People Inspired By Purpose - Purposely Podcast

Welcoming James McCulloch, CEO of Victim Support / Manaaki Tāngata, to PurposelyIn this episode, James shares the work of Victim Support /Manaaki Tāngata—a national organisation dedicated to ensuring no one in Aotearoa must face the impact of crime or traumatic events alone. The organisation provides practical help, information, emotional support, funding,and referrals to other services, helping people during some of the most difficult moments in their lives.James took on the role of CEO during a turbulent period. Theorganisation was under public scrutiny, including negative media coverage highlighting internal challenges such as staff dissatisfaction and strained relationships with key stakeholders. Since then, he has worked to rebuildtrust—both inside and outside the organisation—by improving working conditions, addressing long-standing issues, strengthening frontline services and growingfunding.  A focus on listening to staff and restoring confidence has helped Victim Support become more stable and effective.Born in Melbourne Australia but raised in North Wales, UK,James began his career in horticulture and landscape architecture. He later held senior management roles in local government, including with the City of London Corporation, where he was responsible for managing major public spacesand historic assets. This experience helped develop his skills in operational leadership, community engagement, and public service delivery.After moving to New Zealand with his family, James worked in the non-profit and education sectors, including with English Language Partners and Inspire Group. He joined Victim Support with a clear focus: prioritise theneeds of victims and build an organisation where staff are supported and equipped to deliver.He has introduced changes to reduce caseloads, improve staff wellbeing, and to begin building stronger connections with Māori, rainbow communities, and other under-served groups. He’s also focused on using technology to improve services and growing partnerships to extend VictimSupport’s reach.Looking ahead, Victim Support / Manaaki Tāngata aims toensure that every victim of crime in Aotearoa receives an offer of support.Scaling operations sustainably—while keeping staff wellbeing at the forefront—is a key challenge, alongside reducing reliance on government fundingto strengthen long-term resilience.James’s approach to leadership is shaped by a career spentin growth-focused leadership roles across New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. From managing parks and heritage sites in central London to leading a frontline support service, he brings a steady, pragmatic focus to helping communities through complex and often difficult circumstances.

A warm welcome to Purposely SHORT, short as in not long—a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission.This week, Suzanne Ritzenhoff shares how embracing imperfection in her art led to a deeper understanding of purpose and self-worth. She reflects on the importance of owning your story—not just for personal growth but to model resilience for others, including her own children. Suzanne’s insights come through her work with Toi Ora, where creativity is used to support mental wellbeing in a safe and inclusive space.

Welcome to Haehaetu Barrett on Purposely, where she shares her journey from working on the front lines with vulnerable communities to becoming CEO of Lifewise.As CEO of one of New Zealand’s leading social service organisations, Haehaetu is focused on tackling homelessness, poverty, and inequality. Her story is shaped by culture, lived experience, and a strong drive to make a real difference.Haehaetu’s leadership journey began in Rotorua, shaped byher father's academic influence and her mother’s deep connection to Māori traditions. Diagnosed as a teenager with retinitis pigmentosa—a hereditary degenerative eye condition—Haehaetu has faced challenges with remarkabledetermination, becoming a source of inspiration to those around her. With 16 years at Lifewise, Haehaetu’s career has spannedfrontline social work to executive leadership. She stepped into the CEO role during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing with her a reputation for collaboration, compassion, and strategic insight.Under her leadership, Lifewise delivers holistic servicesfor people of all ages—from tamariki to kaumātua. The organisation goes beyond awareness campaigns like the Big Sleep Out to deliver practical, sustainable solutions to housing insecurity. Haehaetu champions the value of livedexperience, cultural identity, and genuine community partnerships in designing effective support systems.Her deep understanding of intergenerational trauma and theimportance of whakapapa informs everything she does. By embedding cultural respect and emotional awareness into Lifewise’s work, she ensures people are not only supported—but also empowered.Haehaetu’s advocacy extends beyond the organisation. She is a respected voice in conversations with government, iwi, and sector leaders across Aotearoa, championing systemic change and social equity.Despite the pressures of her role, Haehaetu remains grounded in self-awareness and resilience. She speaks openly about the realities of burnout and the challenge of balancing leadership with personal well-being. Herconnection to whānau and whakapapa continues to anchor her, shaping a leadership style that is both purposeful and human.Haehaetu Barrett is a living example of what it means tolead with heart and purpose. Her vision at Lifewise is shaping innovative, community-led solutions to some of society’s most complex challenges—leaving a legacy defined by empathy, strength, and hope.To read more about Haehaetu Barrett visit:www.lifewise.org.nz/about-lifewise/our-team/

A warm welcome to Purposely SHORT, short as in not long—a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission.This week’s episode features Izzy Horrocks, co-founder of Aotearoa Lifecourse Fund, as she shares her thoughts on helping Tamariki (children) build self-awareness through simple, evidence-based activities in the classroom.Izzy explains how practices that are both useful for teachers and enjoyable for students can become "sticky"—lasting over time and supporting children to better understand themselves and how they relate to the world. It’s a reminder that building a strong sense of self is a key part of growing up—and something we can all help nurture in our schools and communities.

Welcoming Sally O’Brien founder of Blue CSR, a company that helps New Zealand businesses approach corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a practical and accessible way. Her focus is on employee volunteering as a starting point—something achievable that can create value for both the business and the wider community.CSR can often feel overwhelming. Concepts like sustainability goals or ethical business practices may seem abstract, particularly for smaller organisations or those just starting out. For many, the challenge lies not in motivation, but in finding a manageable way to begin. Sally sees employee volunteering as a practical entry point that connects company values with real-world engagement.She believes that when businesses enable staff to contribute their time and skills to causes they care about, it supports both community outcomes and internal culture. It can help employees feel more connected to their work and to each other, offering opportunities outside their usual roles.At the same time, Sally recognises the difficulties companies face when trying to establish volunteering programmes—from identifying appropriate charity partners to managing logistics and avoiding disruption to day-to-day operations. Blue CSR works with companies to help navigate these issues, offering guidance and resources to support their efforts.Rather than promoting large-scale or all-encompassing CSR plans from the outset, Sally encourages businesses to start small. Offering volunteering opportunities can be a first step, with scope to grow into broader initiatives over time. This might include aligning operational practices with sustainability goals or engaging with environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting tools.Her advice is to keep things focused and practical. A single volunteering initiative might lead to wider conversations within the team or build relationships that open up further opportunities for community engagement.In the New Zealand context, Sally notes that CSR is often shaped by personal connections and local networks. Businesses are often keen to contribute but may lack clarity on how to begin. Blue CSR aims to support this early-stage thinking, without prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions.At its core, Sally sees CSR as a reflection of company values. Whether that means supporting local fundraising events, environmental projects, or other community-focused activities, she encourages businesses to take actions that align with what they stand for.Blue CSR offers a way for businesses to begin incorporating CSR into their day-to-day operations, starting with initiatives that are realistic and employee-centred. While there is no single pathway to responsible business, Sally’s work highlights that even small steps can lead to meaningful engagement—both inside and outside the workplace.

A really warm welcome to Purposely SHORT, short as in not long—a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission. Enjoy.In this week’s episode, Izzy Horrocks, co-founder of Aotearoa Lifecourse Foundation, shares a deeply personal story from her time in East Africa—beginning with her first overwhelming experience arriving in Addis Ababa at 19, and later co-founding a social enterprise in Kenya aimed at helping small hold farmers access fairer markets.Izzy reflects on what she learned from building (and ultimately winding down) that venture: the limits of well-meaning ambition, the primacy of trust in communities, and the danger of imposing solutions without lived experience. Her story offers a rare and honest glimpse into what it means to fail well, and why true impact starts with listening and humility.This formative journey has shaped Izzy’s worldview and directly influenced her founding of Aotearoa Lifecourse Foundation, where she now champions a more grounded, relational approach to philanthropy.

Steven Hargreaves, founder of The Compassionate Leadership Company, joined Mark Longbottom on the Purposely Podcast to share why he left a secure corporate job to follow a new path.He chose to take voluntary redundancy—not just for a lifestyle change, but because he felt inspired to help others lead with more compassion. It was a personal mission. He had seen the cost of poor leadership and believed there was a better way.Of course, the practical side mattered too. Voluntary redundancy gave him the financial breathing room to start something new. It also let him take back control of his time. “I don’t work weekends. I don’t work school holidays,” he said. “That was a very intentional choice to be present with my family and maintain balance.”With space to think clearly, Steven launched The Compassionate Leadership Company. His goal: to help leaders show up differently—leading with empathy, self-awareness, and human connection. His 16-week programme is hands-on. “Learn something, try it, come back, reflect, and improve,” he explained. It’s built around action and real-world learning, not box-ticking or passive content.Steven’s corporate experience shapes his approach. He doesn’t offer generic solutions. Instead, he tailors his work to the needs of each team—whether they’re remote, hybrid, or in a specific sector. The goal is always the same: better leadership through trust, understanding, and connection.One of his early challenges was pricing. Like many first-time entrepreneurs, he undervalued his time and expertise. “We often price ourselves too low at the start,” he said. “Now I’m much clearer on what it really takes to deliver quality work.” This mindset shift has helped him grow the business without compromising on values.At the heart of Steven’s work is self-compassion. He integrates breathwork and mindfulness—not to make leaders spiritual, but to help them manage stress, stay resilient, and lead calmly. “Breathing well has to be core,” he said. “It’s about knowing the science and having tools to stay steady under pressure.”Importantly, Steven’s definition of leadership goes beyond work. By stepping away from the traditional 9–5, he’s built a life that aligns with his values—where family, energy, and integrity come first. “I’ve learned to say no to the things that would stretch me too thin,” he said. That clarity lets him support his clients without burning out.Steven Hargreaves’ story is a reminder that leaving the safe option behind can lead to something more meaningful. His approach to compassionate leadership isn’t just about managing people better—it’s about creating workplaces, and lives, where people can thrive.

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode that features one of our friends or past guests sharing their expertise on a specific topic.This week's episode features Izzy Horrocks, co-founder of Aotearoa Lifecourse Foundation, discussing Venture Philanthropy and how it can impact society and environment by identifying, supporting and enabling changemakers and social impact leaders.In this short clip, Izzy explains how venture philanthropy differs from more traditional models—shifting the focus from one-off grants to long-term partnerships. She describes how the fund identifies high-potential organisations and provides not just funding, but hands-on support to help them grow and thrive.Izzy also highlights the central role of trust and collaboration in the venture philanthropy model, and how shared goals and sustained commitment are key to driving better outcomes, particularly for tamariki (children / young people).Visit their website here: https://www.lifecourse.nz/

Welcoming Joanna Simon, CEO of Starship Foundation, toPurposely PodcastIn this episode of Purposely, we speak with JoannaSimon, Chief Executive of the Starship Foundation—a charitable organisation that supports paediatric healthcare across New Zealand and the South Pacific.Joanna moved from a background in corporate marketing and communications into the not-for-profit sector, where she now leads one of the country’s most established healthcare foundations.The Starship Foundation exists to support the work ofStarship Children’s Hospital, New Zealand’s national children’s hospital. With over 100,000 patient visits each year and more than 1,000 outreach clinics, the hospital provides specialist care to children both in Auckland and across thewider region. One of its key programmes is the Starship National Air Ambulance, which transports critically ill or injured children to Starship for urgent care—on average, every 48 hours.The foundation is currently focused on raising funds toexpand and upgrade New Zealand’s only dedicated Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), with the aim of meeting increasing demand and improving care for children with complex needs.Joanna’s involvement with Starship began as a parent. During hospital visits with her sons, she saw the level of care and support provided by the staff. These experiences led her to support the foundation well before she stepped into the leadership role. While working as Chief Operating Officerat international law firm DLA Piper, Joanna also developed a professional relationship with the foundation, which was a pro bono client of the firm. She supported fundraising efforts and gained a closer view of the organisation’s work.In her current role, Joanna describes her leadership styleas inclusive and open. She values clear communication, encourages initiative, and focuses on ensuring her team has the resources and structure they need to deliver on their goals. She sees collaboration and alignment around sharedgoals as key to achieving effective results.Since taking on the role, Joanna has been encouraged by thelevel of support the foundation receives. Donations from individuals, businesses, and community groups make it possible to fund hospital upgrades, outreach services, and specialised care programmes.Away from work, Joanna leads an active life. She oftencycles to work on her e-bike, enjoys walking and Pilates, and spends time with her husband Greg and their sons, Oliver and Alex—especially at Matapouri Beach. She’s also a keen reader and has a strong interest in the arts. Her past involvement with the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation Board and current position on the Mercy Healthcare Auckland Ltd Board reflect her wider interests in both healthcare and culture.Joanna Simon’s career reflects how skills developed in thecorporate sector can be applied to support the not-for-profit world. Under her leadership, the Starship Foundation continues to play a key role in supporting services that help deliver healthcare to children across New Zealand and thePacific.

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode that features one of our friends or past guests sharing their expertise on a specific topic.This week's episode features Rochelle Courtenay, founder of Share the Dignity, who shares the story of how she transitioned from being a fitness entrepreneur to becoming a passionate advocate for period equity.Known affectionately as the ‘Pad Lady’, Rochelle has led a movement that has collected and distributed millions of period products across Australia.It all began in March 2015, when Rochelle learned that many homeless women were going without basic sanitary items. Instead of asking, “Why isn’t anyone doing something?”, she asked, “What’s stopping me from doing something?”—and took action.Starting with a grassroots collection in her local community, Rochelle founded Share the Dignity, a charity that now boasts over 6,000 volunteers nationwide. The organisation runs multiple initiatives dedicated to restoring dignity to women, girls, and all people who menstruate.