WILNZ
Work-Integrated Learning New Zealand (WILNZ) is an incorporated society and education non-profit that brings together a nationwide network of academics, educators, and institutions engaged in Work-Integrated Learning, the practice of embedding real-world experience into formal study. They publish research, host webinars, and run an annual conference to advance good practice in WIL across Aotearoa and globally. Like most NFPs of this kind, WILNZ runs on the goodwill of a volunteer board and committee, with every person on the team holding a demanding day job alongside their WILNZ responsibilities.
The Challenge
A volunteer-run organisation can only stretch so far. WILNZ had reached a point where the administrative load was outrunning the team’s capacity, and things were starting to fall through the cracks. There was no central filing system, no clear accountability for who was delivering what, and no one following up when deadlines slipped. The treasurer needed help getting on top of the financials. Membership processes weren’t automated. Newsletters were getting delayed because content had to be gathered from multiple stakeholders without anyone coordinating the process. They needed a reliable operational hand, not someone to take over, but someone to make sure nothing quietly disappeared.
Project Seven Solution
- Establishing a central file management and organisational system to bring structure to the admin
- Setting up accountability frameworks and deadline tracking around key committee deliverables
- Financial records management in conjunction with the treasurer, including membership invoicing and receipt processing
- Membership administration: renewals, new member queries, and database maintenance
- Newsletter compilation via Mailchimp: gathering content from across the committee and assembling it for distribution
- Website content updates as required (content only — no development)
- Event communications support: coordinating with organisers to identify WILNZ requirements and communicating these to members
- Ongoing executive assistance to keep the day-to-day moving between board meetings
The Results
- Centralised filing and administrative systems in place for the first time
- Clear accountability structures and deadline tracking across committee deliverables
- Financial records actively maintained, treasurer workload significantly reduced
- Membership processes running consistently within agreed monthly hours
- Regular newsletters going out on schedule
