Executive Director
Evangeline Maffey
Eva is finishing a conjoint Law and Arts degree at Victoria University of Wellington in 2020. She works part-time in the Parliamentary Engagement Team for the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives NZ.
Eva was a previous Student CHOGM participant in 2015. In November last year, Eva attended the 10th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Delhi, India.
Eva 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 spare time she enjoys reading, exploring Wellington’s café culture and collecting maps. Eva feels CYNZ is a fantastic platform for youth engagement and to bridge Aotearoa's youth with the Commonwealth.
Eva was a previous Student CHOGM participant in 2015. In November last year, Eva attended the 10th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Delhi, India.
Eva 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 spare time she enjoys reading, exploring Wellington’s café culture and collecting maps. Eva feels CYNZ is a fantastic platform for youth engagement and to bridge Aotearoa's youth with the Commonwealth.
Deputy Executive Director
Jasper James
Jasper is a Quality Assurance and Coaching Manager for New Zealand Police and co-oversees close to 100 Police employees. He is reaching the end of his undergraduate in Psychology and Cultural Anthropology and has aspirations to move into a masters in Cross Cultural and Organisational Psychology.
Jasper’s Maori origins are to Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Papawai marae in the Greytown area. He has done volunteer work in Women’s Empowerment in Nepal and Mental Health policy improvement for NZ Police. Jasper recently attended the 10th Annual Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Delhi India. He is a passionate advocate for youth engagement and cross cultural understanding when it comes to politics and policy.
Jasper strongly identifies with the Charter of the Commonwealth, particularly with the values of the importance of young people, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Jasper’s Maori origins are to Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Papawai marae in the Greytown area. He has done volunteer work in Women’s Empowerment in Nepal and Mental Health policy improvement for NZ Police. Jasper recently attended the 10th Annual Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Delhi India. He is a passionate advocate for youth engagement and cross cultural understanding when it comes to politics and policy.
Jasper strongly identifies with the Charter of the Commonwealth, particularly with the values of the importance of young people, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Finance and Sponsorship Officer
Madison Burgess-Smith
Madison is a public policy consultant with Iron Duke Partners. She has experience working with non-governmental organisations, in both a policy development and educational capacity.
Her previous role was in regulatory policy at the Environmental Protection Authority. Prior to the she worked at Victoria University, gaining both policy and communications experience.
She is an alumni of the 33Sixty leadership programme, having attended the programme which helps young Commonwealth leaders to develop their cultural intelligence and international leadership capacity, in Scotland. Madison has been a member of the organisation for six years and began her involvement as a participant at a National Student CHOGM.
Madison is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington in International Relations, Political Science, International Business and Public Policy.
Her previous role was in regulatory policy at the Environmental Protection Authority. Prior to the she worked at Victoria University, gaining both policy and communications experience.
She is an alumni of the 33Sixty leadership programme, having attended the programme which helps young Commonwealth leaders to develop their cultural intelligence and international leadership capacity, in Scotland. Madison has been a member of the organisation for six years and began her involvement as a participant at a National Student CHOGM.
Madison is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington in International Relations, Political Science, International Business and Public Policy.
Corporate Fundraising Officer
Luka Licul
Luka is the Chief Operating Officer at Spout, a Dunedin-based social enterprise focussed on eliminating plastic milk bottle waste.
Having participated in CYNZ events during high school, Luka was motivated to join the organisation by a desire to give back to other young people.
In addition to CYNZ, Luka is a member of UN Youth, US Embassy Youth Council and Irish Embassy Youth Council. In the past, he has volunteered with Vinnies Re Sew, an initiative centred around reducing textile waste in Wellington.
Luka is passionate about improving environmental sustainability and supporting commercial innovation.
Having participated in CYNZ events during high school, Luka was motivated to join the organisation by a desire to give back to other young people.
In addition to CYNZ, Luka is a member of UN Youth, US Embassy Youth Council and Irish Embassy Youth Council. In the past, he has volunteered with Vinnies Re Sew, an initiative centred around reducing textile waste in Wellington.
Luka is passionate about improving environmental sustainability and supporting commercial innovation.
Event Development Officer
Georgia Karantze
Hailing from Camden, England, Georgia was first introduced to CYNZ when she attended the 2016 SCHOGM as a high school student. She has had a strong interest in International Affairs ever since. She is in her third year of study towards a conjoint Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts degree at Victoria University.
Georgia is impassioned by the opportunity to further develop CYNZ through its events. Having hosted the 2019 National Student CHOGM, Georgia is consistently inspired by the courage and authenticity of Aotearoa youth. She hopes to provide events that enable young kiwis to flourish through verbal expression skills and lateral thinking regarding pressing global issues.
In her spare time, Georgia enjoys reading, tending to her plants and walking through the Wellington Botanical Gardens.
Georgia is impassioned by the opportunity to further develop CYNZ through its events. Having hosted the 2019 National Student CHOGM, Georgia is consistently inspired by the courage and authenticity of Aotearoa youth. She hopes to provide events that enable young kiwis to flourish through verbal expression skills and lateral thinking regarding pressing global issues.
In her spare time, Georgia enjoys reading, tending to her plants and walking through the Wellington Botanical Gardens.
National Student CHOGM Officer
Emily McLean
Emily is from Tawa, Wellington where she completed her first 13 years of education subsuming a number of leadership roles, culminating in her position as Head Girl at Tawa College.
Emily has been involved in and volunteered for a number of CYNZ and UN Youth events, and in 2017 was chosen to partake in the UN Youth Global Development Tour. During this tour, Emily gained experience communicating with NGO's, UN representatives, and people making a genuine difference around the world. Emily is currently in her third year at Victoria University studying Political Science, International Relations, and Law in a BA/LLB conjoint degree.
Emily wishes to facilitate change in a number of fields including civic education in schools and youth engagement in politics. Ultimately, Emily wishes to provide others with the same opportunities she enjoyed.
Emily has been involved in and volunteered for a number of CYNZ and UN Youth events, and in 2017 was chosen to partake in the UN Youth Global Development Tour. During this tour, Emily gained experience communicating with NGO's, UN representatives, and people making a genuine difference around the world. Emily is currently in her third year at Victoria University studying Political Science, International Relations, and Law in a BA/LLB conjoint degree.
Emily wishes to facilitate change in a number of fields including civic education in schools and youth engagement in politics. Ultimately, Emily wishes to provide others with the same opportunities she enjoyed.
CYNZ Auckland Outreach Officer
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CYNZ Otago Outreach Officer
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Communications Officer
Damian Butawski
Ambitious, disciplined, and conscientious - nothing is too big a challenge for Damian Butawski. Hailing from Wellington Damian is a second year Victoria University commerce student specialising in marketing and accounting.
Damian is the Director of External Relations at SavY New Zealand - where he leads the
organisation’s marketing operations for the Wellington Region. In his leisure time Damian is
an avid road cyclist and is working on gaining his Private Pilots License. One of Damian‘s
favourite quotes is “the measure of a man is what he does with power”.
Damian has held various leadership positions in his time and with ties to Wellington’s
political arena, he understands the importance of upholding the Commonwealth particularly
amongst young people. Damian is bringing his theory and experience into Commonwealth
Youth, empowering it to lead an even brighter future.
Damian is the Director of External Relations at SavY New Zealand - where he leads the
organisation’s marketing operations for the Wellington Region. In his leisure time Damian is
an avid road cyclist and is working on gaining his Private Pilots License. One of Damian‘s
favourite quotes is “the measure of a man is what he does with power”.
Damian has held various leadership positions in his time and with ties to Wellington’s
political arena, he understands the importance of upholding the Commonwealth particularly
amongst young people. Damian is bringing his theory and experience into Commonwealth
Youth, empowering it to lead an even brighter future.
CYNZ Auckland Committee Member
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CYNZ Otago Committee Member
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CYNZ Auckland Committee Member
Cale Borrell
CYNZ Auckland Committee Member
Shaneel Lal
Shaneel is in his first year of his Law and Arts conjoint at the University of Auckland. After becoming Youth MP for Manukau East in 2018, he's advocating for a fairer and equitable community for LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous people in New Zealand. He co-founded the Conversion Therapy Action Group to work towards a ban on Gay and Gender Conversion Therapy in New Zealand.
Shaneel is of iTaukei and Girmitiya ancestry; born and raised in Fiji and migrated to New Zealand in 2014. He sat on the Minister of Education's Youth Advisory Group from 2018 to 2019 and the Amnesty International’s Youth Task force representing Pasifika and New Zealand youth. His interest lies in decolonising New Zealand to even the playing field for all people.
Shaneel believes in creating a community in which everyone has equitable opportunities to succeed.
Shaneel is of iTaukei and Girmitiya ancestry; born and raised in Fiji and migrated to New Zealand in 2014. He sat on the Minister of Education's Youth Advisory Group from 2018 to 2019 and the Amnesty International’s Youth Task force representing Pasifika and New Zealand youth. His interest lies in decolonising New Zealand to even the playing field for all people.
Shaneel believes in creating a community in which everyone has equitable opportunities to succeed.