The Community and Enterprise Leadership Foundation (CELF) is celebrating ten years of strengthening leadership across Waikato. Our celebration event honoured the vision and commitment of founders, supporters and programme participants who have built bridges between sectors and created lasting, positive change in our region.
Photograph credit: BarkerPhotography
CELF was established in response to a growing need for shared understanding and collaboration across sectors. In an increasingly complex and divided world, the evening was a timely reminder of the value of connected leadership - where people from different sectors and backgrounds come together to shape better strategies, decisions, and outcomes for their communities.
Hosts Norm Hill and Julian Williams guided the evening with warmth and mana, opening and closing with karakia, mihi whakatau and waiata.
Photograph credit: BarkerPhotography
The milestone celebrated the collective effort of everyone who has contributed to CELF’s journey—people who continue to grow leadership capability and make a difference across the region.
Founded by Dr Bernie Crosby ONZM, David Irving ONZM, and Associate Professor Peter Sun, CELF was created to grow leaders who reimagine a stronger, more connected Waikato.
Peter Sun reflected on philosopher Zhuangzi’s idea of the “usefulness in uselessness,” reminding us that true value often lies in what isn’t immediately visible. His reflections reinforced CELF’s core belief - that individual transformation can create ripples of change across communities.
Photograph credit: BarkerPhotography
Founding Chair, John Cook, shared his reflections on CELF’s beginnings and its enduring vision presenting a taonga to David Irving, in recognition of David’s years of dedication and service to CELF. David Irving, graciously accepted the taonga highlighting the important and pressing need to evolve leadership to optimise the new era of AI which will bring both immense challenges and efficiencies to transform how we interact, work and deliver impact for our communities.
Photograph credit: BarkerPhotography
Alumni stories highlighted the breadth of CELF’s impact. Inspector Andrea McBeth (Class of 2017) shared how CELF has deepened her community insight and strengthened her leadership in the New Zealand Police.
BarkerPhotography
Laura Casey, Founder of The Cake Detective, a participant in this year's CELF programme, who has been on a journey - from a single act of kindness to leading a charity delivering hundreds of birthday cakes each month to children in hardship. Guests celebrated the milestone with one of Laura’s cakes and a poem she shared about her leadership journey.
Photograph credit: BarkerPhotography
We also heard from Chief Executive of Huber Social, Michelle Macaskill, who presented findings from recent research confirming the measurable impact of CELF’s approach.
Highlights of this research include:
· 95% of alumni report a changed perspective on community responsibility
· Increased confidence in leadership
· Stronger collaboration across sectors in the Waikato
· Lasting contributions to community wellbeing
BarkerPhotography
Overall, alumni report greater leadership confidence, stronger collaboration across sectors, and a deeper understanding of how cross-sector partnerships drive community progress.
“This research confirms what we’ve long observed in our graduates - that CELF builds stronger leaders and stronger communities. Seeing measurable outcomes proves that investing in cross-sector leadership delivers lasting impact.”
— Tania Witheford, CEO, CELF
Photograph credit: Natalie Jessup
Programme Director Professor Brad Jackson, who is currently sharing CELF’s achievements at the International Leadership Association conference in Prague, shared his reflections on the programme’s global standing:
“Over the past 45 years I’ve been associated with more than 100 leadership development programmes worldwide, but CELF’s Elevate programme is the most impactful of them all. The CELF village has created a remarkable community of leaders - of the Waikato, by the Waikato, and for the Waikato.”
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa
Thank you to our founders, board, partners, and alumni for your ongoing support and commitment. Together, we continue to grow responsible, connected and purpose-driven leadership for a more inclusive and resilient Waikato.
Acknowledgements:
To our programme partners and sponsors, and our incredible line up of Speakers: Norm Hill, Julian Williams, A. Prof. Peter Sun, John Cook, David Irving, Inspector Andrea McBeth, Michelle Macaskill - Huber Social, Laura Casey we say thank you. And similarly to our alumni, facilitators, visitation partners, venues and the community of supporters - thank you. A very special thanks to Tracey and her team at Weave Eatery for looking after us and to Laura Casey of the Cake Detective for our 10 Year birthday cake.