Community Connect

Lynette is an experienced community leader who strongly believes in the power of community and their ability to create and lead change to improve their own aspirations. Lynette led a community organisation aimed at helping people lead better lives through capacity and capability building to create transformative change.

She currently works in positive child and youth development inspiring tamariki and rangatahi to reach their full potential.

Lynette also believes that collaboration is essential for building strong and thriving communities, bringing together individuals, organisations, and institutions to work towards common goals and address complex social, economic, and environmental issues. This is supported with a Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Change for Good.

Lynette is a board member of Belong Aotearoa, a non-profit innovation and social change hub that addresses systemic barriers to settlement for newcomers in Aotearoa NZ. She has held community positions as well as roles on regional and national boards.

Chillion (Kil-lee-in) is the Director for RIVI consultancy, a self-owned independent consulting business. He names the way he works as a Youth Ecosystem Strategist, a Youth Development Specialist and a Youth Innovation Practitioner and facilitator for social change. All his work is underpinned by Pacific and Maori indigenous knowledge, values, principles which guides his work.

His strengths are in social impact, leadership development, facilitation, community engagement, community development (place-making), social innovation, event management, systems change, creative arts, faith-based youth engagement, and a strong advocate for the professionalisation of youth work in Aotearoa. This is supported with disciplines such as, critical thinking, systems thinking and design thinking allowing Chillion to work at the youth/young people intersection of Climate Change, Education and Training, Health sector, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Sports and Recreation, Creative Arts, Leadership Development, Community Development, Social Development, Economic Development, Youth Work, Civic Engagement and Participation.

He is a certified Design Thinking facilitator and an Active Citizens (Global) programme facilitator connected to a global network of almost 300,000 members in 77 countries. Chillion holds a Certificate and Diploma in Christian Ministries, National Diploma in Youth Work, Bachelor of Youth Development and Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Change for Good. He will complete his Master in Change and Organisational Resilience at the end 2024 with academyEX.

Chillion has governance & executive experience across the national youth development sector, youth workers in Aotearoa, workforce development, faith-based, social services and sexual violence prevention.

As well as being an appointed Director of Pumanawa Āwhina, Joe is also Chief Executive of Touch NZ and Quality Events Limited. With 17 years of leadership as the Chief Executive of Touch NZ, Joe brings a wealth of experience in governance and strategic management. He also serves on numerous other boards and trusts, contributing to various sectors with a commitment to excellence and community development. Joe's extensive experience and dedication to improving organisational outcomes make him a valuable leader for Pūmanawa Āwhina.

Roxanna has recently resigned as the Targeted Participation Team Manager at Sport Waikato due to becoming a parent. Her expertise lies in building regional capability regarding inclusion and ensure that diverse communities have access to equitable opportunities to be active. Roxanna is passionate about addressing societal problems by understanding lived experience to achieve equitable system change. Originally from the United Kingdom, Roxanna moved to New Zealand in 2006 with her parents and 3 siblings.

Roxanna’s background is in communication and social change, complimented by extensive experience in research and impact measurement. She completed her PhD at the University of Waikato in 2021, which focused on the lives of 21^st Century New Zealand women and their unique differences and experiences as they navigated the constraints of choice and a narrative of progression. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Tertiary Teaching and Learning and a Graduate Certificate in Social Policy. Roxanna currently serves as Vice-President for the Board of the YWCA of Hamilton.

With a governance background in health, education, and sport, Keri Bryan is dedicated to improving the lives of New Zealanders. Keri's professional career spans 30 years in medicine, including 24 years in mental health, with the last 16 years as Clinical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist for the Southern MHAID in Southland.

Keri has served on a local school board for nine years, been involved in the agricultural sector, and currently sits on two national non-profits in the health and sport arenas. Since 2021, Keri has been a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors (IOD). Known for being calm, level-headed, and an excellent listener, Keri values confidentiality, professionalism, and teamwork.

Understanding the profound impact of decisions on people's lives, Keri is eager to bring strategic, commercial, and relational skills to support the future of Pumanawa Āwhina.

Dr Fiona McGrath (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāpuhi nui tonu) is a newly appointed Director of Pūmanawa Āwhina, bringing a kaupapa Māori, education, social impact lens to the governance table. With a specialist focus on Indigenous Educational Leadership and extensive experience across all sectors of education, she is committed to transforming systems so they work for whānau, hapū, iwi and communities.

Fiona’s passion is evidencing social value to report real change rather than activity and so she advocates strongly for data sovereignty so that our communities retain control over their stories, information and measures of success. Fiona’s practice is grounded in kaupapa Māori principles such as whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and tino rangatiratanga, which shape how she thinks, leads and works alongside others. She brings a deeply collective attitude to governance, prioritising collaboration, co-design and mana enhancing relationships that align with Pūmanawa Āwhina’s community-led approach to building social and human outcomes through Hauora, sport and recreation.

Jeremy grew up in Invercargill, currently lives in Taupō and has two grown children. He is a Partner and the CEO of consulting firm Navigator Limited, a social and cultural development firm that focuses on supporting organisations translate strategy into sustainable operations across the Social Sector (housing, health, Iwi development, education and not for profit).

Prior to joining Navigator, Jeremy spent over twelve years as a Chief Executive; first of Lake Taupo Primary Health Organisation and then Tuwharetoa Health Charitable Trust. He is a past Board member of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, Pathways New Zealand, Ka Ora Telecare and past committee member with New Zealand Law Society and Health Research Council. He is currently Chair of Sport Bay of Plenty and Local Advisory Committee member with FENZ.

Jeremy is a keen amateur sportsperson (cricket, basketball, running and mountain biking), is a past youth coach of cricket, rugby and rugby league, past Treasurer of Lake Taupo Cricket Inc and past Chair of Lake Taupō Basketball Association.

Kritika Selach is an Auckland-based Governance Leader with experience across various sectors. Kritika currently serves as the Interim-Chair Auckland Council Youth Advisory Panel, Auckland District Councillor for the AA Auckland District Council, LAC Member for Fire & Emergency New Zealand and Chair of the Papakura Youth Council Trust. Kritika is also a Leadership Network Member for the Asia NZ Foundation. Additionally she has a background in the financial sector in banking and an academic profile in Global Studies.

Kritika’s background stemmed from youth advocacy and has a deep passion for the work Pūmanawa Āwhina (Community Connect) carries out having had hands-on experience with the organisation through the IPIR Programme and previously having served on the Planet Youth Governance Group.

Her governance approach is characterised by a commitment to evidence-based policy and ensuring that diverse community voices are translated into actionable organisational strategy through cross-sector collaboration.