Colleen Tuuta
Taranaki - Aotearoa

Colleen was born in the small coastal town of Opunake in the province of Taranaki, on the west coast of the North Island of Aotearoa-New Zealand.  As a NZ Maori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa-NZ, Colleen is affiliated to the following tribes: Taranaki Tuturu,  Ngati Mutunga, Te Atiawa, and Ngati Mahuta.  Colleen is also of Scottish, Irish descent and much, much more!

During the past 30 years Colleen has worked extensively in Community Development, Maori Business and Economic Development, and more recently in regional development.  Within these sectors Colleen has represented primarily women, families and Maori. She has been a past Trustee and Chair of the TSB Community Trust (1999 - 2011) and a Director of TSB Bank Limited.

She is also a trainer, facilitator, researcher, author,  a sister to 5 siblings, a Aunty, a Great Grand Aunty and Great Great Great Grand Aunty.

Colleen is currently:
• self employed business women of 18 years
• A Government appointed representative for NZ Women on the Public Advisory Council for the Legal Services Agency of the Ministry of Justice in NZ
• A Ministerial appointment to the Taranaki District Health Board
• Mahia Mai a Whai-Tara Trust – an A&D Health provider – a Trustee
• New Plymouth Girl’s High School – Board of Trustee
• Philanthropy NZ – Maori Advisory Committee member
• Inspiring Communities Trustee

Alison Broad has deep family roots into the Southland community, where she is based. Alison's involvements include consultancy for community projects across the fields of social services, health initiatives, education, conservation and disability issues. She is also involved in violence prevention education through her role with the Women's Self Defence Network Wāhine Toa and Girls' Self Defence Project.

Alison is a trustee of a community based trust focused on biodiversity issues and eradication of wilding pines, a trustee of a local arts foundation, and on the executive of a community education group. She has several years of involvement with community philanthropy, including four years chairing the Community Trust of Southland. Alison is interested the dynamics of locally-driven community-based initiatives, and their interface with global issues of sustainability, human rights and social justice.

Vaughan is from the Eastern Bay of Plenty tribes Ngai Tai (Tainui) and Whakatohea (Mataatua).  He is married to Jane and they have three children Nikora, Keita and Te Maramatanga.

Vaughan is currently the Policy and Transport Group Manager of the Waikato Regional Council.

Vaughan became involved with community led development and Inspiring Communities when he was the Chief Executive of the Opotiki District Council, seeking to find innovative ways of addressing long standing socio-economic issues in that community. While now living in the economic powerhouse of the Waikato, Vaughan remains passionate about supporting community led development in Opotiki.

David is a fourth generation Pakeha .... a partner in a civil union, a father of 4 children, a Director of a Social Change / Service Organisation (Wesley Community Action), a Chairperson of the local school, a cub leader, a member of the Inspiring Communities Network and a part-time sports coach.   He has worked as a national NGO youth director, a policy manager in Central Government, a consultant on youth development, a trainer in policy analysis and now a director.

Key themes across his activities are bicultural / Treaty of Waitangi perspectives, systems / holistic action / thinking, positive child and youth development and grounding what we do in an authentic spirituality.

Mary-Jane Rivers was, until June 2011, the Development Manager for Inspiring Communities .

It is hugely energising to see communities manage change and develop the capacity for innovation and renewal - in short to be resilient. That means being good neighbours as well as being able to deal with tough, complex issues and - through including everyone with their diverse and multiple talents - to focus on the future while understanding the past.

How do we build these resilient and confident communities? How do communities share and learn from each other, accelerate development and reinvent the wheel as little as possible?  These are questions that encouraged Mary-Jane into founding and fostering Inspiring Communities.