Making a difference to child health

By TOM CLARKE

Biomedical scientist Nicole Bassett is committed to doing the best she can for the welfare of children.

She has become executive director of the Variety Club which raises funds to help sick, needy and disadvantaged children.

"Everything I have done throughout my career has been focused on child health and making a difference," she says. "That has always been my essential driving force."

She spent 15 years in child health research working with Professor Peter Gluckman as part of his internationally respected research team at the University of Auckland, then developed the School of Medicine Foundation's fundraising portfolio to support research, teaching and student scholarships.

As executive officer of the foundation she worked as a liaison point between the scientific world and potential backers of research in the corporate community.

"To me it was an opportunity to sell science and promote it, and say how fantastic it was while still maintaining some link with the scientific community," she says. "At the same time it also allowed me to move into a more corporate strategic position which was what I wanted to do.

"Now that I'm working for Variety, I'm aiming to still assist in making a difference by helping children who are sick, needy or often just disadvantaged."

She hopes that the $1 million plus that Variety puts into this area each year can be doubled over the next five years.

To do that she plans to raise the public profile of Variety and emphasise that it is not just about entertainers and show business people doing things for children.

"Those are vehicles that help us attract the funds, but in fact anybody can be involved with Variety, whether it's donating something by way of goods or time, or assisting us with services that help to make an event happen," she says.

As well as her role with the School of Medicine Foundation, she was also instrumental in laying the foundations for the University of Auckland's first major research institute, the Liggins Institute.

Dr Bassett has a PhD in paediatrics and has a specific interest in the areas of foetal growth and development, and the nutrient transfer from mother to baby. She also has a business masters degree in human resources management.

She has two children, is president of the Auckland Academy of Dance and vice-chairman of the Peninsula Primary Schools' board of trustees

Variety's annual bash - which aims to raise about $500,000 - is working its way from Auckland to New Plymouth, via Kaitaia.