People Inspired By Purpose - Purposely Podcast Mark Longbottom

Welcoming Nicola Nation, CEO of The Ākina Foundation, to Purposely, where she shares her personal and career journey as a consultant specialising in procurement across corporate and public sectors and more recently non-profit leadership.

The word Ākina means to encourage or urge onwards in the Māori language, and the foundation is a ‘for purpose’ consultancy that works with social enterprises, businesses, philanthropic organisations, as well as with the Government. Their mission is to enable positive social and environmental outcomes through bespoke services, including strategy development and implementation, as well as finding ways to help organisations build capability around purpose and engage stakeholders in purpose.

Nicola joined the foundation in 2018, initially in a general management role before stepping up to the CEO position three years later.

Born in New Zealand’s capital city Wellington, Nicola describes being a ‘sickly child’ as the result of a blood condition that she would eventually resolve through a successful operation. She took her time to find her voice and strength, but when she did, she found she had a powerful voice and the confidence to question adults and traditional ways of doing things. Nicola recounts a time when she wrote to her priest, advocating that girls should be allowed to be Altar Girls rather than being restricted to less ‘glamorous roles. Despite being unsuccessful with her plea, Nicola remained undeterred and has maintained her approach to question and campaign for positive change.

Growing up in a happy household, Nicola describes her parents as ‘blue-collar workers’ who valued hard work and instilled those values in her from a young age. Nicola loved school and learning, embracing everything school had to offer, from special activities to leadership roles as a student representative. Continuing to university, she studied commerce at Victoria University and secured a graduate role at Deloitte. She made the bold decision to negotiate a delayed start and spent a year exploring Western Europe in London before returning.

Nicola spent three formative years at Deloitte before returning to London in a new role with Westpac, inspired by the 9/11 terrorist tragedy in New York. The role centered on building the UK’s capability to deal with a similar tragedy, a ‘large project with a massive or even unlimited budget’.

Living in London, Nicola, now married, had to be convinced by her Kiwi husband to return to New Zealand. Her first role back home she describes as ‘an epic failure’, an operations role for a start-up lacking cash and miles away from her consultant roles for large multinational corporations and unlimited budgets. It was a harsh experience for Nicola, prompting her to return to her procurement-focused role for a large company. Reflecting on her career, she was keen to explore roles with a clearer focus on purpose and making a positive difference to people and the planet. That’s when the role at The Ākina Foundation came up, and her consulting skills made her the ideal person to help deliver their work, eventually succeeding outgoing CEO Louise Aitken. In her first role as CEO, Nicola received some good advice from the charity's trustees, urging her to make the job her own. Nicola has proven to be a real asset to the foundation and the organisations they serve, particularly around ‘procurement practices to do good and its role in helping to bring about meaningful change. As more and more organisations focus on delivering purpose, organisations like Ākina Foundation and purpose-focused leaders like Nicola become more and more sought after and valued.




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

We are delighted to welcome Ian Bird, the new CEO of Community Foundations Australia (CFA), to the Purposely Podcast.


In this episode, Ian shares his vision for the future of Australian community foundations, drawing from his extensive experience as the former CEO of Community Foundations of Canada and his remarkable career as an Olympic hockey player. Interestingly, Ian represented Canada in field hockey at the Australian-hosted Olympics in 2000 in Sydney, as well as in South Korea. Having played hockey from a young age, Ian speaks passionately about his love for the sport and the camaraderie it fosters.

A natural leader, Ian began his career in Vancouver and later founded the first youth Field Hockey club in Quebec, called Chelsea Phoenix Field Hockey, where he also served as the head coach. Under his guidance, the Quebec team achieved multiple national championships.

During his tenure as the CEO of Community Foundations of Canada from 2011 to 2020, Ian Bird proved to be a transformational leader. He oversaw the organization's evolution into a "network of purpose" by fostering collaboration with various sectors and addressing diverse priorities, including reconciliation with Indigenous communities, gender equity, social finance, and evolving patterns in giving.

Ian's primary goal as the CEO of CFA is to expand the reach of community foundations across Australia. Currently, only slightly over half of the Australian population has access to a local community foundation. With more than 40 community foundations already established, Ian aims to build upon the existing strength and vision within the network. He firmly believes that Australian community foundations have the potential to leapfrog ahead in development by incorporating Indigenous peoples' experiences from the start and drawing on the Australian ethos of directness and openness.

Ian Bird is a champion for inclusivity in Australian community foundations. His vision revolves around creating opportunities for those who may not typically participate. He aims to develop a network that ensures all Australians have access to a community foundation, fostering self-determination and empowering communities to generate funding and solutions on the ground. By building a strong network of purpose, community foundations can address local issues and collaborate on challenges that transcend any one community, such as climate change and housing challenges.

Ian draws inspiration from the success of the community foundation movement in Canada, which has a rich history spanning 100 years. He highlights the importance of highly trusted local institutions that allow neighbors to witness and participate in giving. The Canadian experience has shown that having a tangible place to make a gift accelerates the pace of giving and creates a social messaging that encourages more philanthropy. Ian aims to replicate this success in Australia by leveraging existing infrastructure and fostering partnerships with private funders, universities, health authorities, and other civil organizations.

Ian believes that the current moment presents an opportunity for Australians to create a different future by sharing resources and building a true community support infrastructure. By fostering grassroots-driven change and community-based self-determination, Australia can become more resilient and effectively address pressing issues with a fresh perspective. Ian's vision aligns with the shared agenda of political leaders across parliamentary parties, emphasizing the power of collaboration and collective action.




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcome to Purposely Short, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic.

This weeks episode features Eric Ressler founder of Cosmic a creative agency for social impact organisations and brands.



---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcome to Purposely Short, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic.

This weeks episode features Tracy Clark CEO of Young Gloucestershire




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcoming Jon Tanner, a former international hockey player and the co-founder of Coach For Life Foundation to Purposely where he shares his organisation's mission to inspire and educate the next generation of sports coaches.

Founded in January 2021, the Coach For Life Foundation aims to elevate the quality of youth sport coaches in New Zealand. Their mission is clear: to inspire and empower coaches to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young athletes. Through fostering a connected and engaged community, they're building a platform for motivated coaches to thrive and excel.

Jon's roots in Hamilton, where he attended St Paul’s Collegiate, laid the foundation for his remarkable trajectory. Armed with a BCom from Otago University, Jon made his mark on the hockey field, representing the Black Sticks Men’s Hockey team in 1982. But his contributions extend far beyond the sports arena.

In the world of finance and community engagement, Jon is a force to be reckoned with. His involvement in various boards and trustee roles, including Momentum Waikato, Cure Parkinson’s NZ, and Hamilton Gardens Development Trust, underscores his commitment to making a difference. Not to mention his instrumental role in fundraising for organizations like the Neuro Research Charitable Trust and the Halberg Trust.

Despite his many achievements in business and philanthropy, Jon's heart remains intertwined with the world of sports, especially hockey. From his successful coaching career to his pivotal role in establishing Midlands Hockey in 1998, Jon's dedication to the sport is unwavering. As a former Hockey New Zealand board member and Founding Chair for the Hockey Foundation, he continues to shape the landscape of New Zealand's sporting community.

For Jon, youth sport coaching holds a special place in his heart. His own enriching experiences as a young athlete, coupled with his belief in the importance of nurturing coaches, drive his passion for this cause. It's a passion that has earned him recognition, including being awarded a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for his services to hockey.

As Jon Tanner embarks on this new chapter with the Coach For Life Foundation, his journey serves as a beacon of inspiration for us all. Through purpose-driven initiatives and unwavering commitment, Jon is not just shaping the future of sports coaching; he's leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment and transformation.






---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcome to Purposely Short, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic.

This weeks episode features Vicki Cardwell




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message