The following media spokespeople are available to comment on behalf of our wider ComVoices network and the community and voluntary sector. Please email us at admin@comvoices.org.nz to make contact.
- Natasha Muir is the Manager, Fundraising, Communications and Marketing for Age Concern
A lot of her role is around building relationships and engaging people to support the work her organisations does supporting older New Zealanders. Age Concern New Zealand is a well-regarded and trusted organisation in the New Zealand charitable landscape giving her a great platform to work from. She wants a New Zealand that is a great place to live at any age but also a great place to age!
Areas she can speak to:
- Issues and opportunities related to older people and ageing in New Zealand.
2. Dr Prudence Stone is the National Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support NZ
Dr Prudence Stone is a sociologist, mother of two and National Executive Officer for Presbyterian Support NZ. Her academic research crosses cultural politics with the political economy of information, her book Black Inc. One nation’s identity, a global politic was published in 2013. Prudence has experience in influential communications, networking and coalition building, public health and children’s rights advocacy, start up business growth and financial planning.
Areas she can speak to:
- Public health policy, children’s/youth policy
- UN Children’s Rights Convention
- Tiriti Journey for non-kaupapa Maori organisations
- Pay equity for social service workforces
- Pay equity for nursing workforces
- Aged Care and the Eden philosophy
- Serving the most Vulnerable and Building Resilience
3. Sue McCabe is the Chief Executive of Philanthropy New Zealand
Her volunteer roles include being a co-founder and trustee of not-for-profit the Community Comms Collective; and co-founder and director of social enterprise The Good Registry.
Areas she can speak to:
- Philanthropy, giving, and generosity.
4. Margaret McLachlan is the Communications Manager of Volunteering New Zealand
She has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and communications with local and central government and not-for-profit organisations, most recently with Activity and Nutrition Aotearoa and Zealandia ecosanctuary. She’s a volunteer matchmaker with the Community Comms Collective.
Areas she can speak to:
- Volunteering
5. Dr Claire Achmad is the Chief Executive Officer of Social Service Providers Aotearoa
In her role at SSPA, Dr Claire Achmad has the privilege of representing Aotearoa’s community social services and championing the outcomes that social service kaimahi are creating every day in communities around the motu, working alongside families and whānau. SSPA has over 200 member organisations nationally, all of which are providing direct social services. Prior to joining SSPA, Claire was General Manager Advocacy, Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at Barnardos. Claire is a strong advocate for the rights and wellbeing of children and tamariki, and holds a PhD in international children’s rights law from Leiden University. She has commentated and published internationally on a range of child and human rights issues.
Areas she can speak to:
- NGO social services and issues relating to the social sector
- The funding gap facing NGO social services, and the need for fair funding
- Pay equity for NGO social services kaimahi
- More equitable outcomes for whānau, and current challenges including family poverty; family harm; mental wellbeing and inclusion
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the rights and wellbeing of children and rangatahi.