Mark Longbottom
on amplifying stories that drive positive change

Mark Longbottom sees sustainability as a hardy perennial — steady, deep-rooted, and resilient through the storms of change. His own journey, nurtured by loyal friendships and a clear sense of purpose, reflects this same unwavering commitment.

“The sun will rise tomorrow,” Mark says, sharing a simple mantra that keeps him grounded. It reminds him that every challenge brings new opportunity, and progress — not perfection — is the true goal.

Mark’s path was shaped early on during his time at Auckland City Mission, where a mentor inspired him to believe that meaningful work can also be your livelihood. Now, as Head of Community Engagement at Trust Investments, he channels that ethos by amplifying the stories of people who are making a positive difference to society and the environment.

Through his podcast, Purposely, Mark elevates changemakers and social entrepreneurs who are rewriting business as usual — sharing tales of vision, sacrifice, doubt, and perseverance. “Stories shape culture, so let’s make sure we’re telling the right ones,” he says.

His biggest challenge? Resource scarcity — not just funding, but time, talent, and genuine backing. He sees enormous potential for impact when sectors break down silos and collaborate more deeply.

Inspired by Māori values of respect for whakapapa, whānau, and community, Mark believes Aotearoa’s nimbleness and openness to bold ideas give it a unique edge in creating a sustainable future.

If he could plant one seed of change, it would be to lift up the quiet builders and connectors whose work benefits us all — and to drown out the noise of winners-take-all.

Read Mark’s full reflections for BLOOMING Sustainability and take this with you: Be curious, ask questions, and listen — really listen.

BLOOMING Sustainability Questionnaire

Name: Mark Longbottom

Company & Title: Head of Community Engagement at Trust Investments

Website & LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-longbottom-27225a44/

* Guiding Values | Kaupapa

If sustainability were a flower blooming in your life, what would it look like? What nurtures it?

If sustainability were a flower in my life, it’d be a hardy perennial — steady, deep-rooted, and not afraid of a few storms. It’s fed by loyalty, long-time friends, and a clear sense of purpose. Same crew since school and my twenties in London! same drive for something better. Every now and then, it catches a bit of starlight… and the odd hit of adrenaline to keep things interesting.

A quote, personal motto or whakataukī that reflects your vision:

“The sun will rise tomorrow.”

Simple, but it keeps things in perspective. No matter the challenge or mistake, you get another go. That mindset helps me stay grounded in purpose, respectful of others, and open to what’s next. Believe in progress, not perfection — and never lose sight of the bigger picture.

If you could mentor a rising change-maker in Aotearoa, what advice would you share?

First: believe in yourself. You’ve got something unique, and the world needs it.

Second: listen more than you speak — like, really listen. That’s where insight, trust, and impact begin.

Don’t be afraid of the messy bits. The path won’t be straight, and it shouldn’t be. Stick to your purpose, enjoy the ride, and learn from your toughest moments — they’re the ones that shape you.

Have fun along the way. Stay humble. Think big — not just for yourself, but for all of us. We thrive when we all thrive.

* Leading Change | Arataki

A key moment in your journey that shaped your path:

My first role at the Auckland City Mission — and my first boss, Greg Millar — shaped everything. Greg (now Head of Fundraising at IHC and a recent guest on my podcast) sold me a vision: that I could get paid to do work that actually mattered. That I could use my skills to make a lasting difference, and contribute to something bigger than myself. That idea stuck — and it still drives me.

What’s the main challenge you face in driving sustainability within your sector?

Resource scarcity — and not just money. Yes, funding matters, and many for-purpose leaders are incredibly skilled at making limited budgets go a long way (I’ve interviewed over 260 of them). But what’s also in short supply is time, talent, capacity, and backing — real backing — to help visionary social entrepreneurs scale their impact. The ambition and ideas are there. Imagine what could happen if we matched that with serious investment: financial, human, and relational.

An area you need more support with:

Collaboration. Let’s stop working in silos and start partnering more — across sectors, organisations, and disciplines. We’ll go further, faster, if we work with each other, not just alongside.

An Indigenous perspective you admire and want people to be mindful of:

I really admire the Māori emphasis on respect — for people, their whakapapa, their whānau, their journeys, and their elders. It’s a relational worldview that centres community, history, and identity. We’d all do well to carry that mindset more intentionally in our work.

Your best approach for engaging stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about ESG:

Make it interesting. Use stories. That’s what I try to do through my podcast, Purposely — amplify the voices of changemakers and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who are rethinking business as usual. We need to elevate these examples so our kids grow up with bold, hopeful models of how to lead with both purpose and profit.

What do you think is Aotearoa’s superpower in creating a sustainable future?

We’re small, we’re nimble, and we don’t have the kind of entrenched power structures that slow things down elsewhere. We can act fast, pivot quickly, and set bold examples for others to follow. That’s a rare and powerful position to be in — and we should lean into it.

* Surfing the Green Wave | Kakariki

Books, podcasts, courses or other resources that profoundly shaped your approach to sustainability:

Honestly, my biggest inspiration is the people I meet through my podcast. These for-purpose leaders — changemakers, social entrepreneurs, community organisers — are the real deal. I learn from them, feel connected to them, and share a sense of purpose with them. We’re united by values.

I gravitate towards audio content — especially authentic, vulnerable conversations with people who’ve taken a bold idea and made it real. There’s something powerful in that arc: vision + action + sacrifice + being doubted + keeping going — and then thriving. I love that story. I seek it out constantly.

Fiction? I’m terrible at it. But I do love The Hay Festival in the UK — tents, semi-warm pints, questionable weather, and a flood of writers talking origin stories, purpose, and how stories shape the world. That’s my kind of sustainability content.

Events in Aotearoa or globally that you think are must-attend:

The Auckland Writers Festival — always a standout.
The Hay Festival in the UK — despite its recent brush with greenwashing controversy (a good reminder that no one’s perfect).
Anywhere ideas, values, and stories collide — that’s where the good stuff happens.

A sustainable initiative or project in Aotearoa that deserves more attention:

Fundsorter — a smart new platform helping charities and for-purpose orgs find and access contestable grants faster and more effectively. It’s tackling a huge pain point and helping community-good orgs get on with the mahi. Big shoutout to co-founders Lani Evans, MNZM and Rod MacDonald — both quietly brilliant humans.

If your work could plant one seed of change for the future, what would it be?

To amplify the voices of good people — those working for others, for the planet, for the long game. Let’s give more airtime to the visionaries, the humble builders, the connectors — and drown out the winner-takes-all noise. Stories shape culture, so let’s make sure we’re telling the right ones.

The leader(s) you endorse for a future edition of Blooming Sustainability:

* One actionable takeaway for our readers to make a change today for a brighter tomorrow:

Be curious, ask questions and listen (really listen)

Mark Longbottom on amplifying stories that drive positive change

BLOOMING Sustainability Questionnaire

Mark Longbottom
on amplifying stories that drive positive change