EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brad Olsen
Brad is a proven youth leader both within New Zealand and internationally. Notably, he was New Zealand’s 2016 Queen’s Young Leader and a 2014 National Youth Leadership Award recipient. As well as being CYNZ’s Executive Director, Brad is also currently the Deputy Chair of the Wellington Youth Council, serves on the VUW Academic and Commerce Faculty Boards, is a member of the US–NZ Youth Council, and works as an Economist at Infometrics Ltd. On top of all this, he is currently in his third year of a conjoint Commerce and Arts degree, majoring in Public Policy, Economics, International Relations and Political Science.
He was previously a National Youth Advisor and helped set up Octane Youth Health – a free youth health clinic – in Whangarei, and was Chair of the Whangarei District Council Youth Advisory Group from 2013-2015. Brad’s passionate about ensuring young people unlock their leadership potential and go on to not only have their voices heard, but interact in society for the betterment of others. Brad’s also a staunch advocate for the role of the Commonwealth in detailing values that individuals, organisations and nations should aspire to in order to act collaboratively and diplomatically for forge a better world. As an alumnus of 33Sixty Malta and other international conferences, Brad is internationally recognised as a credible youth advocate keen on developing collaborative decision-making.
He was previously a National Youth Advisor and helped set up Octane Youth Health – a free youth health clinic – in Whangarei, and was Chair of the Whangarei District Council Youth Advisory Group from 2013-2015. Brad’s passionate about ensuring young people unlock their leadership potential and go on to not only have their voices heard, but interact in society for the betterment of others. Brad’s also a staunch advocate for the role of the Commonwealth in detailing values that individuals, organisations and nations should aspire to in order to act collaboratively and diplomatically for forge a better world. As an alumnus of 33Sixty Malta and other international conferences, Brad is internationally recognised as a credible youth advocate keen on developing collaborative decision-making.
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Isobel Pepper
Isobel is a third year Law and Accounting student at Victoria University of Wellington. She’s been involved with Commonwealth Youth New Zealand since Year 12, and has experienced first-hand how CYNZ can instigate passion within young people for social change and a deep respect for the Commonwealth values of diversity and inclusion. With CYNZ, Isobel’s had some pivotal personal learning experiences that have shaped her view on our world – last year alone she had the opportunity to organise a discussion panel on gender equity in the workforce and was also selected to attend the 33Sixty Singapore programme for young Commonwealth leaders.
Outside of CYNZ, Isobel has been involved with yLead, an Australasian student leadership organisation, and was recently appointed to the US–NZ Youth Council as well as selected as a consultant for Ignite Consulting, a student-led organisation providing free business advice and strategic planning to charities in Dunedin and Wellington. She’s incredibly excited about the calibre of the CYNZ executive team this year, and for the change that they, together, will affect.
Outside of CYNZ, Isobel has been involved with yLead, an Australasian student leadership organisation, and was recently appointed to the US–NZ Youth Council as well as selected as a consultant for Ignite Consulting, a student-led organisation providing free business advice and strategic planning to charities in Dunedin and Wellington. She’s incredibly excited about the calibre of the CYNZ executive team this year, and for the change that they, together, will affect.
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Marek Townley
Marek is a second-year student at Victoria University of Wellington. His driving cause is engaging young people to become active citizens who participate in the civic and political sphere, with the tools and knowledge to influence the issues they care about and create fairer societies.
Marek works part-time for the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and has previously worked for Auckland Council as well as a number of volunteer and community organisations. He is a co-founder of Active Citizenship Aotearoa, a Wellington-based civic education trust.
Marek was nominated by CYNZ to attend 33Sixty Singapore, the Commonwealth youth leadership programme. He has been a volunteer and member of CYNZ since 2016, and project-managed the 2017 Common Leaders’ Day. Marek looks forward to helping drive CYNZ’s organisational growth and relationship-building, and delivering an exciting and engaging programme of events and work in 2017 that champion Commonwealth values.
Marek works part-time for the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and has previously worked for Auckland Council as well as a number of volunteer and community organisations. He is a co-founder of Active Citizenship Aotearoa, a Wellington-based civic education trust.
Marek was nominated by CYNZ to attend 33Sixty Singapore, the Commonwealth youth leadership programme. He has been a volunteer and member of CYNZ since 2016, and project-managed the 2017 Common Leaders’ Day. Marek looks forward to helping drive CYNZ’s organisational growth and relationship-building, and delivering an exciting and engaging programme of events and work in 2017 that champion Commonwealth values.
POLICY OFFICER
Anaseini Nuku
Anaseini has been involved with Commonwealth Youth New Zealand since 2013, first attending Student CHOGM and has since gone on to play a pivotal role in the development of CYNZ’s leadership programme, Common Leaders’ Day. She is also an alumni of 33Sixty, the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme, which she attended in Scotland in early 2016.
Anaseini’s passion lies in building the capability and profile of the young Pacific community within New Zealand, with the long-term goal of working towards the development of the Pacific region. She also sits on the Pasifika Students’ Council at Victoria University of Wellington as the Academic Officer, where she has the privilege of working first-hand with young Pasifika students to ensure their journey through university life is a successful one.
Anaseini’s passion lies in building the capability and profile of the young Pacific community within New Zealand, with the long-term goal of working towards the development of the Pacific region. She also sits on the Pasifika Students’ Council at Victoria University of Wellington as the Academic Officer, where she has the privilege of working first-hand with young Pasifika students to ensure their journey through university life is a successful one.
GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Joseph Habgood
Joseph believes the Commonwealth values have the ability to inspire people to bring about local, national and global change. He is a recent graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied law, political science and social policy. These three subject areas combined with an abiding love of Miley Cyrus’ 2010 smash hit “Party in the USA” to create a slightly bewildered 25-year-old with a passion for social justice and an impeccable and only-slightly-dated taste in music.
Apart from studying, Joseph has been involved with InsideOUT Aotearoa, a national organisation based in Wellington that seeks to build support networks for LGBTQI and questioning youth. He’s also helped to lead LegaliseLove, which was a key part of the 2012-13 Campaign for Marriage Equality. Joseph also enjoys playing guitar, singing (whether onstage or at his computer screen), and carrying out various legal research tasks for local community groups with a goal to create greater social justice – only two of those three hobbies makes you much fun at parties, he tells us.
Empowering people to bring about change is what drives him, and the values of the Commonwealth set a fantastic blueprint for a kinder, more sustainable world.
Apart from studying, Joseph has been involved with InsideOUT Aotearoa, a national organisation based in Wellington that seeks to build support networks for LGBTQI and questioning youth. He’s also helped to lead LegaliseLove, which was a key part of the 2012-13 Campaign for Marriage Equality. Joseph also enjoys playing guitar, singing (whether onstage or at his computer screen), and carrying out various legal research tasks for local community groups with a goal to create greater social justice – only two of those three hobbies makes you much fun at parties, he tells us.
Empowering people to bring about change is what drives him, and the values of the Commonwealth set a fantastic blueprint for a kinder, more sustainable world.
GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Madison Burgess-Smith
Madison is passionate about youth engagement and the development of exceptional young leaders in our community. Having spent time in delegated leadership positions across cultural groups, sporting codes, school and university communities she brings a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to this organisation.
Madison is a third-year student studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and International Business at Victoria University of Wellington. She was a SCHOGM participant in 2014 and has since been on the planning team for the last two years. She is an alumnus of the 33Sixty Glasgow programme and has a strong interest in the Commonwealth and the role it plays in promoting development, peace and democracy. She is passionate about working with young people and believes the role of leaders today is to develop stronger leaders tomorrow. Outside of her work with CYNZ she is employed by Victoria University. In her role, she assists in providing pastoral care and fostering academic achievement within young people.
Madison is a third-year student studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and International Business at Victoria University of Wellington. She was a SCHOGM participant in 2014 and has since been on the planning team for the last two years. She is an alumnus of the 33Sixty Glasgow programme and has a strong interest in the Commonwealth and the role it plays in promoting development, peace and democracy. She is passionate about working with young people and believes the role of leaders today is to develop stronger leaders tomorrow. Outside of her work with CYNZ she is employed by Victoria University. In her role, she assists in providing pastoral care and fostering academic achievement within young people.
GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Anna Prestidge
Anna Prestidge is a fourth-year Laws (Honours) and Arts student at Victoria University Wellington. Anna was first introduced to Commonwealth when she attended the 33Sixty Singapore programme late last year. This opportunity inspired Anna to further her support in helping shape the next generation of global leaders and generate change on a number of Commonwealth issues. Her involvement with the organisation brings together two of Anna’s greatest passions: bringing awareness to social issues and helping young people unlock their full potential.
Anna is strongly academic, having been awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship in 2014, University of Auckland Scholarship (rescinded) and being included twice on the Dean’s List. Outside of academia, she has taken up a range of leadership and community opportunities. She currently works as a Residential Advisor at one of Victoria’s largest halls and volunteered with Community Law Centre as part of their education team. In her spare time, Anna is an avid traveller and enjoys volunteering as much as possible. She is additionally a classical singer, keen skier and enjoys creative writing.
Anna is strongly academic, having been awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship in 2014, University of Auckland Scholarship (rescinded) and being included twice on the Dean’s List. Outside of academia, she has taken up a range of leadership and community opportunities. She currently works as a Residential Advisor at one of Victoria’s largest halls and volunteered with Community Law Centre as part of their education team. In her spare time, Anna is an avid traveller and enjoys volunteering as much as possible. She is additionally a classical singer, keen skier and enjoys creative writing.
GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Evangeline (Eva) Maffey
Evangeline (Eva) is very excited to be a General Executive Member of the CYNZ Executive this year. Originally from Christchurch, Eva is currently in her second year of a conjoint Law and Arts degree at Victoria University of Wellington, and she also works for the Office of the Clerk in Parliament’s debating chamber.
Eva also volunteers for UN Youth New Zealand and the Victoria Development Society, both of which aim to educate and empower youth in the areas of international relations and the Sustainable Development Goals. Some may call her an idealist as she believes in the effectiveness of international organisations, and the power of cooperative actions for peace and health. Issues that Eva is particularly passionate about are equal pay and civic education in schools. In her (limited) spare time she enjoys reading classics, exploring Wellington’s café culture and making maps. Eva feels CYNZ is a fantastic way to get youth engaged and connected from a local to international level, and inspire them to be active in their communities around New Zealand, and she can’t wait to work with the other talented people on the Executive.
Eva also volunteers for UN Youth New Zealand and the Victoria Development Society, both of which aim to educate and empower youth in the areas of international relations and the Sustainable Development Goals. Some may call her an idealist as she believes in the effectiveness of international organisations, and the power of cooperative actions for peace and health. Issues that Eva is particularly passionate about are equal pay and civic education in schools. In her (limited) spare time she enjoys reading classics, exploring Wellington’s café culture and making maps. Eva feels CYNZ is a fantastic way to get youth engaged and connected from a local to international level, and inspire them to be active in their communities around New Zealand, and she can’t wait to work with the other talented people on the Executive.