Why community governance

I remember why I was first drawn to community governance roles: the people, the kaupapa, and all the great things you learn along the way! I always want to make sure our sector gets the best of the best (quality events, resources, and tools), and we deserve our sector being recognised and invested into.

Our NFP/NGO sector is significant, generating an estimated $20 Billion in annual income, and represents a sizeable part of our economy in Aotearoa (with 115,000 of us). We contribute to employment outcomes and provide many services that touch on many aspects of our lives.

This year has been a remarkable journey for Community Governance Aotearoa, marked by significant milestones and achievements that reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence and growth.

Some key highlights I’m proud to share;

Exceptional growth in subscribers

On behalf of Community Governance Aotearoa I am thrilled to announce that we have added an impressive 1,428 new subscribers to our database this year. This substantial increase represents about a 48% growth in our audience, rising from 2,971 subscribers on January 1st 2024, to 4,400 today.

This surge in subscribers is a testament to the value and relevance of the content we provide and the demand from our sector. We are incredibly grateful for your trust and support.

Milestone in Board Talks

We also reached a significant milestone with our ‘Board Talks’ series, with over 4,000 registrants. Our Board Talks have fostered many meaningful discussions and provided valuable insights into the aspects of our roles in governance and administration. The feedback we have received from our audience has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are committed to continuing to deliver high-quality, impactful content through these sessions.

I’m super proud of the Board Talk series as it was a concept I came up with early on, in the inception of Community Governance Aotearoa. I wanted to make sure our community received quality board topics, and had a place to ask the questions we wanted answers to.

As we move into next year we are providing a new opportunity for our community, if you are a great presenter, experienced governance community leader (been on some boards), and have expertise to share, join me in conversations about all things governance!

State of the Sector Survey: Positive Feedback

The results of our State of the Sector insights survey provided us with valuable insights into the needs and preferences of our audience. We are pleased to report the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with respondents sharing a high level of satisfaction with our content and services. The feedback received is crucial in guiding future initiatives and ensuring that we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our community.

I recently wrote to Minister of Community and Voluntary Sector; Minister Upston, and Minister of Māori Development; Minister Potaka to share some of the high level insights that you shared with us: providing more funding opportunities is always going to be high priority for our community sector.

Looking ahead

As I reflect on these achievements, I am looking forward to 2025. Our growth and success are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the unwavering support of our community and participants.

We look forward to sharing more updates and new initiatives to be launched in early 2025.

Stay safe, have a great summer break and see you in 2025!

Links:

You can put yourself forward as a potential panel guest for 2025 Board Talks here.