#204 Leading a foundation empowering older people, health, wellness and being a single parent, Denise Cosgrove CEO Selwyn Foundation

Welcoming Denise Cosgrove, CEO of Selwyn Foundation, to Purposely where she shares her organisation's mission to help vulnerable older people as well as her career and life journey. Denise's leadership journey began early, as she navigated a successful career while raising two daughters as a young single mother. Theonly one of six siblings to attend university, Denise ventured to Otago University in New Zealand's South Island. There, she discovered a passion for acting and debating, which she credits for building the confidence that would later serve her well in business leadership roles. Denise maintains a strong commitment to health and wellness, exercising twice daily, abstaining from alcohol, and following a clean eating regimen. Her career has spanned corporate, public, and charitable sectors in both New Zealand and Australia. In October 2022, Denise took the helm of The Selwyn Foundation, a well-established provider of retirement villages and aged care services in New Zealand. This appointment coincided with a significant shift in the Foundation's operational model, aimed at better supporting vulnerable elderly populations nationwide. Central to this transformation was the sale of a substantial portion of the Foundation's retirement village capacity, including six villages and a commercial laundry. The proceeds from this sale, amounting to $200 million, formed an endowment fund that will enable the Foundation to dramatically increase its charitable giving. Under Denise's leadership, the Foundation has set an ambitious goal of $100 million in charitable contributions over the next decade. This expanded support will reach beyond their retirement villages into the wider community, addressing critical issues affecting older people such as loneliness, social isolation, financial hardship, and lack of affordable housing. The organisation is committed to incorporating Tikanga Māori, Tikanga Pasifika, and Tikanga Pakeha principles to ensure culturally appropriate support. While divesting some retirement village operations, the Foundation has retained ownership of its historic Selwyn Village in Auckland and Hansen Close in Birkenhead, continuing to provide innovative and affordable housing solutions for seniors. Looking forward, the Selwyn Foundation aims to establish new partnerships targeting high-risk communities, including Māori and Pasifika populations. They also plan to leverage their expertise to influence policy decisions and advocate for issues crucial to older people's wellbeing. Denise's impressive leadership career spans over three decades, with extensive CEO experience in large, complex operational businesses across New Zealand and Australia. Her focus has consistently been on achieving both social and commercial outcomes in the government and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Selwyn Foundation, Denise served as CEO of Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) for five years, overseeing social, health, and disability services in New Zealand's upper North Island, including well-known brands such as Lifeline, Shine, Family Works, and Enliven. Beyond her executive responsibilities, Denise serves on the boards of various NGOs and social enterprises. She is also a passionate advocate for New Zealand's contemporary art and design sector, with a particular interest in fostering new and emerging talent. --- 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 Ezekiel Raui Head of One New Zealand Foundation discussing purpose. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcoming Yann Roux, CEO of Disability Sport Auckland (DSA), to Purposely, where he shares his organisation's mission and his remarkable life journey, from France to New Zealand, and from a fitness coach to leading a charity and the disability sport network. Yann is also the Manager of the Wheel Blacks, New Zealand's wheelchair rugby team, and Chair of the national disability sport network. Hailing from northern (French Alps)France near the Swiss border, Yann dreamed of becoming an astronaut or a fighter pilot when he was young. In fact, he applied for pilot school. Growing up, Yann developed a passion for sports, firstly Karate, then Table Tennis then American Football American Football, which is a minority sport in his native France, and then Judo. He soon discovered CrossFit, a high-intensity fitness regime that also encourages lifestyle changes. It was a perfect fit for Yann, aligning with the technical elements he loved to apply himself to, and his clean-living habits. Yann is happy to suffer and work hard, which is evident in his impressive physique, fuelled by the two CrossFit sessions he does daily. The charity he leads daily, Disability Sport Auckland, provides sport, recreation, and play opportunities for people living with disabilities in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. They offer access to a range of different sports, from traditional athletics and swimming to wheelchair rugby and basketball, as well as rock climbing, table tennis, and Boccia, a ball sport like pétanque and bowls. What began as the Auckland Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Association in 1966 had a simple yet profound goal: to foster games, sports, and recreation for paraplegics and individuals with disabilities, while catering to their general welfare. That very year, the Association sponsored and organized a national team of wheelchair athletes to compete at the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Jamaica, showcasing their pioneering spirit. Two years later, the Auckland Association joined forces with fellow organisations, sending a team to the Paraplegic Games in Israel. This collaborative effort paved the way for the formation of the New Zealand Association, now known as Paralympics New Zealand. At a time when sports for individuals with physical disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs, were considered radical, high-profile athletes like Pompey Heremaia worked tirelessly to overcome stereotypes and serve as role models for younger athletes. A milestone moment in the organization's history was the construction of the recreation Gym at the Otara Spinal Unit in 1977. This not only provided a permanent home for our athletes and teams but also proved to be a catalyst for disabled sports, as patients in the unit were often recruited to join the activities taking place. Yann is a purpose drive leader that is passionate about sport and the power participation in sports has to transform lives and help people reach their full potential. --- 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 Wayne Howett CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities sharing how he approaches his organisations mission and how he draws on his own lived experience. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcoming Fiona Luth to Purposely, where she shares her founder story and charitable mission to transform literacy in Fiji. We discuss her motivations for starting and scaling the charity as well as plans for the future. Fiona Luth founded Fiji Book Drive in 2012, following the loss of her second parent. While in Kadavu, Fiji, she experienced a moment of clarity, realising her desire to create as much positivity in the world as possible. Inspired by Peter and Margaret Long, who run the charity 'Children of Fiji', and conversations with her friend Lavenia Tamani about the lack of books in schools, Fiona became acutely aware of the challenges faced by Fijian students. With English being the compulsory language of instruction in Fiji, Fiona saw an opportunity to make a significant impact. Upon returning to Australia, Fiona shared her vision of a book drive with her friend Laura Hahn. Laura embraced the idea, offering crucial support through her family's freight forwarding business for the first five years of the initiative. Since its inception in 2012, Fiji Book Drive has made a remarkable impact, donating over 300,000 books to 194 schools and kindergartens across Fiji. The charity's mission is rooted in the belief that education empowers students and communities, with access to proper resources being key to a quality education. Recognising the abundance of educational materials in Australia, Fiji Book Drive aims to redirect these resources to under-resourced schools in Fiji. The organisation's primary goal is to improve educational outcomes and life opportunities for Fijian students by increasing access to educational resources, with a focus on literacy. They strive to repurpose books, computers, and other educational materials, transferring them from those who no longer need them to those who do. Additionally, Fiji Book Drive is committed to operating sustainably, keeping resources out of landfills and prioritizing the distribution of durable goods. Fiji Book Drive is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. --- 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 Emma Brown CEO of Duke of Edinburgh's International Award New Zealand. Emma talks about her leadership journey and how she values resilience over everything else when it comes to thriving as a CEO. Emma was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to keep on working through treatment. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcoming Thomas Smith, CEO of the Halberg Foundation, to Purposely, where he shares his organisation's mission to empower young people with disabilities through sport. The foundation also hosts an annual awards ceremony, a premier event in New Zealand, recognizing and honouring outstanding achievements in sports. Thomas, or Tom as he is known, offers insights into his life and career journey, which includes his upbringing in the UK and his relocation to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife. The Halberg Foundation, founded by middle-distance runner and Olympian Sir Murray Halberg ONZ, MBE, has its roots in a transformative moment. Murray's attendance at a sports reporters' function in Canada in 1962 inspired him deeply. As a guest speaker, the Olympic champion runner was moved by the event's true purpose: to help disabled children realise their sporting potential. Murray Halberg's own athletic achievements, despite facing personal challenges, are remarkable. From winning the gold medal for New Zealand in the 5000 meters at the 1960 Olympics to clinching gold medals in the 3 miles events at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games, his journey embodies resilience and determination. Despite a severe injury during his youth rugby days that left his left arm withered, Murray's transition to running only seemed to fuel his motivation. Under the guidance of coach Arthur Lydiard, he broke through, winning his first national title on the senior level in 1954. Tom's upbringing in Cirencester in the Cotswolds and his education in sports management at Hallam University in Sheffield, England, laid the foundation for his career in sports. Reflecting on his early experiences as a personal trainer, Tom underscores how they shaped his approach to disability sports and the limitless possibilities for individuals in this realm. Prior to his move to New Zealand with his wife and young family, Tom held notable positions in the UK, including involvement in the 2012 Paralympics and roles such as National Partnership Manager for Special Olympics Great Britain, Senior Manager Disability at Sport England, and National Growth Manager Disability at the England & Wales Cricket Board. --- 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 Ian Bird CEO of & Community Foundations of Australia (current) & Canada (formerly). Ian dives into secrets of successful Network Leadership. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Welcoming Ezekiel Raui, the new Head of the One New Zealand Foundation, to the Purposely Podcast. Ezekiel shares his organisation's mission as well as his remarkable journey from Head Boy to social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader.Even before his university days, Ezekiel Raui had already stacked up a lifetime's worth of achievements. As head boy at Taipa College in the Far North of New Zealand, he pioneered a leadership academy and a peer support program, showcasing his early passion for innovation, purpose, and community impact. His initiatives even caught the attention of policymakers, leading him to share his ideas at the Beehive. Not stopping there, Ezekiel was part of a youth delegation to Washington DC, where he attended the historic Tribal Youth Gathering at the White House and had the honor of meeting President Obama. These early accomplishments set the stage for a series of accolades, including the prestigious Young Achiever of the Year at the 2016 Matariki Awards and the Ngārimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarship. Ezekiel has also been voted into the Forbes 30 under 30. At the tender age of 26, Ezekiel's dedication to purpose and helping others is palpable. His inspiration stemmed from a profound experience where he discovered that two of his friends were involved in drug activities during school hours because that is what they thought they were destined to do and had no other options in life. This revelation fuelled Ezekiel's determination to make a difference.  Driven by this conviction, he co-founded Tūkotahi, a social enterprise dedicated to providing comprehensive peer support for young individuals navigating mental health challenges. His commitment to social good was further underscored by his selection as one of four New Zealand Māori ambassadors to attend the 2015 Inaugural White House Tribal Leaders Conference, hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.Now at the helm of Te Rourou - One New Zealand Foundation, Ezekiel's vision is clear: to continue the foundation's vital work in supporting marginalized and disadvantaged young people across New Zealand. Established in Aotearoa in 2002, the foundation, the corporate arm of One NZ (formerly Vodafone), operates as a grant-making charity, guided by its own Board of Directors. Over the years, One NZ has invested more than $48 million to support the foundation's initiatives, funding over 1,000 community organisations. Proudly one of the largest corporate philanthropic funders in Aotearoa, the foundation leverages the resources and skills of the One New Zealand team to drive sustainable and measurable change through digital investment, corporate partnerships, operational and communications support, advocacy, and mentoring.Their primary focus thus far has been on empowering young people in Southland, situated at the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island. This strategic approach to philanthropy, initiated before Ezekiel's tenure, reflects the foundation's commitment to making a tangible difference in communities where it matters most and where funding partners were harder to find.Looking ahead, Ezekiel's overarching aspiration for the foundation is ambitious yet grounded in pragmatism. He envisions a future where the foundation serves as a catalyst for lasting change, empowering charities and social impact partners to be effective and sustainable. Regardless of shifts in business dynamics or funding sources, Ezekiel remains steadfast in his belief in the symbiotic relationship between business and philanthropy. By equipping communities with the necessary skills and resources to thrive independently, the foundation ensures that its impact endures long after its direct involvement ceases. In our conversation with Ezekiel Raui, we glimpse not only the remarkable achievements of a young leader but also the profound impact of purpose-driven initiatives in transforming lives and communities.  --- 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 Sarah Dann-Hoare CEO of Project Employ. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message