Our team

Fiona has over 25 years of leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector in the UK and NZ for a range of community organisations at Board and executive level, including the Auckland Deaf Society, Overview Effect and Volunteering Auckland.

Fiona helps build strong and sustainable organisations through effective management and leadership and with a collaborative approach. Fiona is a BA Hons Theology and Religious Studies graduate, she holds a Graduate Diploma in Non-Profit Management and is studying on the Master of Public Policy Programme at the University of Auckland.

I trained in South Africa as a Chartered Accountant with a professional firm and them moved into mining, industry and commerce.

On immigrating to New Zealand 24 years ago, I got involved in contracting in many organisations and eventually worked for companies in software development.

I also got involved voluntarily in a charity as their Treasurer (which is where I met Geoff Andrews).  My last full time role was with a not-for-profit operating in the banking and insurance sectors.  I have since retired.

When Geoff started with ANCAD, he mentioned the development of ACA. I thought it was a great idea as not-for-profits was one area hardly covered in the university courses.  I offered to assist him in any way I could and have enjoyed my involvement in lecturing, mentoring and more recently organising teams.

Simon joined ANCAD with a background as a school teacher and school principal, having dedicated 15 years in the classroom helping students from primary through to secondary school level to flourish and succeed.

Simon was employed by the government agency Statistics New Zealand to train managers and workers for the nationwide Census.

With several years as Auckland Regional Manager for a Levin-based marketing company, followed by time in the real estate industry helping families to move on with the next chapter in their housing lives, Simon turned his hand toward giving community groups a helping hand and completed a one year period of time overseas, in a voluntary capacity, working with various charitable groups to advance the needs of the poor in the area.

Simon enjoys sports, reading and catching up with the news, latest trends and developments and enjoying time with his wife Sarah and cat Sir Monty, living locally on the North Shore.

Deb has worked across the North Shore community sector for the last 20+ years. Her past employment history has seen her involved in the fields of education, social services, health and disability and since 2007 - the family violence intervention and prevention sector.

With teaching, child psychology and child protection qualifications, initially, Deb worked within The Salvation Army Community Ministries situated in Glenfield. She then worked with Community Child and Family Services at North Shore Hospital, employed by the WDHB.

In 2007 Deb recruited into the role of the North Shore Advocate for children and young people who had witnessed family violence; a role established by the former North Shore Women’s Refuge/Safer Families Foundation.

With a background in teaching, Deb is passionate about community-led development, empowering strength-based solutions and promoting behavioural change that supports improved wellbeing and thriving communities. She believes our whole community benefits when we work towards supporting safer whanau, for our children to be nurtured and cherished within.

It truly takes a village to raise a child.

Eva, originally from Taiwan, moved to Aotearoa New Zealand at 17 to pursue her studies. As a 1.5 generation migrant, she has dedicated over a decade to community work.

Eva sits on advisory boards at various levels, from community to central government. Her journey began humbly, focusing on increasing postnatal depression awareness among the Mandarin-speaking Chinese community.

Over time, her work expanded to include family violence prevention, victim support for school bullying and racism, and initiatives such as the Hawaiki Project. This project aims to bring Māori youth to Taiwanese indigenous tribes for cultural exchange, leadership development, and building sense of belonging.

Eva’s community work serves as a grounding force, connecting her with migrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds beyond ethnicities.

Eva was awarded the Member of New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Honours List 2024, for services to the Asian community.

Clark Tuagalu is an accomplished community engagement specialist and advisor with nearly 28 years of experience in teaching, health, and education research.

His expertise fosters connections and drives positive change within diverse communities, especially Pacific ones, focusing on health and well-being.

He notably increased participation in various projects, like Census 2023.

Clark has a Master’s in Sport and Leisure Studies and a Bachelor’s in Parks and Recreation Management.

His roles have ranged from Community Engagement Advisor to Senior Lecturer, demonstrating a deep commitment to community development.

Samoan born and New Zealand educated Pale has a background in social development, health and the tertiary sector (with a focus on Pasifika transformative teaching and learning).

Pale has a vast network of Pasifika language and cultural providers nationwide, such as the Pasifika Education Centre (PEC) and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, with access to resources and qualified experts in Tongan, Fijian, Cook Islands, Tuvaluan, Tokelauan and Niuean languages.

He also has extensive experience in facilitation and evaluation, with over twenty years in designing tailored learning to Pasifika communities primarily in the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Far North regions.

As well as working with ANCAD, Pale is the Pacific Priorities and Cultural Lead for Ako Aotearoa, Lead Pasifika Education Facilitator for ACE Aotearoa, and the Pasifika Community Educator for LEAD, and Foundation North.

Previously held positions include: Manu-Koloa, Pasifika Advisor for the Commission for Financial Capability with special interest in Pasifika perspectives in finance and cultural obligations.

Pale is also a key facilitator in PEC’s Koloa Pacific Knowledge and Competency Training, an interactive programme for corporate and community practitioners who want to know more about how to engage and interact effectively with Pacific families and individuals.