Member Blogs
Silos: Linking Systems and Structures by Paying Attention
Article written by Dr Darnelle Pretorius, Princpal, Swan Christian College, WA(First published in the educate+ Face-2-Face Magazine, Nov 2025) Working in a school is a privilege. To work alongside others who share a common purpose—guiding young people to learn, grow, and flourish—is both…
Mission (is) Critical: Creating a Vision, Mission and Values for Advancement
Article written by Heath Hignight, Chief Advancement Officer, Hong Kong International School.(First published in the educate+ Face-2-Face Magazine, Nov 2025) Creating alignment between Advancement and Institutional Purpose is a critical step to engaging Board, Leadership, and Faculty—and developing a Vision and Mission for…
Admissions with Intention: Where Culture Meets Community
Article written by Trish Cartwright, Admissions Consultant (First published in the educate+ Face-2-Face Magazine, Nov 2025) Culture is the heartbeat of any organisation. It defines expectations, shapes relationships, and communicates what truly matters. In educational institutions, it’s not just a backdrop—it is the product.
Doing More with Less: How the OHA has Evolved Alumni Engagement
Article written by Russell Davidson, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Haileybury VIC (First published in the educate+ Face-2-Face Magazine, Nov 2025) When you think of Alumni & Community Engagement, Crocs probably aren’t the first thing that springs to mind. But when speaking with…
Creating Step-Change: How Psychological Safety Fuels Innovation and Impact
Article written by Melissa Ciplys, Director of People & Culture, Scotch College Adelaide (SA) (First published in the educate+ Face-2-Face Magazine, Nov 2025) Innovation isn’t a solo endeavour—it emerges from the messy, dynamic process of human collaboration. When teams come together to tackle challenges, share…
Back-to-School Communication Ideas for School Marketers
Article written by Suzanne Pelizzari. Veracross Head of Marketing – Asia Pacific (First published in the educate+ Face-2-Face Magazine, Nov 2025) How to cut through the clutter and set the tone for a confident…
Stronger Governance, Stronger Community
Written by Mandy McFarland, CEO, Educate Plus Over the past three years, the Educate Plus Board has placed deep focus on strengthening our governance and, as a result, has completely transformed the way we operate. Research shows 81% of Australian NFP Directors believe…
Beyond Beautiful Branding – Why Digital Safety Must Become a Leadership Priority
Article written by Kirra Pendergast, Founder & Human Digital Risk Strategist, CTRL+SHFT There was a time, not that long ago, when a school’s online presence was a novelty. A newsletter sent home in backpacks was enough. A website with enrolment info…
The Call I’ll Never Forget
Article written by Danielle Hargrove, Marketing & Communications Lead, Educate Plus | 12 September 2025 When news broke of the recent shark attack at Long Reef/Dee Why Beach (Sydney), my heart stopped. That stretch of coastline is where my son surfs, and he was currently out…
Working Together on School Budgets: A Guide for Marketing, Communications and Fundraising Leaders
Article submitted by: Dr Ian Anthony, Chief Financial Officer, Scotch College Preparing for your annual budget isn’t just about numbers, it’s about aligning your plans with the school’s strategic goals and ensuring financial transparency. Here’s how to work smoothly with your Business Manager or…
How Homer’s Odyssey can make us Better Mentors in the Advancement Profession
Article submitted by: Lizzie Fowler, Relationships and Mentoring Manager, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School How Homer’s Odyssey can make us Better Mentors in the Advancement Profession “Mentoring relationships must be centred on the idea of cultivating motivation, autonomy and empowerment. This may be done through listening to the…
Philanthropy and Kaitiakitanga
Article written by Sue O’Donnell, Manutaki, Executive Director, Development, Alumni Relations, and the Foundation, Victoria University of Wellington At Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, kaitiakitanga (guardianship and responsibility for what has been entrusted to us) is at the core of how we approach Fundraising and Alumni…