Our board and patron

Katherine is a union organiser with Equity NZ, the performers union.

She has worked in academia, the arts, corporate and not-for-profit environments. She is an experienced trainer, knowledge management practitioner, activist and taxi driver of teenagers. Social justice and intersectional feminism are key areas of interest and action.

Professor Judy McGregor, CNZM, was New Zealand’s first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner  with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission between 2002-2010 and during that period published the “Caring Counts” report of employment in the aged care sector which was the catalyst for successful equal pay legislation. She was appointed Chair of the Waitematā District Health Board in June 2018., served as Head of the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology, has a doctorate in political communication, and is a trained lawyer and former newspaper editor. She has published eight books and hundreds of refereed journal articles relating to the media, gender equality, the employment and care of older people, and a range of human rights issues.

Kitty is a second-generation Chinese immigrant, originally from Wellington and have been living in Auckland for the past decade. Her professional background is in health and safety, with experience in both the public and private sectors within New Zealand and Australia. Throughout her career and now as an Environment, Health and Safety consultant at Ernst & Young (EY), she has assisted organisations in creating workplaces that are healthy and safe, as well as environments that facilitates the mental health and wellbeing of all people. As the Treasurer, she looks forward to working alongside, collaborating and learning from fellow board members, staff, and members to build the resilience and sustainability of the centre.

Hayley is a partner of Edified consulting offering services to the higher education and international education sector in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Throughout her career she has worked in public and non-profit organisations, led strategy and operations and owned a small business focussed on wellbeing and leadership development.  She has a postgraduate degree in gender and development studies and lived for a time in Cambodia working for a charity focused on young women’s economic and educational empowerment.  Gender equity and social justice, locally and globally, drive my action and advocacy.

Tēnā koutou katoa

He uri tēnei mai te Moana Nui a Kiwa

Ki te taha o tōku matua, no Pawarenga, no Ngawha, no Tauranga Moana

Ko Te Rarawa, ko Ngāpuhi, ko Ngāi Te Rangi ōku iwi

Ko Te Uri o Tai, ko Ngāti Rangi, ko Ngāti Makamaka ōku hapū

Ki te taha o tōku māmā, no Rarotonga, no Tahiti hoki

Ko Tupapa, ko Ngatangiia ōku hapū

Ko Juressa Lee ahau. Kia ora mai tātou!

Currently I am working as the plastics campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa. I have done a bunch of different things along the way including various roles in academia from business analysis to pastoral care for international scholarship students from developing countries. Project procurement and commercial administration in construction and engineering consultancies. In my spare time I try to help out with the rūmaki reo we’ve been fortunate to be part of, all hands on deck! Keen to see how to make all of this useful for AWC!

I love being more active and dedicated to protecting our planet and all the life it sustains. Am on the everlasting journey of decolonisation. As a mum and nan to brown skinned, Polynesian tamariki everything I do – work, voluntary, grassroots, etc – is with them in mind and what they will have to live with. I love the sentiment of being a better ancestor. As tangata whenua and tangata moana, it would be my pleasure and joy to bring my perspective to the table, joining courageous feminists committed to justice, equity and wellness for wāhine and non-binary, genderqueer people. Ngā mihi nui!

Tēnā koutou katoa, ko Rushika (she/her) tōku ingoa, nō Īnia ōku tīpuna, kei te noho au ki Tāmaki Makaurau.

I come from a culture where the wellbeing of the individual depends on the wellbeing of the collective. That has been my drive for as long as I can remember and the reason I choose to work as a public servant.

 

I have an academic background in psychology, politics and public management and have experience in banking, emergency management, communications and advisory roles.

 

My lived experiences being a part of marginalised communities gives me a deep understanding of how the intersections of identities impact many wāhine. I aim to shine a light on this in all the spaces I am privileged enough to be a part of, to be a part of the change we deserve.

 

He aha te mea nui o te ao
What is the most important thing in the world?

 

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is people, it is people, it is people

Kia ora koutou, my name is Alex (she/her)! I have been involved in the cause-based sector for over a decade, wearing many hats and in constant pursuit of contributing to equitable outcomes for underrepresented and marginalised communities and issues. In recent years, much of my focus has been on removing the barriers of stigma and discrimination for tāngata whaiora and whaikaha through my study and work within the mental health space.

Fundamentally, my values sit within a human rights-centric lens. As a member of the LGBTQI+ and disabled community, I feel deeply connected to the kaupapa of AWC and hope to add to the vibrancy of its already wonderful whānau.

Stacey Porter (Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Kahu and Ngāpuhi) is a Māori Advisor for Whāraurau. Stacey has a background in kaupapa Māori, and extensive experience in Māori mental health, Māori policy, Māori education and community legal needs.

Having had the privilege of contributing to the governance and strategic direction of AWC, I am deeply committed to its mission and the values it champions for women and gender equity in our community.

My professional and governance experience, including my time with the Endangered Species Foundation, has equipped me with a strong foundation in governance principles, strategic oversight, and fostering collaboration across diverse teams. Working in a charity setting has given me valuable insight into how to align inputs—whether resources, expertise, or community engagement—for the best outcomes, while maintaining a focus on the unique challenges faced by non-profit organisations.

I am deeply passionate about gender equity and ensuring the Auckland Women’s Centre remains a space of empowerment and advocacy. My governance expertise, coupled with my dedication to equity and a collaborative approach, positions me to continue contributing effectively to AWC’s success.