New Zealand Coaching & Mentoring Centre

If you're a not for profit leader, (or leading anyone) you've probably been told that you should be coaching your team. But with never-ending meetings, KPIs, and the daily juggle, coaching can feel like a “nice-to-have” rather than a non-negotiable.

The truth is, regular coaching isn’t just a fluffy add-on to leadership—it’s one of the most powerful ways to build capability, boost engagement, and get results.

Regular coaching by senior policy writers plays a critical role in building capability and confidence among less experienced staff. Through structured coaching conversations, emerging policy advisors gain insight into how experienced practitioners analyse complex issues, balance evidence and risk, and craft clear, well-reasoned advice for Ministers and stakeholders. This accelerates learning beyond formal training and helps newer staff develop sound judgement, stronger writing skills, and a deeper understanding of the organisation’s quality standards and expectations.

As demand for our coaching, mentoring and supervision services continues to grow, we’re delighted to have expanded our team to ensure we have the capacity to support our clients and participants well.

We’re thrilled to welcome Senior Associates Dr Suzanne Henwood and Damian D’Cruz, along with Training Support Specialist Nathalie van Dort.

The New Zealand Coaching & Mentoring Centre has recently entered an exciting new chapter. After many years of working together as three directors, one of our directors has retired and another has established their own independent practice, specialising in senior leadership coaching.

It feels like both an ending and a beginning. I’m incredibly grateful for the years of collaboration, ideas and shared work that have helped shape the Centre into what it is today.

And I’m also really excited about taking on sole ownership of the Centre and putting my full focus into what I love most – developing people through high-quality coaching, mentoring and supervision training. While the ownership structure has changed, our commitment to practical, relevant and engaging learning remains the same.

Organisations today face a common challenge: how do you develop leaders at scale while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning across the business?

Traditional leadership development programmes often rely heavily on external expertise, formal training, and one-to-one coaching. While these approaches have value, they can be expensive, difficult to scale, and may not fully leverage one of the organisation's greatest assets—its own people.

Peer coaching groups offer a powerful alternative.

Working in the not-for-profit sector is often a calling rather than just a career. People come into these roles with deep compassion, a drive to make a difference, and a willingness to walk alongside those experiencing hardship, trauma, and systemic injustice. But while the mission is meaningful, the emotional toll can be significant.