1. May 28, 09:00
Regent’s University, London
KONNECT
ALUMNIdiscover the new age of alumni relations
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3. WELCOME TO KONNECT ALUMNI
On behalf of KonnectAgain, I am delighted to welcome you
all here this morning to Regent’s University London for the
Konnect Alumni Conference.
With a fantastic lineup of presenters, the conference is sure to explore and discuss topics
of interest to all of us present. Our attendees this morning span the entire education sector,
industry and government. We are all interested in alumni relations, and we all wish to see
the discipline grow and develop.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to be here with us. You are forward thinkers. You
are open to change, learning from others, and adopting best practices in your field.
We are delighted to be joined by a whole host of speakers and panellists who have travelled
far and wide to be with us today. On behalf of everyone at KonnectAgain, I would like to
thank them sincerely for the many hours of time and talent that they’ve devoted to ensure
an inspiring day for all of us.
At KonnectAgain, we’ve spent the past year growing our team, building our product and
getting to know and understand our industry. We have travelled across Europe and the US,
meeting with the people on the ground, learning from them and building a solution to help
bring alumni relations to the 21st century.
It is our hope that today’s conference is only the beginning. If each of you can take
something away from today - be that a new contact who can help you grow your offering or
a new way of doing things that can improve your day to day activities, I’m sure it will go a
long way in building a strong reputable culture for alumni relations in the UK. This cultural
shift is not something that cannot happen overnight, but if each of us start today, and work
together, we can evoke real change.
I look forward to meeting with you all throughout the day.
Kind Regards,
Aidan Murphy
Marketing Director
KonnectAgain
KonnectAlumniConference|May28|WELCOME|pg1
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4. SCHEDULE
Registration
Welcome & Introduction
Diaspora Matters with Kingsley Aikins
Kingsley is the Founder and CEO of Diaspora Matters. His particular interest, focus and passion is the
whole area of Diasporas and how countries, organizations, regions, cities, companies and individuals
can build Diaspora networks for mutual advantage.
The Social Era
This panel, consisting of leading alumni relations professionals and social media experts, will discuss
the value of engagement and how instutitutions can utilise technology and social media to engage with
alumni on their level. They will discuss what makes a good alumni community and how institutions can
reap the rewards.
Charles Hardy, Education Engagement Lead, LinkedIn
Stephen O’Leary, Media Analyst at Olytico
Daniel Porter Jones, Deputy Director of Development at the Royal Northern College of Music
Khen Nirnfeld, Development Data and Research Officer at Regent’s University London
Coffee & Networking Break - Knapp Gallery
Sponsored by Qualtrics
Stephen O’Leary
Stephen O’Leary is a media analyst at Olytico, an online media and social media monitoring and analysis
company. As well as an Irish and international client list, research and analysis carried out by Olytico
has been used by major national and international broadcasters including RTE, TV3, BBC and The
Washington Post. Stephen has produced an insightful piece of research focussing on the online speak
of alumni in the UK and will share his findings with all of us today.
The Changing Landscape of UK Alumni Relations
Alumni Relations in the United Kingdom has developed rapidly in recent years. Our panellists represent
a broad range of institutions and have vast experience in educational advancement across the UK. The
discussion will focus on the future of alumni relations and fundraising going forward.
Sue Rees, Head of Alumni Relations at City University London
David Whitaker, Head of Development and Alumni Relations at Regent’s University London
John McLoughlin, Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Philanthropy at University of Kent
Holly Peterson, Head of Constituency Engagement at University of London
Liza Bennigson
Liza Bennigson has spent over a decade in development positions at non-profits and schools. She has
left her most recent post as the Director of Alumni Relations at Menlo School in Atherton, California to
join KonnectAgain’s global team, and will present her findings on the latest alumni relations trends.
Closing Remarks by Aidan Murphy, KonnectAgain
9:00AM
9:30AM
9:40AM
10:00AM
11:00AM
11:30AM
12:00PM
14:00PM
15:30PM
Networking Lunch - Knapp Gallery13:00PM
Business Demands Innovation: Alumni Relations in Global Business Schools
Alumni Directors from some of the World’s leading Business Schools will share their tips and tools of
the trade with a European audience.
Joan Adams Hewitt, Director of Alumni Relations at The Wharton School
Meredith Pierce Hunter, Director of Development & Alumni Relations at London Business School
Craig McKenna - Senior Director of Alumni & Institutional Relations at INSEAD
14:30PM
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5. KonnectAlumniConference|May28|DIASPORAMATTERS|pg3
DIASPORA MATTERS
When I got into this field, I didn’t know what
the word diaspora meant. I thought it was
something you took two of with a headache.
The word actually has Greek origins, ‘dia’
meaning over and ‘speiro’ meaning scattering.
The word was traditionally associated with
the Jews and Israel, but in recent years the
notion of diaspora has gone mainstream. In
1990, there were 150 million people living in a
country other than the one they were born in.
Today, that number is over 240 million people.
Every country possesses, in varying degrees,
‘Diaspora Capital’ which is made up of flows of
people, knowledge and finance.
So, obviously, I believe Diaspora Matters.
The information age is over and we now live
in the networked age. In this new world the
measurement of power is connectedness.
So, connecting matters, and for Universities,
colleges, schools and institutions it really
matters. An interesting way to look at this field
is to change our vocabulary and to refer to
Universities having Diasporas and countries
having alumni. The same principles of
networking apply to both.
KonnectAgain understands the importance of
networking, and they apply the concept, using
technology to engage alumni with content that
is relevant. For me, networking is the most
important skill in business. It is not taught at
University, and I’m not sure why. Networking
is all about building long-term sustainable
relationships. Networking is about being world
class listeners. There is a problem in the world
we live in; people only listen to prepare what they
want to say next, rather than to hear what the
other person is saying. This, I believe is the crux
of the problem with alumni relations, and why it
performs so poorly. Less than 1% of graduates
donate back to Irish institutions. In the United
States, where alumni relations is perceived to be
successful, it is still only at 10%.
Alumni relations departments need to become
world class listeners. They need to hear what
their alumni are doing. They need to know
where in the world they are. They need to
know what interests they have. They need
to know how influential they are. If alumni
relations departments listen, and understand
their alumni, they will network better. They
will connect better, and ultimately build a long
term sustainable relationship.
KonnectAgain understands the importance
of engagement and the importance of
networking. This conference is an example
of this. The industry needs rejuvenation.
KonnectAgain is facilitating the first step.
They are building a global network of alumni
relations professionals. They are bringing you
together in one room to discuss the future of
the industry. It is now up to you, to build a long
term sustainable relationship with this network.
I look forward to speaking with you all today,
at what’s sure to be a fantastic conference!
Kingsley
Kingsley Aikins has worked with over 20 countries helping develop their
Diaspora strategies, including the 4 leading countries of Ireland, India, Israel
and China. Prior to setting up Diaspora Matters he worked for the Ireland
Funds for 21 years based in Sydney, Boston and Dublin.
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6. CHARLES HARDY
EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT LEAD, EMEA, LINKEDIN
Charles is leading LinkedIn’s engagement with Education across
Schools, Universities and Business Schools in Europe.
Charles is leading LinkedIn’s high priority drive on Higher Education
and Students / Graduates. Around the world this is the fastest growing
demographic on LinkedIn, as students realise that it is the place to create
and grow their “professional brand” and engage with “employers of choice.”
STEPHEN O’LEARY
MEDIA ANALYST, OLYTICO
Stephen O’Leary is a media analyst at Olytico, an online media and
social media monitoring and analysis company.
As well as an Irish and international client list, research and analysis
carried out by Olytico has been used by major national and international
broadcasters including RTE, TV3, BBC and The Washington Post.
Stephen is a World Economic Forum Young Global Shaper and a board
member of the Irish Internet Association.
He is a highly regarded conference speaker having addressed audiences at
events including the Sport and New Media Conference in Paris, the Dublin
Web Summit, DMX, The MBA Conference and the National Digital Media and
Marketing Summit.
The Social Era
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PANEL 1
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7. DANIEL PORTER JONES
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, ROYAL
NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC
Daniel has recently joined the Royal Northern College of
Music (RNCM) after four years at the University of South
Wales (USW) as Alumni Relations and Development
Manager. The RNCM is a leading international conservatoire
located in Manchester.
Having set up Alumni Relations and Development offices at USW
and previously at the University of West London, he is experienced in
developing and implementing digital solutions to analogue problems
in new environments.
Daniel holds degrees from the University of Huddersfield in Computing
and Psychology, and the University of South Wales in Music Industry
Entrepreneurship.
KHEN NIRNFELD
DEVELOPMENT DATA AND RESEARCH OFFICER,
REGENT’S UNIVERSITY LONDON
Khen manages online data resources and prospect research
at Regent’s University London. Having previously worked on
the development of student representation and employability
skills development in HE, Khen is currently working on
social media integration to support data enhancement
and promotion of the Development & Alumni Relations
programme at Regent’s.
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8. Social networks provide alumni associations with an incredible
opportunity to connect with their members.
However, these social networks are often treated as broadcast
tools – used to keep alumni informed about what’s going on, and
requesting their participation, support and donations.
Often this misses the true value that can lie in social networks –
and that is the insight to be gained from listening.
For Konnect Alumni London, Olytico have analysed how and where
alumni talk, and are talked about, online in the UK.
This research will be presented for the first time on 28th May
2015.
KonnectAlumniConference|May28|THEPOWEROFLISTENINGTOALUMNIINTHEUK|pg6
SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYSIS
THE POWER OF LISTENING TO ALUMNI IN THE UK
STEPHEN O’LEARY
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10. KonnectAlumniConference|May28|PANEL2|pg8
HOLLY PETERSON
Head of Constituency Engagement at the University of
London
Holly Peterson joined the University of London on 11 May 2015 as Head
of Constituency Engagement. Holly was most recently Head of Alumni
and Supporter Relations at the University of Cambridge, and she has
more than 20 years’ experience in development, communications and
alumni relations. Prior to Cambridge, Holly was the Deputy Director of
Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Exeter, where
she was a senior member of the team that successfully managed the
“Creating a world-class University together” campaign, which raised
£23 million, and set and exceeded the first alumni volunteer campaign
goal in the UK. Holly’s work has also included posts at SOAS, Hollins
University, The Nature Conservancy, and World Learning.
Holly holds a BA in Communications Studies from Hollins University (for
which she co-chairs the UK alumnae chapter) and an MSc (distinction)
in New Media, Information and Society from the London School of
Economics.
DAVID WHITAKER
Head of Development and Alumni Relations at Regent’s
University London
David joined Regent’s University London in 2008, and built an alumni
relations department from scratch. Starting with minimal paper
records, and an array of unmaintained data, David has built a global
programme with a strategic focus to empower Regent’s international
alumni community to make a real difference. He is supported by
the dedicated team of five that he has built to address the specific
challenges of Regent’s internationalized alumni base.
With over 15 years’ experience in development and alumni relations,
David’s career began at Oxford and has included establishing the first
alumni relations programme at the Courtauld Institute and senior roles in
development and alumni relations at ZSL and University of the Arts.
The Changing Landscape of UK Alumni
Relations
PANEL 2
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11. JOHN MCLOUGHLIN
Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Philanthropy,
University of Kent
John is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Centre for Philanthropy,
at the University of Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and
Social Research. John is also an independent adviser in the areas
of major gift fundraising and philanthropy with a particular focus on
international giving and strategy. John has over 25 years’ experience
leading fundraising and alumni relations teams in British universities
(including LSE, King’s College London and Imperial College London) and
as Managing Director, Europe in the international consultancy, Global
Philanthropic.
In 2010 John co-edited the book Across Frontiers: New International
Perspectives on Educational Fundraising, published by CASE
A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, with a doctorate in medieval history,
John is strongly interested in the study of friendship networks and social
capital and in the history and sociology of philanthropy.
SUE REES
Head of Alumni Relations at City University London
Sue was appointed as Head of Alumni Relations at City University
London in 2012. Prior to joining City, Sue had been responsible for the
University of Ulster’s Alumni Relations programme since 1993.
Sue has been an active member of CASE (Council for the Advancement
and Support of Education) having been a member of the UK Committee,
a conference Track Chair, Co-Chair of the Annual Conference, and is
currently Chair of the International CASE Alumni Relations Survey (ICARS)
Sue has a BA Hons in Economics and History, a DMS and a PG Diploma in
Education Marketing.
KonnectAlumniConference|May28|PANEL2|pg9
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13. Liza Bennigson has spent over a decade in development positions at
non-profits and schools. She left her most recent post as the Director
of Alumni Relations at Menlo School in Atherton, California to join
KonnectAgain’s global team.
Liza is a serial networker, and finds alumni ecosystems fascinating and
unbelievably powerful. She co-founded an organization for Bay Area
Alumni Directors (BAAD), led and organized Association of Bay Area
Development Officers (ABADO) workshops, chaired alumni track and
presented at California Advancement Partnership for Schools (CAPS)
Conference 2010, twice-earned Stellar Speaker designation at the Council
for Advancement and Support of Education - National Association of
Independent Schools (CASE-NAIS) Conference 2011, was selected as
the only independent school faculty member for CASE Newcomers
Conference 2012, and served as co-Chair of CAPS Conference 2013.
Liza received a BA in Psychology from Trinity College in Hartford,
Connecticut.
#TRENDING
TOP 8 TRENDS THAT EVERY ALUMNI DIRECTOR
SHOULD KNOW
LIZA BENNIGSON
KonnectAlumniConference|May28|#TRENDING:TOP8TRENDSTHATEVERYALUMNIDIRECTORSHOULDKNOW|pg11
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14. JOAN ADAMS HEWITT
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS, THE WHARTON
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Joan joined Wharton in the Spring of 2005 as a Senior Associate
Director for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving and had
oversight for the Class Gift Campaign for the MBA Class, the
orchestration of MBA Reunion Weekend, fundraising from alumni
in reunion years and MBA and Student Programs. In 2009, Joan
assumed the position of Director of Alumni Relations and her
role expanded to include oversight for the 81 Wharton Clubs
in our global clubs network as well as serving as liaison to the
Alumni Executive Board.
Key areas for engagement that Joan is leading include Alumni Programs
and Events. Joan’s team is responsible for the execution of Wharton
Reunion Weekend which attracts over 2,000 alumni and their families
annually to campus to partake in educational and social programs and
events.
In order to bridge the transition from student to alumni, another area
of responsibility for Joan’s team is the implementation of student
programming for the undergraduate and MBA student constituencies. Joan
manages a team of six professionals and holds a B.S. degree from the
Wharton School.
CRAIG MCKENNA
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND INSTITUTIONAL
RELATIONS, INSEAD
As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business
schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to
change lives and to transform organisations.
With campuses in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore) and Abu Dhabi,
INSEAD’s business education and research spans three continents. More
than 1,300 students participate annually in INSEAD’s MBA, Executive MBA,
Specialised Master’s degrees and PhD programmes. In addition, more than
12,000 executives participate in INSEAD’s Executive Education programmes
each year.
Craig joined INSEAD in 2002 and was appointed as Director of Alumni &
Institutional relations in 2013 and subsequently the Senior Director in 2015.
Working with a team across campuses in France, Singapore and Abu Dhabi,
Craig has vast experience developing an alumni relations programme for a
truly global alumni base.
Business demands innovation: Alumni
Relations in Global Business Schools
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PANEL 3
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15. MEREDITH PIERCE HUNTER
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS,
LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL
Meredith Pierce Hunter is the Director of Development &
Alumni Relations at the London Business School, ranked
the world’s number one MBA programme in 2009, 2010, and
2011 by the Financial Times.
Prior to joining LBS, Meredith served as Vice President for External
Relations at Hollins University where she oversaw marketing,
advancement services, development, and alumnae relations for the
university. She came to Hollins from Harvard University where she
served as the Director of Advancement and Planning at the Radcliffe
Institute for Advanced Study and before that at the Women & Public
Policy Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Meredith has her B.A. in French and International Relations
from Hollins University and her M.B.A. from Simmons School of
Management in Boston.
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16. Matthew Walkley
Cambridge Judge
Business School
Karen Bevan
Ridley Hall,
Cambridge
Jos Jones
The City of
London School
for Girls
Luisa Barbaro
Birkbeck,
University of
London
Steven McAnulty
Hult International
Business School
Heather Eggelton
Cheltenham
Ladies’ College
Aidan Murphy
KonnectAgain
Jean de Villeneuve
Hult International
Business School
Rosanne Davidson
New College of
the Humanities
Louise Osborne
Falmouth
University
Rachelle Stretch
Trinity Hall,
Cambridge
Sarah Ryan
The Wharton School
Owen McCabe
Enterprise Ireland
Sara Collar
Trinity Hall,
Cambridge
Sarah Seedsman
Higher Education
Consultant
Tommy Dunton
KonnectAgain
KonnectAlumniConference|November14|ATTENDEELIST|pg12
ATTENDEE LIST
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17. Emma Bennett
Trinity Hall,
Cambridge
Amber Hall
Imperial College
Business School
Bea Nagy
Queen Mary
University of
London
Imogen Stevenson
Middlesex University
Therese Morley
Qualtrics
Jen Butler
Middlesex
University
Mark Roberts
St Chad’s College
Mark Carrigan
The Ireland
Funds
Beth Dowsett
Middlesex
University
Tracy Moore
University of
Strathclyde
Isabella Panatto-
ni-Wallace
Courtauld Institute
of Art
Emma Pryke
University of
Surrey
Daniel Keyworth
Blackbaud
Lucy Evans
University of
Surrey
Justin Bertwistle
Groupschemes.com
Elena Sugrue
Qualtrics
KonnectAlumniConference|November14|ATTENDEELIST|pg13
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