From the CEO

Welcome to the First Educate Plus Asia Specific eNewsletter!

We are thrilled that many of you have joined our dynamic and diverse community in Australasia and we look forward to welcoming more of you to our supportive network dedicated to professional growth, collaboration and innovation.

These Chapter/Region specific eNewsletters are produced regularly and we look forward to sharing experiences, learning together and achieving great things in Asia. They will contain news from members, updates on strategic priorities, upcoming events and opinion pieces, and I welcome feedback and input from you to elevate their relevance and keep them locally focused.

I am astounded (and very pleased!) at how quickly our network in Asia is growing and we have a wonderful opportunity to develop something quite unique that serves you and your institution.

It was wonderful to connect with some of you at the recent International Conference in Perth, and to hear first-hand how Educate Plus can better support you. I’d love to keep this conversation going with all of you, to find out what you would like to hear more about and the events that you would like to participate in. Communication and engagement at the community level is key to what Educate Plus does best, so please reach out and let’s keep building on the momentum we have started!

Let’s Connect in Bangkok at EARCOS

I’ll be attending the EARCOS Conference in Bangkok this week and would love to catch up with you or your colleagues if you are based in Bangkok, or are attending the Conference. Please reach out to me beforehand so we can schedule time for a chat or connect with me on the Conference App.

I hope your new academic year has commenced smoothly, and I wish you all a very rewarding and productive year ahead. 

Go well! 

Mandy

Mandy McFarland
Chief Executive Officer | Educate Plus
mandy@educateplus.org

Asia Region Insights with Abhra

We Know All About Villages in Asia …

Surprising as it sounds, I have always thought that Development can be a lonely vocation. While we are usually very good at connecting with people and building relationships to increase understanding and support among our institution’s stakeholders, few of our teaching and learning colleagues, or our leadership teams, understand what we do, embrace why we do it and champion the benefit our work brings to our institutions.

In the “small country town” of Adelaide, where I was based, from 2013-2022, Educate Plus helped me fill that “peer shaped hole in my soul” by connecting me to a local community of colleagues from Advancement. We rarely solved global issues, but there were so many outstanding professionals that I was able to reach out to when I had an issue or an achievement worth celebrating.

When I moved to Tanglin in Singapore in 2022, I deeply missed that sense of understanding and camaraderie that local Educate Plus Chapters offer.

Since then, as an Educate Plus Board Director, my colleagues and I have been busy strategising how to build a similar network of like-minded Advancement Professionals across Asia. Educate Plus has much to offer Advancement practitioners in Asia, just as Asian colleagues have much to offer to over 2,300 Educate Plus members in Australia and New Zealand.

I am so excited to see early signs of an Educate Plus community forming in Asia. We are experiencing a lot of interest in Singapore and Hong Kong, but also includes colleagues in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. I am optimistic because I know we treasure connection, relationship and community in Asia…and know all about how it takes a village to raise a child.

I’ll be attending the EARCOS Conference in Bangkok, together with Educate Plus CEO Mandy McFarland, this week and would love to catch up with you or your colleagues if you are based in Bangkok, or are attending the Conference. Please reach out to me or Mandy beforehand so we can schedule time for a chat or connect with us on the Conference App.

If you’d like to know more about Educate Plus, or have any questions about becoming a member of this network of Advancement Professionals, please reach out and connect.

Abhra Bhattacharjee
Development Director & Head of Foundation | Tanglin Trust School
abhra.bhattacharjee@tts.edu.sg
DID: +65 6770 3542
Mobile: +65 8554 2007

Meet our Members

We’re So Excited You’ve Joined Us!

Becoming a part of the Educate Plus community in the Asia region means being connected with experienced Advancement practitioners who value building professional relationships with like-minded colleagues and who are willing to share their knowledge with others for the overall growth of the Advancement industry.  

Meet some of our Members:

Heath Hignight Chief Advancement Officer, Hong Kong International School, Hong Kong		Ylva Kovacs British Embassy School New Delhi, India		Alex Manton Founder / Creative Director Schoolhouse Agency, Singapore
Kirsten Moench Head of External Communications and Relations, German European School, Singapore (GESS)		Yvonne Trisynthia Director of Engagement Nist International School, Bangkok		Laura Tyson Director of Development and Community Relations, Kellet School, Hong Kong

And … a photo of the Asia contingent at the recent Educate Plus International Conference in Perth!

New Member Meet-Up Webinar

If you have joined Educate Plus in the last quarter, you are more than welcome to join us at the next ‘New Member Meet-Up’ Webinar:  

Event Details
Date: Tuesday 29 October
Time: 1pm-2pm AEDT
Location: Online (via Zoom)

Presenters
Tina Fleming, Membership Manager, Educate Plus
Danielle Hargrove, Marketing & Communications Lead, Educate Plus
Sona Swindley, Events & Partnership Lead, Educate Plus

These sessions are a wonderful, informal way catch up with other new Members, and to hear more about the benefits of being a Member and what is available to you on our website.

To Register: 

For More Information and to Register, CLICK HERE 

Full List of Members in the Asia Region: (And growing daily!)

You Are Invited – Upcoming In-Person Events

For Those of You Who Are New to Educate Plus, A Quick Insight…

Our ‘big Conference event’ schedule alternates from year to year. In one year (2024), we host our International Conference which is for all members and is held in a different location every two years. In the alternate year (2025), we host a local Summit in each of our six Chapters, which usually comprise of 2 full days of inspiring and engaging learning Sessions. We eventually hope to be able to hold a local Summit in Asia in forthcoming years. The Chapter Summits are slightly smaller events but still offer a huge amount of professional development, peer networking and location specific celebrations of local institutions and area attractions.

Join us at the WA CHAPTER SUMMIT!

For 2025, you are invited to join us for the first of the Chapter Summits (and the closest one geographically!) – kicking off at the University of Western Australia in Perth in May! Details following…

EVENT | WA Chapter + Asia Region Summit (Save the Date!)

Event Details:

Date: Thursday 22 May – Friday 23 May 2025
Time: 2 Full Days
Place: University of Western Australia
Costs:

• Member Rates:
  • Early Bird (Members): $425
  • Standard (Members): $475
  • Day Only (Member): $375
• Non-Member Rates: 
  • Early Bird (Non-Members): $525
  • Standard (Non-Members): $575
  • Day Only (Non-Members): $425

Registration:

Registration opens shortly – so make sure to Save the Date!

Convenient Online Learning … Upcoming Webinars

We Invite You to Join Us for the Following ‘Convenient Online Learning’ Opportunities …

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Please note the last Webinar – a new Marketing Strategy focused Professional Development Webinar, being promoted for the first time in this eNewsletter!
Register Now! … Tuesday 19 November 2024! 

WEBINAR | Alumni Strategy: Where to start and how to really be strategic!

Webinar Details
Date: Thurs 7 Nov
Time: 1pm–2pm AEDT (Sydney/Melbourne time. Please check your local time)
Cost: Free for Members; $35 (+gst) for Non-Members

Presenter:
Merryn Parks, General Manager, Asia Pacific, ToucanTech

For More Information and to Register, CLICK HERE

WEBINAR | Fundraising: Plan the Approach to Ask for a Big Gift

Webinar Details
Date: Wed 13 Nov
Time: 1pm-2pm AEDT (Sydney/Melbourne time. Please check your local time)
Cost: Free for Members; $35 (+gst) for Non-Members

Presenter:
Craig Gravestein, Chief Big Gifts, Xponential

For More Information and to Register, CLICK HERE

WEBINAR | The Role of Leadership in Advancement

Webinar Details
Date: Monday 18 November 2024
Time: 1pm–2pm AEDT (Sydney/Melbourne time. Please check your local time)
Cost: Free for Members, $35 (+gst) for Non-Members

Presenters:
Mandy McFarland, CEO, Educate Plus
Garth Wynne, former Executive Principal and Headmaster of Christ’s College, Canterbury NZ

For More Information and to Register, CLICK HERE

WEBINAR | Diagnosis, Strategy, Tactics: The Difference between Good, Great and Expert Marketers

Are you ready to take your 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 school’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!

Webinar Details
Date: Tuesday 19 November 2024
Time: 1pm-2pm AEDT (Sydney/Melbourne time. Please check your local time)
Cost: Free for Members and Non-Members

Presenter
Bianca Coleborn, Director of Marketing, Faith Lutheran College; Strategic School Marketer; Founder of School Marketing Manifesto

Register
For More Information and to Register, CLICK HERE

Elevate Your Career … Advancement Practitioner Training

Join us for the 2025 Advancement Practitioner Training (APT) program in Adelaide — an immersive hands-on program designed to empower and inspire those newer to the Advancement industry. This program is the perfect foundation if you’re looking to build your confidence and expertise, as it provides the essential tools and knowledge for you to make a real impact at your institution, while advancing your career.

The Advancement Practitioner Training program is also suitable for intermediate-level practitioners looking to refine their skills. The training offers invaluable insights and strategies to help you to keep up to date with industry trends and insights and will assist you to successfully navigate the rapidly evolving Advancement landscape.

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 engaging experience!

Training Details

Dates: Monday 24 – Tuesday 25 March 2025
Times: 2 Full Days of Training
Venue: Stamford Grand Adelaide, 2 Jetty Road, Glenelg, SA 5045

Format: Each day comprises 4 Learning Sessions, each consisting of 1.5 hours (incl. Q&A) of immersive hands-on training 

Networking Opportunities: Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with participants from all the 4 courses. Networking drinks also taking place on Monday 24 March from 4.45 -5.45 pm. Take advantage of this opportunity to interact with your fellow peers in Advancement across Australasia!

COST: See table below. The prices below are exclusive of gst.

For our New Zealand & Asia delegates, please note that as the training is taking place in Adelaide, payment will have to be made in Australian Dollars. However as you are non-residents of Australia no gst will be charged.

Register:

For more information and to Register, CLICK HERE

Building Brand Experiences: Food for Thought

This article was Produced by BLUEBOAT | Educate Plus Strategic Brand Partner

Think about your favourite restaurant.

Undoubtedly, it’s more than the food that you like.

It’s the sign out the front. It’s what you can smell as you open the door. It’s the music you hear as someone shows you to your seat. It’s what’s on the table when you sit down. It’s how the menu is presented – is it a handwritten blackboard or a leather-bound booklet? It’s asking your waiter what a fancy ingredient is (locally foraged samphire anyone?!) and it’s how they make you feel when they answer.

It’s all these things and more – before you’ve even ordered your meal.

Your favourite restaurant is a thoughtfully curated, immersive experience.

And based on your experience, you’ll either spread the word and become its ambassador, or you’ll disengage and simply choose somewhere else for dinner next time.

Now let’s think about your school or organisation’s brand.

Just like a restaurant, your brand has many different touchpoints which all contribute to creating a unique experience for its audience. By considering how your brand is represented across the full spectrum of interactions, you can create an experience which resonates authentically with your community.

Consider these tips:

Know your community.
There’s no market for a burger at a vegan restaurant. Understanding your audiences’ needs and wants is the first step in effective brand communication.

Consistency is key.
It wouldn’t be your favourite dish if it tasted different every time you ordered it. Your audience needs to be able to recognise your brand from afar – so maintaining consistency is crucial.

Quality over quantity. 
An overly long menu doesn’t guarantee anything except an overwhelmed customer. Brands don’t need to be complicated. Focus on the key elements that define your brand and do them brilliantly. 

Leave room for creativity.
The chef’s special at a trusted venue is always worth a try – so too can there be room to play within your brand framework. Partnering with a creative agency is a great way to introduce fresh interpretations for specific campaigns and programs which warrant a bespoke approach.

Be open to evolution.
The best brands – like the best restaurants – pay attention to how they are received. Listening to feedback and growing with your audience is the best way to keep your brand relevant.

All brands have the potential to create a truly unique, authentic, immersive experience for their audiences, which in turn builds loyalty and increases engagement.

By reframing your school or organisation’s brand as your favourite restaurant you may be surprised at the potential you uncover.

To find out more about how Blueboat can help you, contact sail@blueboat.com.au or call 03 9824 1155

Thank You to our Valued Partners

Thank You …

We’d like to extend a huge ‘Thank You’ to our valuable and deeply committed Strategic Partners who support Educate Plus in our activities and who 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. 

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.