I founded the Kiwi charity – Inspiring Stories – with a bold vision to back young people to change the world. During my tenure as Chief Executive 2011–2022 I led an amazing team that built an impressive track-record of programmes and partnerships that supported thousands of young New Zealanders to connect, be inspired, build capability, and make a difference for their communities and country. These initiatives included big national events like Festival for the Future, leadership development programmes, accelerator programmes for young entrepreneurs, and The Impact Awards.Key Responsibilities as Chief Executive: – Build a credible national organisation – Business planning and strategy, inc. strategic plans, annual plans, work plans, etc. – Budget and financial management (complex annual budget of $1M+ with multiple concurrent projects) – Manage risk, policies, procedures and systems – People leadership and management – Brand, marketing and communications (see example 2023 Report from Festival for the Future) – Fundraising, partnerships, relationships and stakeholder management – Reporting to the board, as well as reporting to key external funders and stakeholders Key achievements included:– built the organisation from a one-off grant of $80K from the Vodafone Foundation to more than $1M+ in annual revenues– built and supported a community of 15,000 alumni; – built a range of high-impact programmes and events;– helped spark and support hundreds of youth-led projects & ventures;– invested more than $2.5M into scholarship support to increase access to life-changing opportunities;– provided more than $100K in awards and funding to support some of Aotearoa’s most inspirational young changemakersBuilding succession into the organisation we brought on our new Chief Executive in 2023, and I've successfully transitioned out now supporting on the Board in a governance and advisory capacity.

EHF is a community of high-impact entrepreneurs, investors and changemakers, building solutions to global challenges from Aotearoa New Zealand, and leading the way to a better world.

As part of my time as the CEO at Inspiring Stories, I led the team that built The Impact Awards to become one of New Zealand's most prestigious celebrations of young people making a difference. From 2019–2023 we attracted a diverse range of remarkable talent, partners and supporters, and provided more than $100K in awards and funding to support some of Aotearoa's most inspirational young changemakers.Key Responsibilities:– develop a credible national profile for The Impact Awards– develop the associated brand, marketing and engagement strategy – lead and manage a team of staff and contractors involved in delivering the Awards– develop and manage relationships with the community of champions, funders and supporters– celebrate and support the incredible courage and leadership of young people in AotearoaKey Achievements:– Built a credible and highly regarded national awards programme– 6 Major Award categories included climate, enterprise, inclusion, wellbeing, local and global impact– Attracted 500+ submissions from a diverse range of remarkable young New Zealanders– Built a community of champions, funders and supporters to back young New Zealanders– Provided more than $100K in awards and funding to support inspirational young changemakers– Local and national media coverage sharing the stories of winners and finalistsLearn more >> www.inspiringstories.org.nz/the-impact-awards

As part of my time as the CEO at Inspiring Stories, I led the team that built Festival for the Future to become New Zealand’s biggest leadership and innovation summit. This included navigating COVID and pivoting to online and hybrid experiences, to then having the honour of being invited to be the first official event at Wellington's new convention centre, Tākina, in 2023.The 2023 Festival attracted a record-level 1,500+ delegates who came from every region of New Zealand as well as the Asia-Pacific. Delegates included Government Ministers, 23 Mayors, 60+ directors/executives, as well as a diverse range of students and young professionals from the business, government and community sectors.Key Responsibilities: – Develop the Festival into a credible national event– Funding and sponsorship, budget and financial management– Alumni and community engagement, partnerships and relationships– Team leadership and management, including contractors, interns and volunteers– Brand, marketing, communications, PR– Experience design, programme development and managementKey Achievements – Built it year-on-year from 100 attendees in 2011 to 1,500+ attendees in 2023– Honoured as the first official event at Tākina, Wellington's new convention centre– Reviews included ‘world class’ and ‘most inspiring event I’ve ever attended’– successful pivot online during COVID in 2020, attracting attendees from 57 countries – Attracted and hosted hundreds of speakers and contributors, including world class entrepreneurs, leaders of business and government, and inspirational young people from a diverse range of backgrounds– Partners included Xero, Sharesies, Beca, Wellington City Council, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry for Primary Industries, Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, UNDP, and dozens of other supporting organisations– Provided scholarship support to increase access for more than 2,000+ young people to attend

Worked with Ākina as part of the lead up to New Zealand hosting the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) in Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2017. This included collaboration and advice to support programming and engagement efforts, as well as acting as the official Youth Engagement Partner convening and supporting associated national and international delegates.

Served on the inaugural New Zealand government advisory group for social enterprise under the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, alongside other advisory group members helped to produce a national strategy and recommendations to grow social enterprise and impact investment in New Zealand.

Live the Dream was a first-of-it's kind accelerator programme that backed New Zealand's aspiring young social entrepreneurs to build their ventures. The 10-week programme ran over summer in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, was backed by a range of partners including the likes of Ākina, Kiwibank, KPMG, many amazing entrepreneurs and leaders who gave their time to speak, deliver workshops, mentor and support young people throughout.A diverse range of youth-led initiatives and social ventures were developed during the programme, and many of the alumni have gone on to do good things for New Zealand.Soon after we set the precedent, a number of tertiary institutions started running their own accelerator programme over the summer period. Due to the number of similar programmes popping up, as well as funding challenges, we parked the programme.

Social Innovation Trust was established to increase the capacity and confidence of young people to affect positive change in their communities. Projects as implemented by the Trust's CEO, Louis Brown included earthquake response initiatives including support behind the Student Volunteer Army, TEDxEq Canterbury, the Youth 2050 Visioning Project, the nationwide 'Love Your Coast' collaboration with Sustainable Coastlines, and the 'A Day at the Beach' West Coast Adventure Festival. The Trust wound up operations in 2013.See www.socialinnovation.org.nz

Splashroom Media – co-founded by six students during Otago University's Masters in Science Communicaiton course, the film production company went on to win several international awards.Splashroom Media worked with a range of clients including Vodafone NZ, Otago University, Caritas Aotearoa, AJ Hackett Bungy and EnviroSchools. Our achievements included 'Best New Zealand Film' awards, to Ministry for the Environment's Green Ribbon Award' for 'Media & the Environment', amongst others.

"Carving the Future tells energising stories of young Kiwis making great changes in their environment and communities, and still fits in skateboarding, glorious coastal panoramas, fine oratory and earthy practicality. " ~ Idealog Magazine, August 2011.As part of a Masters in Science Communication at Otago University I co-produced, filmed and edited a 25-minute documentary called Carving the Future, which told stories about young New Zealanders taking action on climate change. The film went on to win Platinum Best Film at the Colorado International Festival, was one of three finalists in the world for the BBC’s Best Newcomer Award, and screened to audiences in more than 50 countries and reached thousands of people. Also designed associated branding, educational resources, website, and distributed the film into schools and communities nationwide.