Our Community Leadership programme is designed around Excelerator's core principles but, given that our community groups are joined together from the beginning by a common and central interest (whether that be the place or the issue) we have the luxury of being able to focus on real elements of the community and to use these as the basis for our leadership learning and especially our collective experience. 

Readings and examples are given from business, social, global, organisation, virtual, theoretical, as well as community contexts.  Our community programme participants are selected not only for their demonstrated passion and readiness to learn, but also because they are representative of the demographics of the community.  This means that we have conversations of diversity from the very beginning of our work together. 

Why do we have a Community Programme?

Leadership is widely recognised as critical to sustaining and building communities that actively develop socially, economically and environmentally.  Leadership is the core driver of community change, although the content and context for growth alters across time and region.  It is our premise that through broadening and strengthening leadership, a community will develop the foundation for sustainable growth.  As communities grow or are maintained optimally New Zealand can become all it promises to be.   

"The work of leadership closes the gap between how things are and how, based on one's values, things ought to be".  Ronald Heifetz

Community leadership has been described as "the ability to reconcile competing public interests in order to meet the needs of a broader community.  It involves bringing divergent interests who have a stake in the decision together to find common ground." Janet Ayres. The leadership skills and processes required for this kind of interaction are complex and call for a real depth of understanding both personally and contextually.

Who are we working with?

Our inaugural community programme with leaders from throughout the Kaipara District was completed in July 2007. During the programme and beyond, this group of leaders have made a significant impact throughout the district and in their endeavours which span many sectors and communities. If you would like to know more about this programme click here. 

Sport Northland Community Leadership Programme

In partnership with SPARC and Sport Northland, we have just completed an 8-month programme with sports leaders from the Northland region. These participants fulfilled diverse roles across a range of sporting domains, and brought rich diversity in terms of experience, interests and skills to the programme.  In addition to developing their individual leadership capacity, they have forged new relationships with other leaders from throughout their sector and region, and can now draw on their collective experience to find innovative and creative ways of approaching their shared challenges.

New Community Leadership Programme in 2009

We are currently seeking another partner to create our next community programme which will begin during 2009. If you would like to know more click here.

"The opening of the mind, the expansion of the capabilities, the lessons on sustainable relationships and environments are all encased in this programme. Without investment in programmes like those offered by Excelerator to expand our world, New Zealand and its people will definately lag behind."

Nicole Donahoe

Owner of Waipoua Lodge, Waipoua