For over twenty years, she thrived as a corporate marketing executive, overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets for prominent insurance, investment, and banking companies in New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland.
However, when she faced redundancy in the aftermath of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Linda saw it as an opportunity to fulfill her long-held desire to support underfunded charities.
“I wanted to make a tangible difference and feel proud of my work at the end of the day,” she explained. “Volunteering has always been a part of my life, from my teenage years to fostering children with my husband.”
She took on roles as the head of marketing, communications, and fundraising at Lifeline (2010-15) and later served as the chief executive at Garden to Table (2015-21).
Drawing from her corporate and charity sector experiences, Linda pursued a doctorate in business administration at the University of Otago.
“I was driven to conduct research and address the frustrations I had encountered in both sectors,” she shared. “Complaining without taking action is futile.”
Despite facing a challenging battle with breast cancer midway through her studies, Linda credited her family and the support from charities like the Cancer Society of New Zealand for helping her persevere.
Her doctoral research focused on charity funding behaviors, aiming to provide valuable insights for funding decision-makers in New Zealand.
After successfully defending her dissertation, Linda proudly graduated with a Doctor of Business Administration at Dunedin Town Hall.
Currently, she divides her time between teaching leadership and business development at Queenstown Resort College and supporting non-profit organizations through Weave Together, a social enterprise charity working with 52 community groups in Otago.
Contact: john.lewis@odt.co.nz
