Transforming - Leadership

It starts with a belief...

At CELF, we believe in the positive impact that connected, responsible leaders have on their community.

Belief in action: Elevate Leadership Programme

We know that supporting leadership is one of the fastest ways to help leaders effect change in their communities.

Our flagship leadership development programme is a unique 8-week experience, spread over 8-months. It brings together established leaders from across multiple organisations in an effort to increase the elevation and social impact of all participants.

Is this programme for you?

Learnings & connections

What will I achieve?

Full Interview. Why?

Leadership reflections

Are you interested in being a sponsored leader?

  • Do you want additional training and resources so that you can better serve your community?
  • Do you want your organisation to benefit from fresh perspectives and refined strategies?

Are you interested in being a sponsor?

  • Do you want to create time and space to learn from experts and fellow leaders?
  • Do you want to invest into the community that your business was built from?

Public Organisations

At CELF we believe in the power of bringing together leaders from across all types of organisations including individuals from the public sector. We believe that it is only through connection, a collaboration that the Waikato region will continue to grow and flourish.

If you work in the public sector and are interested in the Elevate Leadership Programme we would love to hear from you.

Why it matters

CELF was founded by business and community leaders who recognised that healthy businesses are empowered by healthy communities - and vice versa. They saw that by working together to foster socially responsible leaders, there was an opportunity to transform our region for the better.

CELF was founded by individuals convinced that healthy communities are empowered by healthy businesses. Since our first cohort, we have only become more convinced of the importance of this.

That’s why it’s our mission to grow as many socially responsible leaders through our leadership development programme as possible.


“The communion between the Commercial and For Purpose sectors within the cohort was truly ‘collabor-active’. I learnt as much from my cohort as from the external leaders and visits to other businesses/entities across the Waikato Region and beyond. This has affirmed for me, the very real and living nature of the key message from a Samoan proverb, “O le ala I le pule o le tautua” the pathway to leadership is through service."

Rachel Karalus - CEO, K’aute Pasifika Trust

We are not alone

Our supporting partners help make the work we do at CELF possible. We are honoured to have these incredible partners supporting and enabling CELF’s leadership journey.

Interested in becoming a CELF Sponsor?

Thank You To Our Partners

Supporting Partners