Board Chair
Darryl Stevens, MNZM
Darryl Stevens has served as CYNZ's Board Chair since 2014. Commonwealth education has been central to much of Darryl’s NGO involvement. He led and administered the National Student CHOGM from the early 1980s through to 2010 and has remained closely involved with subsequent Student CHOGMs.
His dedication and guidance has seen over 2,000 high school students pass through the programme and gain a basic understanding of the role and purpose of the Commonwealth. Among Darryl's other successes has been achieving Government support for Commonwealth Day observances.
Darryl has held a variety of roles within the RCS and currently serves as Pacific Regional Coordinator and Wellington branch President. Darryl was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to youth and the Commonwealth in 2013.
His dedication and guidance has seen over 2,000 high school students pass through the programme and gain a basic understanding of the role and purpose of the Commonwealth. Among Darryl's other successes has been achieving Government support for Commonwealth Day observances.
Darryl has held a variety of roles within the RCS and currently serves as Pacific Regional Coordinator and Wellington branch President. Darryl was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to youth and the Commonwealth in 2013.
Board Deputy Chair
Erin Sampson
Having participated in the National Student CHOGM in his final year of college, Erin joined the organising committee to help support the event in 2008 and 2009. He has been a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society ever since and maintains a strong interest in global affairs and international organisations.
Erin graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours). After spending time working at the New Zealand High Commission in London, he joined the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as an analyst. Erin currently works for KPMG as an advisor. He also holds a commission as a Captain in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR), where he is currently posted as the Acting Officer Commanding of Wellington, West Coast, Taranaki Company, 5/7 RNZIR.
Erin graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours). After spending time working at the New Zealand High Commission in London, he joined the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as an analyst. Erin currently works for KPMG as an advisor. He also holds a commission as a Captain in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR), where he is currently posted as the Acting Officer Commanding of Wellington, West Coast, Taranaki Company, 5/7 RNZIR.
Board Member and Founder of Commonwealth Youth New Zealand
Aaron Hape
Aaron founded Commonwealth Youth New Zealand in 2014 with the aim of connecting young Kiwis to amazing opportunities around the Commonwealth – he served as CYNZ's inaugural Executive Director from 2014 to 2017. He is an Advisor for The Queen's Commonwealth Trust and a member of the Commonwealth Youth Council's Pacific Regional Committee. From 2014 to 2018 he was a member of the Advisory Panel for The Queen's Young Leaders Award and in 2015 he observed parliamentary elections in Trinidad and Tobago as a member of a Commonwealth election observer group.
Aaron was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, named as a New Zealander of the Year Local Hero medalist, invested as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and made a Member of the Institute of Directors. He is a proud graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and descends from the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-ā-Rua iwi.
Aaron was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, named as a New Zealander of the Year Local Hero medalist, invested as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and made a Member of the Institute of Directors. He is a proud graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and descends from the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-ā-Rua iwi.
Board Member
Henrietta McNeill
Henrietta is a policy, strategy and governance professional, with a passion for youth development and international relations. She brings governance and financial experience for not-for-profit organisations, and is a long-standing board member of Youthtown, New Zealand’s oldest youth development organisation.
Henrietta has lived and worked in Belgium, and many parts of the Pacific. As a public servant, she leads New Zealand government capacity-building relationships with immigration agencies in the Pacific and has addressed the United Nations on global migration challenges.
Henrietta was a finalist for both Young New Zealander of the Year and Women of Influence Young Leader awards. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
Henrietta has lived and worked in Belgium, and many parts of the Pacific. As a public servant, she leads New Zealand government capacity-building relationships with immigration agencies in the Pacific and has addressed the United Nations on global migration challenges.
Henrietta was a finalist for both Young New Zealander of the Year and Women of Influence Young Leader awards. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
Board Member
Karim Dickie
Karim is a Wellington-based public servant. He studied film and media at Victoria University of Wellington and defence and international development at Massey University. Karim is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Council, an organisation he founded which aims to promote links between New Zealand and countries of the Caribbean.
Karim has an active interest in the Commonwealth and in supporting engagement between New Zealand and other Commonwealth member states.
Karim has an active interest in the Commonwealth and in supporting engagement between New Zealand and other Commonwealth member states.
Board Member
Dr Jo Howse, FNZEAS, FCCEAM
Jo Howse is the President of the Royal Commonwealth Society Auckland and has had extensive international experience in Commonwealth organisations.
Jo served on the Commonwealth Foundation Civil Society Advisory Committee (CSAC) for a four-year term. During that term, she also served on the Steering and Planning Committees for the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF), a parallel event to CHOGM, in Malta and Uganda, and also on the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Governors. Jo has a strong commitment to the Commonwealth that stems from her previous roles as the National President of the New Zealand Education Administration Society (NZEAS) when she was awarded the FNZEAS, and as the International President of the Commonwealth Council in Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) when she was awarded the FCCEAM for her services in educational administration across the Commonwealth.
Jo served on the Commonwealth Foundation Civil Society Advisory Committee (CSAC) for a four-year term. During that term, she also served on the Steering and Planning Committees for the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF), a parallel event to CHOGM, in Malta and Uganda, and also on the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Governors. Jo has a strong commitment to the Commonwealth that stems from her previous roles as the National President of the New Zealand Education Administration Society (NZEAS) when she was awarded the FNZEAS, and as the International President of the Commonwealth Council in Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) when she was awarded the FCCEAM for her services in educational administration across the Commonwealth.