Leisa is the Manager of Volunteer South in Dunedin and Waitaki. She has spent the last decade working in the volunteer sector and has set up volunteer programmes and supported volunteers across the country.

Helen Leahy is the Pouārahi / Chief Executive of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu; the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency for the South Island. From 1999-2015 Helen was Chief of Staff of the Māori Party, and Senior Ministerial Advisor for Dame Hon Tariana Turia. She was National Secretary for the Māori Party from its establishment in 2004 to 2014; and the author of ‘Crossing the Floor: the story of Tariana Turia” (2015). Helen was a member of the Expert Advisory Panel for the modernisation of Child, Youth and Family in 2015, and the Māori Design Team for Oranga Tamariki. She is also a member of the South Island Hauora Alliance and the national Disability Supports System Transformation working group. In 2017 Helen was awarded the Dame Tariana Turia award by Te Rau Matatini, for her contribution to Whānau Ora and whānau-centred practice.

I have over 15 years of leadership, HR and Management expertise, 7 of these within not-for-profit organisations. I have worked in not-for-profits both here in NZ and while overseas in Singapore. I am currently responsible for managing a few hundred regular volunteering roles across the Auckland-Northland region- not including over 2000 volunteers for events like Daffodil Day. Not for profits are an addiction to me, living in a world of volunteers, understanding the changing climate of volunteering, while retaining their commitment, gives me inspiration to continue to make a difference in the lives of New Zealanders.

Kodrean Eashae is from the Iraqi Assyrian community and now calls Wellington home. Kodrean holds a Bachelor of Art ( Hons ) in Politics and International Relations. Since arriving to New Zealand two years ago, he has held a number of community leadership roles with different organizations and community groups. Kodrean has a genuine passion for progressing communities and helping others, and committed to improving the wellbeing of the diverse communities in NZ. He is the founder of Voice of Aroha.

Shawn Elise Tierney is the Litter Intelligence Programme Manager for Sustainable Coastlines. She leads the team on this ground-breaking programme to recruit, train & support citizen scientists to monitor beaches for rubbish to build a national database and action platform. She is passionate about waste-reduction, community collaboration, and protecting the natural environment.

Chris Jarvis is a co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Realized Worth, a global agency focused on the design and implementation of employee-led volunteering and giving programs. His work with companies around the world is helping to mobilize employees to make meaningful contributions in the communities where they live and work.

Widely known for his thought-leadership in employee volunteering, workplace giving and corporate social responsibility, in 2011, Chris was asked by the United Nations Office of Partnerships to design and launch the first private sector led initiative to achieve the post-millennial Sustainable Development Goals through corporate volunteering. Chris serves on the board of IMPACT 2030, the only business led effort designed to unite companies in their corporate volunteering efforts to address the United Nations’ Development Agenda.

In 2015, Chris and his partner, Angela Parker, launched the RW Institute (RWI), a think tank focused on advancing the practice and theory of corporate citizenship through innovative projects, research, analysis and public policy change. RWI is comprised of an association of stakeholders who are committed to removing existing barriers and promoting the practice and theory of corporate volunteering on a global scale.

The goal is to help practitioners be more successful – whether they are clients, engaged formally or not. Chris believes the work these men and women do as part of corporate citizenship is critical to addressing the huge social and environmental issues facing our global society.

2020 has been a year of change and opportunity. Come along to understand from SEEK Volunteer the shifts that have occurred in volunteer intentions, coupled with the changes in the labour market, which will help you be more targeted with your volunteer recruitment.

Annabelle leads Talent Sourcing and Volunteer Sustainability at St John New Zealand, an organisation with a workforce that includes over 3,500 paid staff and 10,000 volunteers. Leading a team of 15 talented specialists, her team are responsible for recruiting over 3,000 internal and external roles across ambulance, commercial, charitable and corporate business units every year as well as a smaller team who support the volunteer sustainability strategy, implementations plan and initiatives. In 2018 Annabelle was asked to develop the next 5 years Volunteer Sustainability strategy for St John. This strategy seeks to support and enhance the multi-million dollar equivalent contribution that St John’s volunteers make, and that the organisation relies on, in order to deliver its programmes and services to communities across New Zealand.

Karen is our previous Board Chair at VNZ. She completed a PhD thesis in 1999 titled 'The management of volunteers at heritage attractions: literary heritage properties in the UK' at Nottingham Trent University, working at the University of Greenwich before moving to Victoria University of Wellington in 2003 and rising to full professor in 2017.

Smith's research focuses on the management of volunteers, particularly at large sporting events. She has conducted projects related to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, London 2012 Olympic Games (funded by the International Olympic Committee) and the Rugby World Cup 2011 (funded by Sport New Zealand).

In the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours, Smith was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to education and volunteering

I am a young adult who grew up here in Wellington. I am passionate about using the skills and talents I have to create community and journey alongside people from hardship to wholeness. After completing a social justice gap year in 2019 through the NZ Church Missionary Society, I started a job at the Wellington City Mission. I am currently doing a youth internship here. As apart of this I am looking into youth engagement in the volunteering space. Alongside this I do youth work in Porirua.

Michelle brings a valuable mix of management and leadership skills, and the ability to work collaboratively and innovatively. She is well known and respected within the sector and is passionate about increasing recognition for the value and impact of volunteering. Michelle has a background in communications, marketing and community engagement, and volunteer leadership. She has previously worked for a social enterprise, in the public sector and within the publishing and training industries and holds several governance leadership roles in the community sector.

Scott joined Volunteering Victoria in July 2018 as the organisation’s new CEO. In his previous role, Scott was Chief Executive of Volunteering New Zealand’s for 3.5 years. His extensive cross-sector experience in public, private and NGO roles ensures the organisation’s people, purpose and priorities are both sustainable and sector-leading.

Scott is active internationally, consulting on democracy, civil society and volunteering.

I have been volunteering with Blind and Low Vision for around 15 years in various capacities starting from fund raising for the Red Puppy Appeal to proof reading for Braille books to helping visually impaired members train on using the various resources that are available. Currently I am a vision support coordinator visiting members at their homes to provide support. I also volunteer with the NZ arm of the Heartfulness Institute Global which is a global not for profit organisation formed for the purpose of training people on the art of meditation. I have been meditating for over 25 years and now introducing Heartfulness relaxation and meditation practices to Corporate and community organisations across Auckland.

Anjuli is the Operations Manager for Good Bitches Baking – a network of over 2600 volunteers who want to show kindness to those in their communities who are having a tough time. Between setting up new chapters, submitting grant applications, managing HQ volunteers, and coordinating merchandise orders, Anjuli keeps the beaters turning and the ovens on. Anjuli received First Class Honors in psychology from Massey University, including completing a thesis on volunteer’s experiences of social connectedness. She spends her spare time baking and caring for her four legged furry friend, Sadie (the golden retriever).

I have been an IHC volunteer in Tauranga for 8 years. I started on the friendship programme then moved to the skills based program, which involves short term assignments with different people, helping them to learn new skills and meet personal goals. This programme enables me to utilise skills from my previous career as an occupational therapist, a role I had to give up due to chronic ill health, and gives me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and share their amazing achievements.

Cathy works for the youth development organisation Youthline. She manages the volunteers and training programmes at Youthline. This includes being the cultural adviser and liaison for annual marae weekend for Youthline staff and svolunteer at Te Puia marae in Mangere. She has been on the Board for the Community Organisations Grants scheme (COGS) for Central Auckland for six years, including three years as Chair.

Johann leads VNZ’s work on research-informed advocacy and the development of strategies for an inclusive, ethical and impactful sector. Johann brings expertise in humanities and social science research, strategy development, and translational research that links academia with policy. Johann has over a decade of experience in the community/voluntary sector, and previously led the development of VNZ’s recent migrant volunteering strategy. Johann is passionate about harnessing the power of volunteering to achieve social justice.

Johann is a Rhodes Scholar and postgraduate student at the University of Oxford. He currently holds a B.A. (Philosophy and Politics) and B.HSc (Public Health).

Ryan is a first-year university student studying Commerce who also works at Trade Me part-time. He has a background in school-based and community volunteering, alongside mental health advocacy.

Tania is the Managing Director of a coaching and training firm with a focus on early entrepreneurship and governance. She is a committed volunteer for education, youth enterprise and community development issues.

She has 20 years experience in NFP governance across a variety of organisations covering national, regional, and local interests. Tania has been involved with New Zealand’s regional Volunteer Centres at a Governance level, having previously been the Chair of Volunteer Marlborough, and the Chair of the Volunteer Centre Network Aotearoa Leadership Group. She is passionate and committed in supporting volunteering within New Zealand and internationally as a member of IAVE. She is an experienced, highly motivated, committed and results focused leader.

Megan has more than 19 years’ experience in facilitation and developing, designing and delivering training programs. Community and Not-For-Profit organisations are her passion, working with people who make a real, positive difference in their communities.
Megan focuses on supporting community and non-profit organisations at the business end of what they do. She has a real knack for delivering useful information in an engaging way, she will make you laugh and think, but most of all she will give you practical tools you can easily implement in your organisation. Megan is also a volunteer for Bellyful Hamilton.

Anna works for IHC as a Volunteer Coordinator based in Auckland Central/West and has been involved in the volunteer sector for six years. Her current role involves recruiting and training volunteers to be in a friendship with people with intellectual disabilities; facilitating these friendships; and creating awareness and inclusion of people with intellectual disability in their communities. Anna volunteers herself, building houses and shelters with Habitat for Humanity in Fiji and New Zealand.

Worked with Blind Low Vision for 15 years, last ten years as a volunteer professional. We have over 5000 volunteers including street appeal collectors. Around 2000 are engaged directly or indirectly with our clients and staff; and as guide dog volunteers.

Blind Low Vision NZ volunteers are a diverse group of people who provide support with Technology, Recreation, Fundraising, Guide Dogs, Collage Book Production, Library, Accessible Formats, Administrative functions and Vision Support. They complement a wide range of services to empower people who are blind, deadfblind or have low vision live the life they choose.