Andy Fryar is the National Operations Manager for Better Impact in Australia and New Zealand and the founder of OzVPM (Australasian Volunteer Program Management).

For more than 30 years has contributed significantly to the Australian volunteerism community. His achievements include serving as President of Volunteering Australia and convening the working party that later evolved into AAMoV - the Australasian Association for Managers of Volunteers.

Andy has helped produce three books on volunteer management and is a co-author of Volunteer Program Management: an essential guide (3rd edition) - Australia’s premier guidebook to volunteering. He has served on the editorial committee of the Australian Journal of Volunteering and since 2000, has been a founding member of the editorial team for e-volunteerism, an international electronic journal of volunteerism based in Philadelphia.

Andy travels extensively and has conducted volunteer management training and worked with volunteer involving agencies in many countries including the USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Singapore and the UK, where between 2004 and 2010 he was a faculty member with the prestigious ‘Institute of Advanced Volunteer Management’. He is also a co-founder of the Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management that was held annually between 2005 and 2012.

Since 2008, Andy has volunteered his time as Chairperson of the global committee overseeing the promotion of International Volunteer Manager’s Day, celebrated on November 5 each year.

In 2003, Andy was awarded a Centenary Medal by the Australian government in recognition of his services to the volunteering movement in Australia.

Kerri is the Managing Director of Exult Ltd and is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading trainers for the non-profit sector. She is the author of several books including the best-selling title ‘The Seriously Good Guide to Fundraising’ and is the editor of Tonic Magazine, a quarterly publication for the community sector. She has also hosted a weekly radio show that looked at the big picture of running a people-focussed organisation. Kerri is a skilled facilitator and is well-known for delivering workshops that provide practical how-to information in an engaging way. She has delivered workshops in 47 towns and cities across Australasia and has worked longside hundreds of nonprofit organisations. She has received 4 separate honours in the Adult Learning Week Awards, recognising her achievements as an Exceptional Adult Educator and an Innovative Training Provider.

Melissa Clark Reynolds ONZM, ChMInstD became a Foresight Practitioner and Professional Director after 25 years experience as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of a number of Technology companies. She is a Governor of Radio NZ, and sits on the Boards, Jasmax, and Beef and Lamb NZ Ltd. Melissa is passionate about beekeeping and is deeply curious.

Michelle brings a range of skills and experience including communications, marketing and community engagement, and volunteer leadership. At VNZ she works towards increased recognition for the value and impact of volunteering, and best practice volunteering practices. Before joining VNZ she worked for a Wellington Social Enterprise as the Marketing and Community Manager. She has also previously worked in the public sector and within the training industry. Her voluntary roles on the national executive team of Multiples NZ and as a Trustee of Bellyful NZ build on her previous experience leading a local membership organisation.

Tui currently leads the public engagement, fundraising, operational and commercial activities of the National Library. At the heart of this work is connecting the knowledge and taonga held within the National Library with communities and visitors.
Tui has built complex national innovation programmes from scratch, including Mahuki: the world’s first business accelerator for the culture sector (located within Te Papa). She has also been a former New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Melbourne, General Manager of a leading creative digital agency, and Chief Executive of Creative HQ.
Tui also led the Maori Enterprise Team of Trade NZ (now NZ Trade and Enterprise). A scholarship recipient for the 2017 Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Programme and a finalist in the Government category of the Wellingtonian of the year awards 2017, Tui is passionate about creative entrepreneurship and innovation. She is also a board member for the Mary Potter Hospice.
Tui is an internationally recognized speaker on innovation in the culture and heritage sector and regularly speaks about leadership and innovation.

Ross completed a Masters in Experience and Service Design culminating in his ground breaking research Civic Circles. Ross specialises in youth engagement with Non-profit organisations. When Ross is not thinking of ways Volunteer organisations can engage more people in volunteering in their communities, he is volunteering his skills in community projects such as the Youth Aotea-Reo Project – developing an app for New Zealand youth which aims to provide youth support services in a more convenient way. Ross is also the President of the Multicultural New Zealand Youth Council. He also works as a consultant Service Designer in the LabPlus team in the All of Government Service Innovation Lab.

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

Laura O'Connell Rapira (Te Ātiawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whakaue) is the Director of ActionStation, an independent, crowdfunded community campaigning organisation representing over 100,000 New Zealanders acting together to create what we cannot achieve on our own: a society, economy and democracy that serves everyday people and Papatūānuku. She is also the Co-Founder and Board Chair of RockEnrol, a volunteer-powered organisation dedicated to activating the political power of young people.

Charlie Devenish is the Civic Engagement and Leadership Programmes Manager in Careers and Employment at Victoria University of Wellington. He manages the Victoria Plus Programme which is a student volunteer and leadership programme. Prior to joining the University Charlie worked for 8 years in Wellington’s community sector in a range of community development roles including Volunteer Wellington, Kaibosh and Enviroschools.

Mark has held senior roles within volunteer-involving organisations for many years and is passionate about enabling leaders to enhance their influence, and empowering organisations to be bold in developing strategies that promote a people-centred approach. Mark has a doctorate in organisational leadership – specifically volunteer leadership – and wants to share his research for positive social change.