I’ve been a Councillor since 2013, and am beginning my 10th year on Council. I believe Councillors should be well connected and active in the community they represent.

As of the 2022 local body election, I have been appointed Deputy Mayor and continue with:

• Town Center Regeneration Plan Chair
• Public Arts Steering Committee Member

Up to the 2022 local body election,  I held Council specialist roles:

• Property & Community Services Committee Chair
• Town Center Regeneration Plan Chair
• Public Arts Steering Committee Member

Community/voluntary roles include:

• Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust – Chair since 2022  www.whanganuiheritagetrust.org.nz
  • Initiator & Project Manager of:
    • Whanganui Heritage Month
    • Whanganui Regional Heritage Awards
    • Blue Plaques Project www.blueplaques.nz
• Historic Places Aotearoa (National independent advocacy organisation)- Executive Member
• I championed Whanganui’s entries in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards, which saw the city named Most Beautiful City in 2019 and Most Beautiful Small City in 2020. I personally entered Ridgway Street into the Best Street Category which it won in 2019.

Community Memberships

• Whanganui Mainstreet – Associate Membership
• Whanganui Regional Museum – Friend
• Sarjeant Gallery –  Friend
• Whanganui Opera House –  Friend
• St Mary’s Anglican Church, Upokongaro –  Friend
• Whanganui Chamber of Commerce – Member

Previous community involvement:

In 2016 & 2019 I was part of  The Great Ball organising committee which raised over $200,000 for Women’s Refuge Whanganui. 

Ana Terry and myself created and published AWA Events Guide Whanganui, and I continued as owner and publisher for 5 years. 

As the initiator of the Real Whanganui Festival during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and working with the Community Arts Centre Trust, together we brought in over $150,000 of funding for local events.  I then became a Trustee of Artists Open Studios for two years and later the organiser of it and the Glass Festival before running for Council. 

I’ve was previously a member of the Rotary Club of Wanganui which is a community service club, raising money for local charities and supporting youth development.