Results of the New Zealand-Wide Benchmarking SurveyWe share results of our survey revealing strengths, weaknesses and opportunities across alumni organisations, helping delegates benchmark performance and identify the highest-impact improvements.
INAUGURAL CONFERENCE | 5 JUNE 2026
Foundations
& Futures
The ANZAAN Conference 2026
Friday 5th June
The first national ANZAAN conference for school alumni association leaders across Australia and New Zealand. Practical insights, proven frameworks, and the connections that will shape the future of your community.
The conference will take place at St. Peter's School, Cambridge.
WHY ANZAN EXISTS
Have any of the following questions crossed your mind?
- How do we remain relevant to our members?
- What does best-practice governance actually look like?
- How do we work constructively with the school while staying independent?
- How do we manage data and privacy obligations correctly?
- How do we create real membership value?
- How do we support fundraising without only being seen as a fundraising vehicle?
- How do we build and grow a meaningful endowment fund?
Then this is the conference for you.
You're solving the same problems - alone.
Across Australia and New Zealand, thousands of dedicated volunteers and professionals run school alumni associations. They preserve heritage, connect communities, and support schools. Yet most are working in isolation, reinventing the wheel, without a peer network to turn to.
ANZAAN changes that. This conference is your room full of people who understand exactly what you're dealing with.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
A full day of ideas you can use immediately
Every session is designed for practitioners - committee members, advancement directors, trustees and school leaders who want real answers, not theory. Below is a snapshot of the topics that will be covered.
Problem-Solving Workshop: Creating Value for MembersThis delegate interactive workshop tackles common alumni challenges with practical ideas on growth, engagement, volunteers, communication and stronger school relationships.
Building and Growing Endowment FundsLearn how endowment funds are built, promoted and grown to secure long-term financial futures for schools.
Data Sharing, Privacy Law and Member CommunicationsPrivacy law myths often limit engagement. This session explains what organisations can legally do, what they should do and what they must avoid.
How to Ensure the Alumni Association Is Valued by the SchoolDiscover what schools value most from alumni associations and how stronger partnerships create better outcomes.
How to Make Membership of the Organisation Valued by MembersMembership must offer real value through benefits, connection and pride. What can you do for your members to value their membership more.
Building Loyalty and BelongingMembership must offer real value through benefits, connection and pride. What can you do for your members to value their membership more.
Events That Strengthen Connection and LoyaltyWell-run events deepen relationships, boost pride and create ongoing engagement beyond the event itself.
Governance & Committee EffectivenessHigh-performing committees need clarity, accountability, succession planning and strong governance to succeed long term.
Commercial Partnerships and Sponsorship OpportunitiesGenerate income beyond fees and donations through sponsorships, partnerships and monetising organisational assets.
Pre-Conference Networking Dinner
Thursday 4th June 2026
Join fellow delegates the evening before the conference for a relaxed networking dinner at The Clements Hotel. A great opportunity to meet peers, make connections, and start the ANZAAN conference experience ahead of the main event.
Partners are warmly welcome, and with preferred rates available at local hotels, why not make a weekend of it?
Networking Dinner is optional. Charged in addition to conference fee.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Built for the people who do the work
✓
Alumni Association Leadership Teams & Committee Members✓
Alumni Relationship Managers & Advancement Directors✓
Trustees & Board Representatives✓
School Principals & Leaders✓
Executive Officers & Coordinators✓
Old Boys' & Old Girls' Association Leaders✓
Past Parents' & Friends' Association Leaders✓
Volunteers Committed to Alumni EngagementWHY ATTEND
Leave with ideas you can implement next week
Every session is built around one question: What can you do with this when you get home?
Proven Frameworks
Take away governance templates, membership models, event playbooks and data guidance you can adapt immediately.
Your Peer Network
Meet the people running associations just like yours. Build relationships that continue long after the day itself.
Expert Speakers
Legal, governance, fundraising, loyalty and technology experts speaking specifically to the challenges of school alumni associations.
Benchmark Your Association
See how your organisation compares to others across NZ and Australia - and identify exactly where to focus your energy.
Shape Best Practice
Be part of setting the standard for how alumni associations operate. This is the founding cohort of a movement.
Worth the Trip
Cambridge is easily accessible from across the country - and the day is designed to make every kilometre absolutely worth it.
THE VENUE
St. Peter's School, Cambridge
One of New Zealand's leading independent schools, St Peter's School provides an extraordinary setting for a conference about building lasting alumni communities. Their own alumni programme is a model for the sector.
The Head of St. Peter's will share what makes an alumni association truly valued - and how a great association becomes one of a school's most powerful assets.
DATE
Thursday 4th June 2026
Pre-Conference Networking Event
Friday 5th June 2026
ANZAAN Conference
LOCATION
St Peter's School Cambridge, New Zealand
GETTING HERE
90 minutes from Auckland | 20 minutes from Hamilton Airport
RESERVE YOUR PLACE
Be part of something historic for our sector
Spaces are limited. Book your tickets today.
ABOUT ANZAAN
A network built by the sector, for the sector
ANZAAN - the Australia New Zealand Alumni Association Network - exists because the challenges facing school alumni associations are shared, but the solutions have historically been siloed.
We're creating the infrastructure for alumni association leaders to learn from one another, share what works, and build stronger organisations together. The inaugural conference is where this community begins.
Shared Knowledge & Best Practice
Frameworks, governance templates, and proven operational models — all accessible to members.
Annual Conferences & Events
A national gathering each year to connect, learn, and push the sector forward together.
Governance & Compliance Guidance
Practical help on data, privacy, incorporated societies law and electronic communications.
Membership & Engagement Ideas
Case studies and expert insight on growing membership and creating genuine value for members.
School Partnership Support
Guidance on building constructive, productive relationships between associations and schools.
Our Sponsors
