Press Release

December 10, 2015

Nikau Foundation appoints new general manager

The Nikau Foundation has appointed a new General Manager who brings a wealth of experience from the community and voluntary sector. Louise Parkin has had 25 years working with hundreds of charitable and philanthropic organisations both in New Zealand and internationally.

After a ten-year stint in London, she returned home in 2000 and founded Saints Information - Asia-Pacific’s largest fundraising research agency where she worked for 12 years. Ms Parkin joined Philanthropy New Zealand the same year and was introduced to the joy of giving through her work with former Wellington philanthropists, Ian and Elespie Prior, who were great supporters of the arts.

After the sale of Saints to Global Philanthropic, she filled an industry gap by establishing Execucare NZ Ltd - a boutique recruitment agency specialising in charity management, fundraising, marketing and communications roles. She was awarded a fellowship of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand in 2013 for her contribution to the fundraising profession through both of these capacity-building initiatives.

Ms Parkin is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Business (Philanthropy and Non-Profit Studies) at Queensland University of Technology and is focusing her research work on Disaster Philanthropy. On her appointment to the role at Nikau she says:

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with the excellent Board and team at Nikau Foundation, alongside other funders to make a difference to the Wellington Region. I hope to use my significant sector qualifications, experience and networks to encourage philanthropy and develop strategic, innovative grant making within the community foundation model."

The Nikau Foundation is part of a world-wide network of community foundations set up to benefit a specific geographic area, in this case the Wellington region. The Foundation manages 22 endowment funds which benefit the arts, education, social and youth projects, the environment and beyond. It does this through the generosity of local donors. The funds it manages grew 100 per cent in the last year.

Ms Parkin has been working at Nikau Foundation as their Philanthropy Advisor for the last six months and will be taking up the role of General Manager in January 2016.

In her spare time, she teaches the Japanese martial art of aikido to adults and children. Her personal philanthropy is for the benefit of the environment and international aid.

© Scoop Media