About Us

Leadership will shape the future of the Waikato, not strategy alone, not investment alone, but the quality of leadership by the people willing to step forward and lead.

In Waikato, that matters now more than ever. The challenges are complex, the opportunities significant, and no single sector can do it alone.

The Community & Enterprise Leadership Foundation (CELF), exists to grow the kind of leadership that can respond, connected, capable and grounded in purpose. We bring together leaders from business and community who are ready to stretch their thinking, understand the region more deeply, and play a bigger role in what comes next.

Through our flagship programme, **Leadership Waikato**, leaders step beyond their day-to-day and into a shared experience that builds perspective, confidence and connection. They see the region differently, challenge their assumptions, and engage alongside others who bring diverse voices and lived experience.

What sets this work apart is how we bring business and community together in a tangible way. Each sponsor backs two leaders, one from their organisation, and one from the community, creating a richer, more balanced cohort and strengthening the ties that underpin a thriving Waikato.

The result is more than a programme. It is a growing network of leaders who are better equipped, better connected, and committed to making a meaningful difference together.