Lead Programmes
Enter into a high-quality learning context, designed to grow your faith and understanding of God and the world.
As an educational institution, we help people embrace the riches of Scripture and the Christian tradition for the good of their homes, workplaces, universities, churches, and communities.
Through our Lead Programmes, Events & Courses, and Resources, we challenge people to think deeply, live faithfully, and serve wisely, to shape Aotearoa, New Zealand for the glory of God. These high-quality learning contexts are welcoming, demanding, and integrated. Participants are enabled to explore the human condition, full personhood, and the summons of the good news of Jesus Christ. We want to see people grow in wisdom and serve in areas such as business, politics, law, education, sport, media, and the arts.
We believe the gospel of Jesus Christ is for the whole of life. We see a great need to offer bespoke learning contexts that are thoughtful and practical for people called by God to service and leadership across all spheres of society. This requires learning contexts that go beyond Sunday morning and are not limited to formal qualification pathways for ministry or accredited theological study. As an independent and ecumenical educational institution, Venn is seeking to meet that need.
Enter into a high-quality learning context, designed to grow your faith and understanding of God and the world.
The good news of Jesus Christ addresses all of life. Gather with others for events and courses marked by hospitality, ongoing learning, and encouragement.
Be nourished by fresh and insightful resources that are thought-provoking and constructive.
Venn Foundation takes its name from the Venn family, one of three pivotal families in what became known as the Clapham Group. Over three generations, the Venn family played a significant role in fostering a community of friends and collaborators. This group was deeply shaped by the good news of Jesus Christ and sparked vibrant social and cultural change in nineteenth-century Britain and beyond.
From the abolition of slavery (led by William Wilberforce), to the establishment of more than 100 non-profits, numerous labour and welfare reforms, and the cultivating of compassion in their culture, this group sought to live out the good news in its fullness. Members of this group served in business, education, politics, justice, media, church, and the arts, for they believed there was no part of human society that should remain untouched by the good news of Jesus Christ.
Informed by their understanding of what it meant to be fully human, they turned their attention to British global policy. It was Sir James Stephen (son-in law of Rev. John Venn) who wrote the instructions that would inform the drafting of what became the Treaty of Waitangi. And it was Henry Williams from the Church Missionary Society—which was founded by Rev. John Venn and later led by his son Rev. Henry Venn—who translated the Treaty and advocated for it to be signed by the Māori chiefs.
Although the Treaty process was not perfect and would indeed suffer much distortion, the actions of the Clapham Group contributed to a unique partnership. Their honest intentions and genuine desire around the Treaty provide motivation for us as Māori and Pākehā, as we continue to pursue Treaty partnership today.
Their faith, their lives, and their work stand as testament to what can be effected by a group of people who choose to serve Jesus Christ faithfully and who wisely and imaginatively seek to shape their society.
The Venn family and the Clapham Group are a wellspring of inspiration for Venn Foundation. While recognising the differences between their context and ours, we, like them, help people to seek the flourishing of society.
Rebecca grew up in Ahipara, in the Far North. Motivated by a desire to help people, Rebecca completed a social work degree at the University of Otago and, through her studies, became increasingly passionate about the role of schools in providing care and opportunities for vulnerable teenagers. She completed a Postgraduate degree in Secondary Teaching, followed by teaching posts in Kaitaia and Queensland, Australia. Rebecca moved to Auckland in 2014 to complete her Masters dissertation on the provision of pastoral care in schools and now works as an Academic Manager at South Auckland Middle School. She serves on the Villa Education Trust Board. Rebecca has been involved in the Venn community for a number of years and has participated in both the Summer Conference and the Venn Vocational Programme, 2017.
John is raising his two young children, Gillian and Orson, alongside his wife Megan in Tauranga. He studied philosophy, psychology, and property and works as an asset manager at a small private fund. John’s desire to serve on Venn’s board flows from the impact Venn’s teaching has had on his faith, life, and work. He’s excited to be part of Venn’s expansion into vocational centres, particularly in business and the arts, and is looking forward to seeing people’s lives changed by the holistic teaching. John and his family worship at St. Luke’s Tauranga.
Setaita is a significant member of the Methodist Church. She was ordained to the church in 2013 and, since that time, has served as superintendent for the Tongan parish and synod, director of mission resourcing, president of women’s fellowship initatives, and a board member of the Methodist Mission. In 2018, Setaita became the first Pacific woman to be President Elect of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. She is deeply committed to serving her local community and was awarded an Honorary MNZM for services to the Pacific community. Setaita is married to Dr Maika Veikune and they have three children, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. Setaita and Maika live in Auckland.
Helen has extensive governance, non-profit leadership, management, and nursing experience. For 30 years, she worked in the Health system, initially as a nurse and then in management. She helped set up the first High Dependency Unit in Aotearoa at Waikato Hospital, established an ethical decision-making framework for end of life decisions, and was responsible for access to disability care throughout most of the North Island. In 2000, Helen was appointed CEO of World Vision NZ, the first woman to take leadership within the global organisation. Since leaving World Vision, Helen has undertaken roles in governance both in Aotearoa and internationally and consults for health and disability work in developing countries. Helen and her husband Peter live in Raglan. They have two adult children, Kirsty and Karen, and six grandchildren.
Margot is a nurse and midwife by trade, who has worked in many of Auckland’s hospitals. She has also worked in various pastoral and teaching roles in Equippers Church, her church of more than 25 years. Margot grew up on family land in Opuatia (Ngati Tiipa), surrounded by her large extended whānau. Married to Stu, they have three young-adult children and run their nationally franchised business, Sentinel Homes. She is particularly interested in helping young people outwork the call of God in every sphere of their lives, and in seeing how godly business can impact the world.