Marion Short

Marion is an experienced CEO in the not-for-profit sector with extensive senior management experience in the private sector and over 15 years’ experience working within collaborative models. She has a proven track record in strategy, achieving organisational goals, strategic partnerships, and advocacy and policy initiatives.

In her role as CEO of WasteMINZ (a diverse membership-based organisation operating in the waste, resource recovery and contaminated land sector in New Zealand), she initiated the introduction of the ‘three pillars’ strategy focusing on: increasing professionalism; knowledge development and sharing; and support and advocacy services. This strategic shift to a ‘value delivery focus’ placed the membership body at the heart of the organisation, increased membership engagement and satisfaction levels.

At the Graeme Dingle Foundation (a child and youth charity delivering evidence-based programmes to improve the health, education and well-being of vulnerable young people) Marion initiated strategies and initiatives to build a fit for purpose organisation; implemented a Community Partner Strategic Advisory Group achieving co-ownership of the strategic plan; led the development and introduction of a ready-for-work programme ‘Career Navigator’; and worked closely with Universities and other research organisations on shared research projects to continue to strengthen programmes, delivery and the sector.

Marion has an MBA from Henley Management College, UK where her dissertation was a strategic research project framed around stakeholder management (she personally prefers the term ‘engagement’ over ‘management’) and knowledge sharing principles. Other areas included motivational theory, reputation management and collaborative models.

Marion grew up in the Northern Territory, has been married to Kevin for almost 30 years and is enormously proud of her two adult sons.