ACE Aotearoa Staff
Dr Jo Lake
Te Tumuaki/Director of ACE Aotearoa
Jo has over 20 years advisory and management experience in the Public Service including Health, State Services Commission, the Department of Conservation, and the Department of Justice. She was General Manager, Internal Audit in the Department of Corrections, Corporate Services Manager in the Ministry of Justice, and held a number of senior roles in the Department for Courts/ Ministry of Justice, including General Manager Office of Chief Executive and Judicial Affairs, General Manager Strategy and Policy and General Manager Higher Courts. She moved to the NGO sector in 2005 as National Executive Officer, Presbyterian Support New Zealand. Jo has a PhD in Psychology, and a Masters of Management.
Email: jo.lake@aceaotearoa.org.nz
Analiese Robertson
Professional Development and Networks Manager
Analiese is an adult literacy specialist. She managed Auckland-based Literacy provider, He Waka Mātaraunga (member of Literacy Aotearoa) for 11 years working mainly with Māori and Pacific communities and was a national trainer with Literacy Aotearoa where she contributed to the design, development and delivery of national literacy qualifications nationwide. Analiese has been a member and co-chair of the ACE Aotearoa Executive, and represented ACE nationally and internationally. She was selected to attend emerging leadership and facilitator training in Bangladesh and Indonesia, hosted by ASPBAE - Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education.
Email: analiese.robertson@aceaotearoa.org.nz
Gerry Westhuis
Finance Manager
Originally from the Netherlands, Gerry completed her accounting studies while working in Mozambique. She arrived in New Zealand in 2003 and worked for five years as the finance administrator of the Wellington Interpreting Service. After doing some taxation and law papers to get up-to-date with the New Zealand regulations, she registered with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. Gerry currently works part-time for three different organisations, a Maori mental health residency, an IT-company and ACE Aotearoa. She is also treasurer of the Human Rights Network of Aotearoa.
Email: gerry@aceaotearoa.org.nz
Tai Samaeli
Technology and Administration Officer
Tai is a community organiser and has spent all of his working life in the non-profit sector. He is passionate about helping people reach their potential. He has a Diploma of Teaching (Primary) and is an experienced trainer. He has worked with youth-at-risk, including managing a retail and industry training course that led to a NZQA National Certificate in Retail. Tai is also the coordinator, and a trainer for New Zealand's largest community-based improvisation troupe - WIT.
Email: tai.samaeli@aceaotearoa.org.nz
Jo Lynch
Editor ACE Aotearoa quarterly Newsletter and Secretariat to the ACE Sector Strategic Alliance
Jo has worked as a contractor specialising in community development, social policy, programme evaluation and writing in both New Zealand and overseas. She began her career in television current affairs. She was associated with adult and community education in the late 1970s and developed a strong human rights approach to access to learning. Many of her consultancy contracts have focused on the interface between community organisations and government policy. As the newsletter editor she remains inspired by ability of not for profit organisations to make change happen in their communities.
Email: jolynch@xtra.co.nz
Mary Gavigan
Communications Advisor and Adult Learners’ Week/He Tangata Mātauranga Project Manager
Mary has over fifteen years experience in secondary education, in roles which include Assistant Principal, HOD English, full time Teacher Librarian and classroom teacher. She also has an extensive background in print production, media/communications and event management in the arts, education and the Community and Voluntary Sector. She is currently completing a Masters in Literacy Education.
Email: maryg@paradise.net.nz
