter: John Phillips from Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne gave an insightful talk on sponsorships. His advice to start small, avoid over-promising, and focus on building sustainable relationships made a strong impact. I appreciated their philosophy of treating all sponsors equally, creating a sense of unity and respect among them. 

3. Writing for a Distracted Audience: With so much of my work focused on digital communication, this session was a goldmine. My top takeaways included: 

• • Write for skimmers: Craft content that catches the eye of those who quickly scan. 

• • Know your audience’s journey: Inform, connect, and meet them where they are. 

• • Keep it clear and concise: Short sentences and clear structure make all the difference. 

1. • Prioritise layout and design: From top to bottom, organise messages from “must know” to “nice to know.”

4. From Burnout to Brilliance: Trudy McDonald’s keynote on wellbeing and performance was invaluable. Her insights into managing teams inspired me to adopt daily “micro-updates”, a quick, informal five-minute check-in to share current tasks and brainstorm ways to support each other. This simple change could help our team stay focused and collaborative. 

There were so many other remarkable sessions, from “The Art of Data-Driven Storytelling” to the Fishbowl on Crisis and Reputation Management. Each speaker left me with ideas I’m eager to explore further and apply at Lindisfarne. 

I would love to share more with anyone interested so please don’t hesitate to reach out. Just as others generously shared their insights with me, I’m here to pass that knowledge forward. To CEO Mandy McFarland and the incredible Educate Plus team, I applaud your hard work. This Conference was a mammoth task that came together seamlessly, and as a member from little old Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, I am profoundly grateful. 

I’m already counting down to Brisbane in 2026! 

Top Takeaways from the 2024 Empowering Success Conference

With the intention of providing all New Zealand members with some topline takeaways from the 2024 Educate Plus Empowering Success International Conference in Perth, several attendees gathered online prior to this year’s NZ Chapter AGM and shared their insights from various conference sessions.

The video of the session can be viewed in the Knowledgebank resource centre on the Education Plus website. (Members will need to be logged in to access the Knowledgebank). To access the Top Takeaways from the 2024 Empowering Success Conference Webinar, CLICK HERE.

If you would like to discuss any of these sessions further, please reach out to any of the presenters who would welcome the opportunity to share their experiences further.

“Top Takeaways” were presented in a framework of the five key pillars of education Advancement.

1. Fundraising and Donor Relations
2. Marketing and Communications
3. Alumni and Community Relations
4. Leadership
5. Admissions

Former Chapter President Vicki Fowler facilitated the session and shared with us that her enduring reflections of the Empowering Success Conference provided a healthy reminder that a Conference Experience should never be underestimated as a valuable opportunity to refresh, recharge, reunite and reset.

Vicki surmised that any Educate Plus Conference will always offer immense learning opportunities, and that mental health and well-being benefits are integrated into the overall conference experiences:

• connections with like-minded, kind and supportive colleagues and friends
• uplifting and inspiring sessions and interactions
• time spent in beautiful places and spaces away from our usual environments

FUNDRAISING AND DONOR RELATIONS PILLAR

Presented by: Kate Eatts, Development Manager, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland

From Conference Session 3B – The Four Pillars of Donor Relations: How and Why?

Presenter: Lynne Wester

Kate’s Top Takeaways:

[Resources featured below are available at Lynne Wester’s website www.donorrelations.com]

Donor Relations Pillar 1 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

• Communicate the same way they donated e.g. online donation, acknowledge by email; in-person donation, acknowledge with phone call
• Ideal thank you is 2-3 sentences (says who they are and their behavior)
• The amount of the donor’s contribution is the least you know about them

Donor Relations Pillar 2 – STEWARDSHIP & REPORTING

• Use the word “generosity” as it is more inclusive than “philanthropy”
• Tell the donor WHAT you do with their money
  • 85% of donors don’t know what their money did
  • 84% of donors give more money to those who show results
  • 77% of millennial donors stop if they do not see an impact

Stewardship – spend your time doing

Donor Relations Pillar 3 – RECOGNITION

• Has changed a lot in the last 15-20 years
• Ask donors what is your “why?” i.e. Why did you donate first? “What do you want your legacy to be?”
• Donors don’t want to be recognised on how much they give
• Successful recognition is behaviour-based, inclusive and individual recognition

Donor Relations Pillar 4 – ENGAGEMENT 

• Create a memory
• What we do with donors, not to them
• Planned interactions + surprise and delight
• Promote loyalty
• Small, unexpected touches
• Deliver consistency
• It’s about them, not us!
• Stop being institutions, be a cause
• Your Board makes the environment good to donate – have the Board write 5 thank you letters to donors a year

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PILLAR

Presented by Nicola Parsons, Director of Development and Community Relations, Lindisfarne College, Hastings

Nicola’s Top Takeaways:

1.Beyond the Parent Survey

• consider the full spectrum of what our ‘customers’ (our students and families) experience
• It’s more than just feedback on academics—it’s about tapping into feelings of happiness, connection, belonging, gratitude, confidence, and understanding
• Listening and responding to these “felt” experiences helps our school to lead by empathy.

2.Sponsorships Matter: (Presenter: John Phillips, Brighton Grammar School, Melbourne)

• • Start small
  • Avoid over-promising
  • Focus on building sustainable relationships
  • Treat all sponsors equally and create a “sponsor family” sense of unity and respect amongst them.

3.Writing for a Distracted Audience:

• • Write for skimmers: Craft content that catches the eye of those who quickly scan.
  • Know your audience’s journey: Inform, connect, and meet them where they are.
  • Keep it clear and concise: Short sentences and clear structure make all the difference.
  • Prioritise layout and design: From top to bottom, organise messages from “must know” to “nice to know.”

4.From Burnout to Brilliance: (Keynote speaker: Trudy McDonald)

• • Adopt daily “micro-updates” – a quick, informal five-minute check-in to share current tasks and brainstorm ways to support each other. This simple change could help our team stay focused and collaborative.

For Nicola’s full report as a recipient of an Educate Plus NZ Travel Grant, see her separate article “A “First Timer’s” Journey to the Educate Plus International Conference” in this e-news

ALUMNI & COMMUNITY RELATIONS PILLAR

Presented by Emma Zigan, Director of Development, Dilworth School, Auckland

From Conference Session 7A – Lifelong Bonds: Designing an Alumni Program for enduring connections.  Presenter: Simon Jones, The Manchester Grammar School, UK

Emma’s Top Takeaways:

Build your school’s brand to inspire “Love Beyond All Reason”  e.g. Apple, All Blacks, Coke.

• Alumni should feel deeply connected and proud of their school.
• Alumni want to see the value of their institution grow and control their alumni journey.

What Alumni Want:

• Easy access to:
  • References and academic verification
  • Mentors, career advice, key people
  • Financial and emotional support
  • Global networks
  • Events (even if they can’t attend)
  • News stories celebrating alumni success
  • Lifelong learning and academic staff
  • Admissions insider track
  • Direct communication with school leaders (Headmaster, Advancement team)

How to Achieve This:

• Provide:
  • Institutional history (archives, lessons on school history)
  • Philanthropy as part of the communication strategy
  • Digital archives accessible to all
  • Promoted campus visits, nostalgia, and storytelling
  • Endowment education with current students (understanding school costs and the importance of giving back)
  • Careers team integrated with Advancement (linking younger and older alumni to mentorship and internships)
• At graduation, transition students to alumni by formally introducing them to the Director of Advancement and the Alumni Association. This marks their new status as alumni.

LEADERSHIP PILLAR

Presented by: Angela Coe, Director of Development, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland

From Conference Workshop: Strategic Planning for Senior Leadership  Presenter: Robyn Edwards & Conference Session

Angela’s Top Takeaways:

Changing Demands of Leadership today

• Need to effectively balance empathy with accountability
• A more human-centric approach is required
• Think “one team” – where transparency, psychological safety and empowerment are evident
• Balance being direct and specific with a high level of care
• Know your team
• 5-10 minutes ‘stand up’ meeting at the start of the day

 Why a strategy?

• A guide/pathway for the organisation’s future
• Sets the organisation’s defensible direction
• Thought to ponder: If Dio/your organisation walked in the door today what would he/she look like? Who would they be? i.e. what are their values, character strengths and resulting behaviours?
• Lead courageously – this will instil an inspiring environment of innovation and progress where making mistakes is “safe” as an essential avenue of improvement
• Collaborate with unified direction
• Articulate the heart of your organisation
• Have the courage not to be generic

ADMISSIONS PILLAR

Presented by: Shelley Keach, Senior Development Manager, Christ’s College, Christchurch (for Sarah Fechney, Admissions Registrar, Christ’s College)

 Sarah’s Top Takeaways:

 1.Parent expectations are increasingly demanding

• Demand on emails in increasing
• Clear email 3 x per day, provide Out Of Office message at other times
• We are all in relational, responsive roles so timely responses are very important

2.Improve communication with international families

• Consider making available a welcome communication and School Guide in several different languages

3.Data storage processes need constant review in keeping with Privacy Act legislation

• Records must be reviewed six-monthly e.g. birth certificates, passport, current photos. What remains? What needs updating?

4.Positive transitions cultivate identity and belonging

• Increase personal tours and weekend tours as opportunities for one-on-one contact with families
• Even if waitlists prevail, retain Open Day events as an awareness building and/or an engagement opportunity with prospective families

Several presenters expressed their gratitude for the Educate Plus NZ Professional Development grants that enabled them to travel to the International Conference. The purpose of these grants is to enable as many members as possible to benefit from the experience of an Educate Plus professional development opportunity. All members are encouraged to apply for these grants which will be offered again leading into the NZ Chapter Summit in Wellington on 19-20 August 2025.

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. 

The State of Recruitment in a Challenging Job Market

This article was supplied by Tilda Bostwick | Fundraising Talent

[Fundraising Talent are a New Zealand agency specialising in professional Fundraisers for the charity and education sectors]

In a challenging job market, the recruitment landscape is evolving rapidly, influenced by social, environmental, and political factors. The need for resilience in the sector has never been more critical, especially as it faces a candidate-short environment.

According to the 2024 State of the Sector survey from Community Networks Aotearoa, many organisations are still grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19. A significant number are dipping into reserves more than they did in previous years. Despite these challenges, 80% of charities in New Zealand are investing in professional development for their teams, and 74% have managed to increase wages over the last two years. For Educate Plus members, salary increases have ranged from 16% in Australia to 25% in New Zealand between 2021 and 2023 (Educate Plus 2023 Salary and Conditions Report).

Current Recruitment Trends
Recently, there has been a slight uptick in job advertisements—up by 3% from June to July—largely driven by the retail and tourism sectors preparing for summer (Seek data). However, year-on-year comparisons show significant declines in job ads, especially in major cities like Auckland and Wellington. We have also noticed that approximately 10% of our candidates have temporarily left the sector due to parental leave or post-COVID travel.

Application Dynamics
Interestingly, while job ads are fluctuating, we have noticed an increase in the number of applications for roles that are suitable for candidates with transferable skills, but a decrease in applications for specialist fundraising roles. We are getting far fewer responses to our advertising overall as most candidates are gainfully employed and happy to stay in their current roles for stability, meaning they are not exploring other options. As a result, a significant amount of our recruitment work is done via shoulder tapping and through our candidate database.

Work Environment Preferences
Remote working continues to be a sought-after option but is increasingly seen as an entitlement that needs clear definition. A recent CBRE report highlights that workers are returning to offices more than before, yet hybrid models remain popular—with 91% of organisations supporting such arrangements. Flexibility is key; it makes positions more attractive, particularly for those facing physical or mental health challenges.

What Candidates Want
Candidates tell us that the most important thing when considering a new role (after salary progression) is workplace culture. People want to be part of a respectful working environment in functional teams with adequate resources.

In conclusion, while recruitment faces its share of challenges, organisations that adapt—especially by offering flexible work arrangements—can find opportunities for growth.

If you’d like to discuss tailored recruitment strategies or salary benchmarking services, Fundraising Talent are here to help!

Contact Tilda Bostwick at tilda@fundraisingtalent.co.nz

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.

Therefore, in the hot seat this edition is David Wybourne, Chair of St Peter’s School Cambridge Alumni Association and Interim Head of Advancement. David is filling in while a permanent Head of Advancement is recruited. 

How long have you been working in Educational Advancement? 

Only 10 months in education Advancement but in Advancement activity, particularly Fundraising either commercially, or for charities, for 20 years. Since returning from the UK in 2022, I became involved in the school Alumni Association where, with the help of a fantastic committee, I was able to evolve our whole operation. Off the back of that, I was asked by the school to design and implement a strategic framework for an Advancement office at St Peter’s.   

What is the achievement you were most proud of? 

Without a doubt, the success so far of the Alumni Evolution Plan, which was implemented in 2023. The plan was developed by myself, our committee and the school Alumni Engagement Manager. Implemented in 2023, it set out five key target activities for our association that are all around building our community. The most important being getting our members together. We have smashed every performance metric we could. Our database of contactable Alumni has more than doubled. We used to hold one or two events a year. This year we will have held ten. Where once we measured annual attendance of events in the dozens, we now measure in the hundreds. Our social media following has gone through the roof and the engagement between Alumni and school has never been better.  

What is the greatest moment of learning in your career so far? 

My career in education Advancement has been brief. Working in the school, albeit as a contractor, has really opened my eyes to how they operate and who/what makes them tick. For me the greatest moment has been understanding and appreciating the hard work and dedication of the amazing staff at our school. They have their feet on the ground and understand the students, the parents and therefore by default the Alumni probably better than anyone. If you want to understand your school community then you can’t go far wrong by engaging with them.  

What is the most impactful book you’ve read or podcast you’ve listened to? 

I have many but I’d have to put Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter as one of the best. It’s all about change management and I would say that change is an important part of what is required in the New Zealand Advancement space. My contract for St Peter’s involved me researching schools all over the world and speaking to lots of Advancement professionals, many of whom raise substantial figures for their schools each year, some in the millions. There was nothing I learnt that couldn’t be done here in New Zealand but there are areas that our organisations will need to change to do so. This book helps understand those areas and combined with knowledge from teachings like Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, there is a great basis for a plan.  

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

• Take time to understand the different stakeholder groups – Alumni, parents, grandparents, governors, the school foundation (if there is one), staff and the senior leadership team of the school. 
• Build them into a community. That means creating opportunities for them to get together, giving them something to believe in, understanding what is important to them and harnessing their collective resource. 
• Create a culture of giving. Whether it’s time, skills or knowledge, the sooner your community get used to giving and receiving, the easier it will become to do bigger things.  

What do you do in your spare time? 

Swimming is great. It’s my yoga. I try and do a few events a year which gives me a focus to train for. In July, I swam 50km over the month to raise funds for New Zealand Coastguard. The next event will be a 4.2km Lake Taupo swim. I’ll need to train for three months to post a decent time. Swimming takes my mind of everything and keeps me fit.  

My favourite thing at the moment is gardening. New Zealand is great for growing things and the Waikato is even better. I have no idea what I’m doing yet but it’s so cool to plant something and then harvest for the table weeks or months later.  Outside of that, I love spending time with my family. I worked long hours in the UK and commuted sometimes up to four hours a day. Being in New Zealand has given me so much time with them, and for that, I’m really grateful.  

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

The Flaws Inherent in Fundraising Events

The following two articles were sourced from the recent LinkedIn posts by Jim Langley of Langley Innovations

ARTICLE ONE

The Flaws Inherent in Fundraising Events

The most successful fundraising comes from iterative, interpersonal discussion; no one-time event will ever achieve as much as deliberate dialogue in optimising the giving potential of any prospect 
 
Many events develop their own following – golf tournaments are more likely to draw those more interested in playing 18 than in helping an at-risk teen; galas have a stronger probability of attracting those more interested in showcasing gowns than in coping with Downs. 

• Sponsors fill the tables or foursomes they buy with their constituents not yours 
• Alcoholic drinks do not deepen altruistic aspirations or make audiences more attentive; messages get lost or not fully absorbed into the bloodstream. 

Five years ago, Emily Haynes of the Chronicle of Philanthropy wrote, “Charities don’t understand what makes donors give. A new study finds many charities(59%) think live events matter, but few donors(18%) say they are ever inspired to give because they attend galas, lunches, and other gatherings.” 
 
That was five years ago. That was before COVID. I suspect notably fewer donors today are inspired to give by events.  
 
Therefore: 

• Don’t use events to raise money from causal observers, use them curate the conscientious and cultivate those with shared convictions 
•  Don’t provide expensive entertainment, offer substantive, soul-moving experiences that money can’t buy 

•  Don’t rent fancy offsite facilities, bring your donors onsite and inside – grittiness can be more moving than prettiness 

•  Don’t tell them about your mission, show them how you are fulfilling it 

• Don’t just present, discuss 

ARTICLE 2

A Fundraiser’s First Obligation …

It is to philanthropy itself. 
 
All ethical fundraisers and fundraising organisations must commit themselves, at bare minimum, to do no harm to philanthropy. At best, they must commit to engaging in practices that reinforce, renew and reignite the philanthropic spirit.  

Harm is done to philanthropy when organisations: 

•  Over-promise and under-deliver on promises made to donors 
•  Fail to spend money donated for current use in a timely way 
•  Don’t honor and preserve donor intent 
•  Prove themselves incapable of relating money given to specific sustainable societal outcomes 
•  Pursue fundraising goals that are not tied to the betterment of those their missions call them to serve or self-aggrandizing goals that are pulled out of the air to simply set records or to raise more than other organizations they wish to be seen as superior to.  

When fundraising is put in pursuit of the false, egotistical, greedy or poorly thought out, it harms philanthropy by leaving the philanthropic dissatisfied if not disillusioned, wondering what difference they have made and whether they should give as generously as they once did or if they should give at all.  
 
Some might argue that the fundraiser’s first obligation is to the organisation – but the wisest of fundraisers understand that the best way to protect the credibility of the organisation and its future fundraising potential is put the protection, preservation and perpetuation of philanthropy above all else. 

Thank You To Our Valuable Partners

Thank You to our Partners … 

We’d like to extend a huge ‘Thank You’ to our valuable Strategic and Chapter Partners, who support Educate Plus and the NZ Chapter in our activities and enable us to provide wonderful opportunities to our members and non-members.

We ask that you please consider supporting them, so that in turn, they can continue to support us. 

Thank You to our NZ Chapter Partner … 

Thank You to our Educate Plus Strategic Partners … 
​

Connect with Colleagues

Stay Connected …

Keep in contact with your fellow Advancement professionals to keep abreast of best practice, discover new approaches and technologies and gain valuable industry insights.

To keep you to up to date with what’s happening at Educate Plus and within your sector, please connect with us on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.