#265 'When the Mission Finds You', Nicola Coom CEO of Cancer Society New Zealand

Welcoming Annette Presley to Purposely Podcast, we hear how a career defined by entrepreneurship has evolved into a focus on philanthropy, with a commitment to creating opportunities for young women and communities.In this conversation, Annette shares:Her early experiences in business, when female role models were rare and breaking through as a woman was a significant challenge.The influence of her grandmother, whose belief in her became a driving force, and why support and encouragement are essential for young women to thrive.Her views on education reform, including the need to equip young people with practical skills such as financial literacy, resilience, and public speaking.Why she launched the Dream Foundation and how she applies her entrepreneurial mindset to set measurable goals, build strong partnerships, and ensure accountability.Annette’s story is one of hustle, determination, disruption, and a belief that lasting change requires more than good intentions. Through her foundation, she is working to open doors for others and create practical, measurable impact in communities across New Zealand.

Welcoming Nicola Coom to Purposely.Nicola Coom has just stepped into the role of CEO at the Cancer Society New Zealand. For her, cancer is not just a cause but a lived reality, her own BRCA1 gene diagnosis, her family’s history with the disease, and the choices she’s made to protect her health all shape the urgency she brings to leadership.Every day in New Zealand, 77 people are diagnosed with cancer and around 10,000 die each year. Access to medicines lags behind most OECD countries, and Nicola is determined to change that. She wants donor dollars to deliver real impact, patient voices to drive health policy, and investment in research and clinical trials to accelerate progress.In this episode, Nicola shares how personal experience has shaped her vision for the Cancer Society, why innovation and technology must be part of the solution, and how she plans to keep cancer at the top of the national agenda.Tune in to hear Nicola’s story, her bold plans for the future, and why urgency and lived experience are essential to reshaping cancer care in Aotearoa.

Welcoming Aisha Daji Punga, CEO of Toitū, to Purposely.Aisha is an experienced leader whose career has taken her across industries and sectors, from FMCG and telecommunications to health and wellbeing. She’s led major organisations, including her time as CEO of the Starship Foundation, and now heads Toitū, one of New Zealand’s most recognised names in sustainability and environmental certification. In our conversation, she shares how clarity, connection, and purpose shape her leadership—and why she’s energised by the toughest parts of the job.Her path to Toitū has been anything but linear. Alongside her executive leadership roles, she also ran her own consultancy. But what ultimately pulled her back into a CEO role was people. “I love being around people. I love being connected. I love teams,” she says. Consulting provided stimulation, but lacked the shared purpose and momentum that come from leading a group with a common mission. Returning to that environment was about aligning “head, heart, and soul”—the combination she says fuels her best work.That philosophy is clear in how she leads. Progress happens when teams move together. Alignment matters more than hierarchy, and clarity is the means to get there. “You have to be clear to be kind,” she notes—a mantra that underpins how she handles everything from strategy to day-to-day conversations. Feedback from her board reinforces that clarity and decisiveness are already shaping Toitū’s direction.From her first day, Aisha set out to listen. She spent months in conversation with clients, staff, and industry partners—not just to surface what was working, but to hear the harder truths. Those insights became the basis for resets and pivots, with a willingness to say, “this is where we need to go now.” For her, listening and alignment aren’t delays to action; they are what make action possible.Sustainability wasn’t her specialist field, but that has never been a barrier. She’s surrounded herself with scientists and subject experts who, she says, “astound and inspire me every day.” Her role isn’t to know everything, but to connect people, scale impact, and make Toitū’s purpose resonate widely. “I don’t need to be an expert,” she says. “I need a certain level of understanding, but I don’t need to be all things to all people.”What comes through in conversation is a style of leadership that avoids jargon and pretence. She doesn’t claim mastery of every detail; what she offers is authenticity, focus, and a commitment to the purpose at the centre of Toitū’s work. Success, for her, isn’t defined by accolades. It’s found in the energy of her team, the trust of stakeholders, and the impact Toitū can deliver in a rapidly changing world.Looking ahead, Aisha remains grounded: listen deeply, adapt quickly, and never lose sight of purpose. It’s a simple formula, but one that offers a powerful model of leadership for complex times—clear, connected, and unapologetically purposeful.Thank you to our sponsors Trust Investments

In this episode of Purposely Podcast, we sit down with Rod Baxter, CEO of Kings Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore how the Trust is helping 17- to 30-year-olds build confidence, enterprise, and opportunity.Rod shares:Why listening to young people is the starting point for meaningful changeThe challenges young people face as traditional entry-level jobs disappearHow the Trust’s enterprise programme and Hikano seed funding scheme are sparking new ventures with a 94% survival rateThe importance of “radical collaboration” in New Zealand’s crowded non-profit sectorInspiring stories of young entrepreneurs building businesses and giving back to their communitiesKings Trust Aotearoa is part of a global network with roots in The Prince’s Trust, but its approach is uniquely local—grounded in the voices, aspirations, and realities of young people across Aotearoa.Tune in to hear Rod’s journey, his vision for youth development, and why purpose sits at the heart of lasting impact.

Tina McCafferty, CEO of Tōtara Hospice, talks with Purposely Podcast about the meaning of hospice care and the work her organisation does to support people across South and East Auckland.Tina shares her personal journey from Glasgow to leading one of New Zealand’s most inclusive hospices. She explains why hospice care is about more than medical treatment—it’s about respecting people’s wishes and helping them live well in their final days.She also discusses Tōtara Hospice’s role in navigating assisted dying laws, emphasising the importance of supporting people’s choices with respect and care.Most hospice care happens in people’s homes, with thousands of visits each year. Tina highlights how connection, compassion, and respect are at the heart of their work.The episode also covers the recent documentary Hospice Heroes, which brought honest stories from patients and families to a wider audience. Tina reflects on the impact of the show and the ongoing need for secure funding and fair pay for hospice staff.This conversation offers insight into the challenges and rewards of leading a hospice and shows why Tina believes hospice care deserves greater recognition and support in New Zealand.Listen to the episode: purposelypodcast.comLearn more about Tōtara Hospice: totarahospice.co.nz

James Stewart, CEO of Home Capital Partners, joins Purposely Podcast to talk about housing, purpose-driven leadership, and creating pathways to home ownership in Aotearoa New Zealand.James shares how his team at Home Capital is working to address one of the country’s most urgent social issues: access to safe, secure, and affordable homes. The conversation explores the full housing continuum—from social housing to affordable rentals and ownership—and the real-world impact of helping families find stability and hope.James reflects on his personal journey, including formative experiences in Christchurch and international development, and how his faith and values now shape his leadership. He also speaks to the importance of balancing financial sustainability with mission, building strong partnerships, and designing housing models that serve communities long-term.Themes discussed:The link between housing, health, and opportunityPurpose and profit: why both matterFaith and values in leadershipThe power of patient capital and long-term thinkingBuilding homes, building hopeLearn more about Home Capital Partners:https://homecapital.co.nz

Live from Changing Face of Philanthropy event in Auckland July This episode explores how corporate foundations can move beyond brand-building into genuine community impact. Ezekiel Raui shares how One NZ Foundation is unlocking corporate resources—from access to elite sports environments to financial expertise—for the benefit of community partners.He unpacks the “healthy tension” between purpose and profit, and how internal company culture plays a crucial role in sustaining philanthropic focus—even through economic pressure.Key insight? Real partnership isn’t transactional—it’s relational. Charities should align with funders who share their values, rather than chasing every opportunity. And, looking ahead, Ezekiel offers a bold alternative to traditional philanthropy: community-owned businesses with profits flowing back to the people, permanently.Big idea: Philanthropy at its best is not about giving back—it’s about sharing power.

In this episode of Purposely Podcast – People Inspired By Purpose, host Mark Longbottom is joined by Sydney Straver, founder and CEO of &BLOOM Sustainability, a values-led business supporting organisations on their sustainability journey.Sydney launched &BLOOM just two years ago in Aotearoa New Zealand with a clear belief: that business can and should create positive outcomes beyond profit. Since then, she’s been building a purpose-driven consultancy shaped by community, reflection, and a commitment to environmental and social responsibility.Sydney shares how early support from friends and family helped her take the leap into entrepreneurship, and how she later sought professional mentoring and leadership training to grow the business in a more structured, intentional way.She talks about:The realities of starting a values-led business from the ground upHer evolving leadership style and learning journey&BLOOM’s ambitions to work across New Zealand, Australia, and the PacificThe importance of capability building and fair, inclusive approaches to sustainabilityWhy she believes values must guide both her business decisions and personal lifestyleSydney also reflects on how her thinking has shifted over time—from questioning her own habits to embracing change through experience and conversation.&BLOOM is still early in its journey, but Sydney’s approach is thoughtful and grounded. She’s building a business that grows at a sustainable pace, with purpose at the centre of every decision.Listen now to hear how Sydney is helping others ‘ride the green wave’—and why she believes sustainability should be both inclusive and actionable.👉 Visit &BLOOM Sustainability: https://www.bloomsustainability.coThanks to our sponsors Trust Investments https://trustinvestments.co.nz/

Purposely SHORT with Lani Evans MNZMWhat if communities made the funding decisions that affect them?In this SHORT episode, Lani Evans unpacks the power of participatory philanthropy—more simply, community-led giving—and why it offers a better way to fund impact and build long-term trust.Key insights from Lani:Participatory philanthropy shifts power to where it matters mostCommunity-led processes can reduce competition and build mutual aidTrust and transparency can replace traditional reportingWhen communities are trusted, they collaborate—not compete“We’ve taught ourselves to behave competitively. But we can unlearn it.”This short conversation challenges the traditional model of philanthropy and offers an inspiring alternative rooted in trust, generosity, and community strength.

Welcoming Arian Ataie and Dion McDougall to the Purposely Podcast—two of the driving forces behind dmtr, a volunteer-led organisation working to end hunger by backing local solutions to food system challenges.Arian and Dion come from different parts of the world and different professional backgrounds, but they share a clear goal: to support the people and ideas creating long-term change in communities facing food insecurity. They believe that real progress comes not from top-down aid, but from empowering local entrepreneurs and changemakers with the tools, funding, and support they need to thrive.Their work through dmtr brings together global finance experience and grassroots insight. Arian draws on a mix of frontline experience in food banks and international research into hunger tech. Dion focuses on open data, systems change, and practical innovation at the community level. Together, they’ve created a model that blends financial know-how with a deep commitment to social impact.dmtr is still in its early stages—run entirely by volunteers—but the ambition is big. Arian and Dion hope to grow the organisation to a point where it can employ staff and expand its reach, helping more social enterprises and food innovators around the world.Running a global organisation from different time zones isn’t easy. Arian is now based in the UK and Dion in Jordan, with limited crossover in their working hours. But they’ve built a rhythm that works—making steady progress independently and meeting regularly to check in, share updates, and keep each other moving forward.They also co-host the Social AgTech Podcast, where they talk with others working at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and social impact. It’s become a key part of their mission—educating, connecting, and shining a light on people and projects tackling hunger in new and creative ways.Throughout the episode, Arian and Dion spoke openly about the personal side of this work. For Arian, it’s been a chance to reconnect with inspiring people from his past and build new relationships through shared purpose. For Dion, it’s been a reminder that there are many others out there trying to build a fairer, more sustainable world—and that finding them is a reward in itself.Their story is about more than just ending hunger. It’s about collaboration, trust, and building something meaningful from the ground up. Even with a small team and limited resources, Arian and Dion are proving that thoughtful, community-focused work can have a real impact.🎧 Listen to the episode now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks to our sponsor, Trust Investments NZ.#SocialImpact #FoodSystems #EndHunger #SocialAgTech #Innovation #Philanthropy #Podcast #PurposeDriven