Our People

We are made up of over 40 committed volunteers across New Zealand and employ one core staff at the National Office in Wellington. We work together to inform, inspire and engage all New Zealanders regarding the work, goals and values of the UN to create a safer, fairer and more sustainable world.

The United Nations Association’s main ruling body is the National Council. It has three main roles per the Constitution:

  • Governance of the organsiation as a whole
  • Policy making body of the organisation
  • Coordination and support of our branches

The National Council meets up to four times a year in order to discuss and vote on yearly budgets, long-term strategic plans, policies, actions, and upcoming events.

The National Executive is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization and the National office, upcoming events, payments and accounts. It employs the National Administrator, whose key role is public relations, organizational administration and development, and project and event management. The role supports the National President and our Regional Branches.

Honorary Life members are recommended by the National Council at an Annual General Meeting. Usually these are individuals who have carried out distinguished service for the United Nations Association of New Zealand, and/or the UN over a period of years. Honorary Life Members are non-voting members of the National Council. Our Constitution states that Life Members do not pay membership fees, may be in attendance at, and receive the papers for, the National Council with speaking rights, but no vote. Life Members have voting rights at any Special General and Annual General Meetings.

 

UNA NZ National Executive

  • Karim Dickie, National President
  • James Bushell, Vice President
  • Gayathri Paranisamy, Immediate Past President
  • Vacant, National Executive Officer 
  • Amelia Blamey, National Treasurer
  • Anne Joseph, Acting Secretary
  • Hala Barakat, National President, UN Youth New Zealand
  • Annie Wu, National Council Representative on the Executive
  • Patrick Metham, National Council Representative on the Executive

 

UNA NZ National Council

  • Abeer Youssef, Special Officer for Humanitarian Affairs
  • Alyn Ware, Special Officer for Peace and Security
  • Dulce Piacentini, Special Officer for Human Rights
  • John O'Brien, Special Officer for UN Renewal
  • Vacant, Special Officer for UN Agenda 2030, SDGs
  • Joy Dunsheath MNZM JP, WFUNA Executive Vice Chair and Committee Member 
  • Vacant, Special Officer for Sustainable Economy and Innovation
  • Vacant, Special Officer for UN Education
  • Ishant Ghulyani, Special Officer for Global Health
  • Steven Arnold, President, Northern Region Branch
  • Doug Barnes, President, Tauranga Branch
  • Mano Manoharan, President, Waikato Group
  • Kate Smith, President, Whanganui Branch
  • Martine Udahemuka, President, Wellington Branch
  • Pauline McKay, President, Canterbury Branch
  • Vacant, President, Manawatu Branch
  • Patrick Metham, Ordinary Member of the National Council
  • Annie Wu, Ordinary Member of the National Council
  • Vacant, Communications Officer
  • Vacant, Events Officer 

 

Honorary Life Members

  • Alyn Ware
  • Margaret Knight
  • Dr Kate Dewes
  • Dr Graham Hassall
  • Mary McGiven
  • Lady Rhyl Jansen
  • Colin McGregor
  • Robin Halliday
  • Joy Dunsheath 

 

In Memoriam

  • John Morgan (Ordinary Member of the National Council; National Council Representative on the Executive)
  • Margaret Arnold (Honorary Life Member)
  • Mary Gray (Honorary Life Member)
  • Clinton Johnson (Honorary Life Member)

 

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