Giving back

Dr Nicole Bassett’s eclectic career took her from young scientist, working with giants Sir Mont Liggins and Sir Peter Gluckman, to a development manager for the Liggins Institute (named after Sir Mont) and Auckland Bioengineering Institute, where she matches donors with research that needs support. Along the way, she raised two children as a solo mum.

“What seemed like a bunch of unrelated skills are now ones I use every day. Sir Peter and Sir Mont taught me to think outside the box, look for the unusual, never be afraid of trying something new, and how serendipity can be exciting. That thrill of discovery still drives me.

“I had my son while finishing my PhD and had my daughter in Canada while I was doing my post doc and then found myself a single mum with two babies. If it hadn’t been for Mum’s encouragement to finish what I had started, I would have quit, come home and lived with her. She was right because I won an HRC Repatriation Fellowship to return here.

“Moving into philanthropy was a natural progression for me. In the mid 1990’s research funding was really hard to get and I was spending more time writing grants and justifying my existence than actually doing research. I had the opportunity to work with the School of Medicine Foundation to bridge the gap between research staff and prospective donors by explaining projects. Speaking at scientific conferences had made me an accomplished public speaker and not afraid of a big audience, so speaking to donors was easy.

“Sometimes I get to help a first-time donor to decide what they want to give to. It’s hugely gratifying to help donors achieve meaningful philanthropy while helping researchers advance science that can benefit so many people.”