Ep 10. Mark Longbottom, CEO Heart Kids New Zealand: People, Purpose and Podcasting!

The Charity CEO Podcast

“Less about egos and logos and let’s think more about mission and (those) whose lives we are trying to help and change... People first, Mission always.”

With 12 babies every week born with Congenital Heart Defects in New Zealand and just one specialist hospital in the entire country that can provide treatment, Heart Kids New Zealand provides a lifeline of vital care and support for children, young people and families affected by these incurable conditions.

Mark Longbottom is CEO of Heart Kids New Zealand by day and podcast host of the Purposely Podcast by night.

Mark lived in the UK and worked in the UK voluntary sector for nearly 20 years before moving back to his home country of New Zealand in 2019. In this episode we talk about the differences between the charity sectors in New Zealand and the UK, the work of Heart Kids, and of course Jacinda Arden!

We share our experiences podcasting and why we think its a good idea for charities to consider launching their own podcasts.

Recorded December 2020.

Guest Biography

Mark has 25 years of nonprofit experience both in the UK and New Zealand, leading fundraising, events, service delivery, community engagement, and commercial functions in well-known charities such as The Prince's Trust, MS Society, Terrence Higgins Trust, Auckland City Mission, New Zealand Aids Foundation and Auckland Foundation.

Mark is currently Chief Executive of Heart Kids New Zealand, a charity providing lifelong care and support to children, young people and families impacted by childhood heart defects or CHDs.

Previous to that he was Head of the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation for over a decade. The Foundation is the seventh largest corporate foundation in the UK and it is the charitable arm of St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

Mark is also the Founder of the Purposely Podcast, interviewing inspirational people. Purposely was set up to amplify the stories of founders and leaders of nonprofits, charities, for-purpose businesses, as well as social entrepreneurs.

Mark’s hope is that Purposely will inspire other people to make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of people living in our communities and those who need the help the most.

Links

https://heartkids.org.nz/

https://www.purposelypodcast.com/