Andy is a Councillor for the Franklin Ward in Auckland, having formerly been Chair of the Franklin Local Board and brings over 14 years of experience in local government. His extensive career spans both emergency services and community leadership.

Andy has served as a Principal Rural Fire Officer for Franklin, Papakura, and Waikato, and was a member of the trial Auckland Local Advisory Committee establishment group. He is a former Chair and member of both local and regional Civil Defence Committees and currently chairs the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee and is a member of the CDEM Committee amongst others at Council.

Outside of his public service, Andy has deep roots in the community. He has been actively involved in Counties Manukau Rugby Union, including 11 years as a Board Director, and spent a decade as a front-line police officer in South Auckland.

Edwina’s background is in academia, having held visiting professor positions in Austria, Finland, Iceland, UK, and USA. She is an Associate Professorial Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing and a Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford University. She made history as the first Professor of Diversity at the Business and Law School of Auckland University of Technology, where she has made significant contributions through her extensive research and publications on diversity, integration, and inclusivity.

In recognition of her exceptional service, Edwina was awarded the King’s New Zealand Honours in 2023 with an ONZM, embodying the spirit of the proverb whakaratonga iwi – service to people. She is also a Fulbright alumna, a recipient of a Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship, and the recipient of the Te Rangi Hiroa Royal Society Medal for her pioneering work on intersectional diversity. 

With a strong background in governance, Edwina has considerable committee experience, including leadership roles as Chair.

Ngā mihi nui koutou katoa and Talofa lava!

Michael (Mauga) Alofa is a dedicated community leader with over 30 years of experience in security, crime prevention, and private investigation, including working with the US Government. He currently serves as a Specialist Advisor at Auckland Council, of 17 years, providing strategic guidance to elected members and overseeing community development initiatives. His expertise includes Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), project management (Prince2), community safety, and community development.

Michael completed a Postgraduate in ‘Leading Change for Good’ in 2023, and recently completed a Master’s degree in ‘Change and Organisational Resilience’. His thesis was on ‘Strengthening Māori Engagement To Support Auckland’s Emergency Management Framework’ where he was awarded a Pass with Distinction.

Michael has been instrumental in strengthening public safety across Auckland, forming key partnerships with Neighbourhood Support, Community Patrol, and Pacific Warden Groups. He is an active volunteer with Auckland Emergency Management in West Auckland, playing a crucial role in response efforts during the storm of 2018, 2021 and January 2023 floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Additionally, he serves on the Pacific Advisory Group and the Te Ohu Kitenga Family Harm Governance Group for the Waitematā Police District.

He is fluent in Samoan, with a deep cultural understanding of Te Reo and Tikanga Māori; he holds the Samoan High Chief title of Mauga, bestowed upon him in 2004 in honour of his mother’s village of Malaemalu in Falealili.
A strong advocate for community representation, Michael works closely with local boards across West and North Auckland to ensure the voices of Māori, Pasifika, and Ethnic communities are heard in governance and decision-making. His commitment extends to education governance, serving on the Epsom Girls Grammar and St. Peter's College in Epsom, Central Auckland.

Michael has been an active parishioner of the Glen Eden Catholic Church for over 40 years, holding leadership positions such as Committee Member, Deputy Chair, and Chair. As a registered Marriage and Civil Union Celebrant, he continues to serve his community with dedication. He’s delighted and excited to be part of this newly established LAC for Tāmaki Makaurau supporting our dedicated, hard-working crew of Fire Emergency.

Guided by the Samoan proverb “O le ala i le pule, o le tautua” (the pathway to leadership, is through service). Michael remains committed to fostering safer, more resilient communities across Tamaki-Makaurau.

Ngā mihi & Fa’afetai lava

Denise is a highly experienced researcher, evaluator, facilitator, and community engagement specialist. She is the founder of Catalyse, where she leads consultancy and project work focused on community development and engagement. 

Passionate about strengthening communities, Denise has worked extensively across Aotearoa, collaborating with diverse populations to understand their needs, gather insights, and drive meaningful change.

With extensive governance experience at local, national, and international levels, Denise has played a key role in shaping community initiatives. She is a founder of Placemaking Aotearoa and served as the founding Chair of Gribblehirst Community Hub. 

Sally is a Senior Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Her research includes key projects such as Digital Accessibility Standards in New Zealand, aimed at improving equitable access for all. 

Drawing from her personal experience with Deafblindness, Sally is a passionate advocate for disabled communities. She serves as a Board Member for Health Informatics NZ, Deafblind Association NZ and is an Executive Member of the Staff Access and Inclusion Network at AUT.

Sally has volunteered with St John, worked as an emergency nurse at Starship Hospital and served as an ambulance officer. She has built strong connections across civil defence, health and local government, bringing together a unique blend of academic, clinical, governance and lived experience of disability.

Alan is a dedicated community advocate and rural leader, committed to representing diverse voices and perspectives. With years of experience serving on and leading committees, he is currently the Deputy Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum and a member of Te Hiku Land Management Forum.

A resident of Waiau Pa, Alan has been a beef and dairy farmer for over 40 years, bringing firsthand experience and deep insight into the challenges and opportunities within the rural sector. Since 2010, he has been actively involved with Auckland Federated Farmers, serving as its Provincial President since 2019. He also plays a key role in shaping rural policy as the Deputy Chair of Auckland Council’s Rural Advisory Panel.

As an elected member of the Franklin Local Board and Deputy Chair, Alan represents and advocates for communities across the Pukekohe subdivision and Franklin, ensuring rural and farming interests are heard in local governance.

‘As president of Auckland Federated Farmers, I believe that the rural farming voice needs to be represented (on the LAC).’

Tayyaba is a seasoned leader and consultant with extensive experience in the not-for-profit, humanitarian, human rights, and public service sectors. She has held key leadership roles, including Director of Advocacy at the Health and Disability Commissioner and Manager of Community Engagement at the Office of Ethnic Communities.

Deeply connected to culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Tayyaba has worked closely with both migrant and refugee populations. Her contributions to governance have been widely recognised, including being a finalist in the Women in Governance Awards for the Ethnic Communities Governance Leader Award.

She currently serves as Chair of Belong Aotearoa and is the Founder of Khadija Leadership Network. A respected voice within the Muslim community, Tayyaba has been a prominent media spokesperson since the events of 9/11.

‘I think such governance opportunities (as the Local Advisory Committees) are extremely important in making change and I am committed to staying in this journey of contribution for Tāmaki Makaurau.’

Richard is a seasoned business owner, community leader, and governance expert with deep connections across Tāmaki Makaurau’s diverse communities, particularly within the Chinese community. He is the owner of NRD Investments Limited, a supplier of sports uniforms and equipment, and previously owned Hoopquarters Limited, a dedicated basketball training facility. 

Richard has extensive experience in community service, governance, and advisory roles. Most recently, he served as Electorate Manager for the Electoral Commission during the 2023 Elections in the Epsom Electorate.

With over a decade of experience on multiple committees and governance boards, Richard is currently a member of the Ethnic Community Development Fund and the Police Commissioner’s Ethnic Focus Forum. He also serves as Chairman of the New Zealand Chinese Association Auckland Inc. and has previously held the role of National President of the New Zealand Chinese Association. 
 
‘I am eager to bring my skills to a platform where they can be used to address local issues and risks, especially those that intersect with fire and emergency services.’

Iani is a dedicated community engagement, liaison, and development specialist with a strong track record in strategic advisory and governance. Most recently, he served as Manager of Strategic Engagement at Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities.

With extensive experience in community advisory, Iani has contributed to the tertiary and vocational education, and health sectors. He is a trusted advisor and an appointed member of both the Human Rights Review Tribunal and the Social Workers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal. 

Committed to amplifying local voices, Iani has served on several Boards of Trustees, including Family Life Education Pasifika, Koru Trust, and the Centre for Pacific Languages, Leadership New Zealand and Muka Tangata (Workforce Development Council for Primary Industries). His work is driven by the belief that local people hold the solutions to local challenges. 

Iani speaks fluent Tongan.

‘Through partnership with stakeholders and community (we can) help prevent and supress harm and ensure risks are diminished and managed.’

Kritika is a governance professional and community leader who is passionate about driving meaningful impact with a core focus on representation in decision-making and policy. With extensive experience in governance and advocacy, Kritika has worked across local government, not-for-profit organisations, schools, council and community leadership. She currently serves as Co-Chair of Auckland Council’s Youth Advisory Panel, where she represents young people across Auckland, ensuring their voices shape local decision-making. She previously held the role of Chair of the Papakura Youth Council, further demonstrating her commitment to youth leadership and civic engagement. 

Kritika's academic pursuit entails a Bachelor of Global Studies at the University of Auckland, additionally, her professional experience at ASB Bank as an Executive Customer Specialist. 

Kritika is deeply connected across multiple sectors, with a strong drive to foster collaboration. As an Auckland District Councillor with the AA, she brings valuable insight into mobility and transport networks. Additionally, as a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network, she engages with leaders across industries and internationally, strengthening cross-sector relationships and advocating for diverse communities. 

‘I’m drawn to the opportunity to provide independent advice to Fire and Emergency, ensuring that they are aligned with the unique needs and values of our local community and beyond.’

Glenn is a highly respected leader in fire risk management and community service, with a lifelong commitment to minimising fire risks and enhancing public safety. A volunteer with Fire and Emergency New Zealand for over four decades, he has served as Chief Fire Officer of the Auckland Operational Support Brigade for the past 15 years, playing a critical role in emergency response and support.

Glenn has been deeply involved in Auckland’s community and business affairs. He previously held senior leadership roles at Manukau City Council, including General Manager of Development Services, Transport Manager, and General Manager of Citizen and Customer Service. For over 15 years, he has worked as a consultant specialising in commercial property, land use, and transport policy and planning, contributing to Auckland’s growth and infrastructure development. He is a Director of several businesses and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Glenn has also been a dedicated leader in numerous community and charitable organisations, many of which he has served for several decades. His long-standing involvement with Baptist churches and social agencies keeps him connected to a diverse cross-section of Auckland’s communities, strengthening his ability to advocate for their needs.

In 2024, Glenn was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the King’s Honours List for his outstanding service to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.

‘The (Local) Advisory Committee (is) a rewarding opportunity to assist in making our communities safer.’

Margie (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Te Aroha Pā Marae) is currently the Project Coordinator for Te Aroha Pā Marae development, leading the second stage of this transformative initiative.

Margie holds governance roles across multiple marae and iwi entities. She serves as a Trustee on Te Kotahi a Tāmaki Marae Collective, connecting her to marae across Auckland, and is a Trustee for both Te Aroha Pā Marae (South Kaipara) and the Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara. Additionally, she is the Deputy Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and a current Trustee on the Newton Central School Board.

Grounded in both Māori and Western worldviews, Margie brings a balanced, culturally informed perspective to her leadership and advocacy work. She is fluent in te reo Māori.

‘I have developed a genuine interest to strengthen understanding of marae and iwi operations to support meaningful engagement that ensure better outcomes for these spaces.’