The Board is made up of seven people who work in a variety of roles within the youth sector. They are advised and supported by a Kaumātua (who is not a Board member but is an adviser to the Board), and by the Ara Taiohi Caucuses. They are nominated and elected by Ara Taiohi members, and confirmed at our annual general meetings.

Our current Board members are:

Ric Odom – Chair

Ric brings a wealth of governance, leadership and management experience to his role with Ara Taiohi. Ric’s had a varied career – he spent 20 years as an officer in the New Zealand Army, four years with Te Papa Tongarewa, including time as a general manager, and is now CEO of YMCA New Zealand. He says he’s motivated by the need for a joined-up youth sector, the challenge of building a new organisation. He’s a former member of the NZAAHD Executive Council, and is based in Wellington.

Aniva Lawrence – Secretary

Aniva is all about making a difference for Pacific youth and rural youth. She’s a GP and two-time recipient of the Vodafone Fellowship in Youth Health Leadership. Aniva sees her work with Ara Taiohi as a chance to give back, and believes a supportive infrastructure for youth workers will lead to services that are evidence-based and impact positively on young people’s lives. She’s keen to work with Society of Youth Health Professionals Aotearoa New Zealand (SYHPANZ) to look at dual membership options. Aniva, whose practice is in Pahia, is a former member of the NZAAHD Executive Council.

Stephen Bell – Treasurer

Stephen has worked with Youthline Auckland for 25 years, and is now their CEO and Youthline’s national spokesperson. He brings experience in business, nursing, youth work and counselling. Stephen says he’s seen too many good people burn out, and sector organisations fail – this time, he wants to see Ara Taiohi become a strong, united voice and professional body for youth workers.

Will Goldsmith - Kaihautū

Will (Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) was appointed Kaihautu at the Ara Taiohi AGM on 28 October 2011. He replaced Elizabeth Kerekere. Te Kaihautū sits alongside the Chairperson of the Board, provides political advice to the Board, cultural advice for staff and convenes Ngā Kaihoe (Māori caucus). Will brings broad experience on boards and directorships, along with a background working with youth in different roles including in alternative education. He’s also worked as a trainer for small businesses.

Sarah Finlay

Sarah has more than 10 years experience in the youth sector, including roles with the Youth Horizons Trust and CAYAD, and is now a Youth Programme Advisor at Auckland City Council. Sarah was born in the  Waikato and now based in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland). She says her strengths are in strategic thinking, programme development and evaluation, and an understanding of work with vulnerable young people. Her passion is seeing vibrant, resilient and connected young people with a strong voice in their communities and local environments.

Rebecca Blaikie

Rebecca is a communications advisor with the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, coordinating and mentoring the Young People’s Reference Group. She has strong national networks in the youth sector, and is a proud Ara Taiohi advocate, connecting and sharing ideas whenever possible. She’d like to see Ara Taiohi become champions for the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Treaty of Waitangi. Rebecca lives in Wellington and is a former member of the NZAAHD Executive Council.

Freedom Preston-Clark

Freedom (Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupouri) has the rather big responsibility of representing for the South Island youth sector. Freedom works at the Southern Development Manager for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, and has more than 14 years experience in youth and community development. Formerly of Auckland, Freedom is now based in Christchurch and has worked with the former National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa and Canterbury Youth Workers’ Collective.

The Kaumātua is not a member of the Board but is an adviser to the Board.

Ruru Hona – Kaumātua

The Ara Taiohi board is supported by kaumātua Ruru Hona (Ngāti Kahu, Nga Puhi), who was on the board of the National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa, and was part of the group who developed the Code of Ethics. Ruru says he takes his role with Ara Taiohi seriously, and really wants to see youth do well. He would like to see everyone in Ara Taiohi take responsibility for upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and wants to involve people from all over the far reaches of Aotearoa New Zealand in the organisation.