ABOUT ANZAAN
Building Stronger Alumni Associations
ANZAAN is the network created to connect, support and strengthen school alumni associations across Australia and New Zealand - so every organisation can operate with confidence, purpose and lasting impact.
WHO WE ARE
A community created for alumni leaders
ANZAAN - the Australia New Zealand Alumni Association Network — is a growing community created to support school alumni associations, old boys' and old girls' organisations, past students' groups, foundations, and community leaders who believe alumni organisations play an important role in the life of a school.
Across both countries, thousands of volunteers and committees give their time to keep alumni communities connected. They organise reunions, preserve traditions, support students, celebrate achievements, and help schools remain strong for future generations.
Yet many associations are working through the same questions, often in isolation.
Sound familiar? These are the questions ANZAAN exists to help answer:
- How should an alumni association be structured?
- What does good governance look like?
- How can member data be managed responsibly?
- How do we stay relevant to younger alumni?
- How do we add value to our school while maintaining our own identity?
- How do we create meaningful membership benefits?
- How can we support fundraising, scholarships, and endowment growth in the right way?
WHY WE EXIST
Alumni asociations need to evolve
Many alumni associations were formed decades ago in a different era. Expectations have changed, technology has changed, privacy laws have changed, and the needs of members have changed.
Today's successful alumni organisations need to be more than custodians of history. They need to become modern community organisations that create connection, relevance, opportunity and long-term value.
ANZAAN exists to help associations evolve confidently into that future - providing a place where leaders can learn from one another, share practical solutions, avoid common mistakes, and access ideas that have already worked elsewhere.
Rather than every organisation trying to solve the same issues alone, we believe progress is faster when knowledge is shared.
WHAT WE FOCUS ON
Supporting associations in the areas that matter most
ANZAAN concentrates on the practical challenges that alumni associations face every day - from governance and data to events and fundraising.
🏛️
Governance & Structure
Helping committees and boards operate effectively with clear purpose, good decision-making, succession planning and strong foundations.
📣
Membership Growth & Relevance
Supporting associations to attract younger members, improve engagement and create reasons for people to stay connected.
🔒
Data & Privacy
Sharing best practice around alumni databases, consent, communications, and working within modern privacy expectations.
🤝
School Relationships
Helping associations build productive partnerships with schools while retaining their own identity and voice.
🎉
Events & Community Building
From reunions to networking evenings, mentoring events and regional gatherings - creating experiences that bring people together.
🏦
Fundraising & Future Giving
Exploring how alumni communities can support scholarships, endowment funds, capital projects and future generations.
💰
Revenue & Sustainability
Helping associations consider membership models, sponsorship, partnerships and sustainable income streams.
WHO ANZAAN IS FOR
Built for everyone who cares about alumni
ANZAAN welcomes organisations and individuals involved in all aspects of school alumni and community engagement — whether your association is highly established or just beginning to modernise.
If you believe alumni organisations play an important role in the life of a school, ANZAAN is designed to be valuable to you.
WHY COLLABORATION MATTERS
No two schools are identical, but many alumni challenges are
One organisation may have already solved member data issues that another is still struggling with.
Another may have built a thriving annual reunion programme that others could replicate.
Another may have developed strong sponsorship revenue through a model worth sharing.
Another may have found a modern membership model that keeps younger alumni engaged.
When those lessons are shared, everyone benefits.
That is the power of ANZAAN.
OUR INAUGURAL CONFERENCE
Where it all begins
ANZAAN concentrates on the practical challenges that alumni associations face every day - from governance and data to events and fundraising.
ANZAAN's first conference will be held on 5 June 2026, hosted by St Peter's School Cambridge. The event will bring together alumni leaders, committee members and school representatives from across the region to discuss the future of alumni associations and establish practical best practice for the years ahead.
Topics include:
Endowment fund building
Data sharing and privacy law
Creating value for schools
Membership engagement
Governance best practice
Sponsorship and revenue opportunities
Events and community connection
Future opportunities for alumni networks
INAUGURAL EVENT
ANZAAN Conference 2026
Friday 5th June 2026
St. Peter's School, Cambridge, New Zealand
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Help shape the future of alumni associations
ANZAAN is only just beginning. Our long-term goal is to become the leading community for school alumni associations across Australia and New Zealand - providing annual conferences, practical resources, benchmarking, shared research, and an active network of leaders helping one another succeed.
