Cathy Canavan

Service Coordinator

I have been living on the beautiful Kāpiti Coast for the last 9 years and have been in the role of Service Coordinator at Volunteer Kāpiti since 2016. I have found being involved with my local community a great way to meet people and make friends while helping others. What I most enjoy about my role at Volunteer Kāpiti is getting to meet people from all walks of life and seeing the good in people every day. I also love to hear the success stories about the volunteers we refer making a real impact for community groups no matter how big or small!

Malcolm Macaskill

Volunteer Advisor

I found my way to Volunteer Kapiti after I retired (for the second time). I wanted to get more involved in the local community and learn more about what makes Kapiti tick. I hoped to be shown some interesting and fulfilling options and wasn’t disappointed. Best of all, there was one at the heart of the system, with Volunteer Kapiti itself. I jumped at that and really enjoy meeting all the volunteers and the challenge of finding the right roles for each of them. And working with a great team helps, naturally.

Bron Thomas

Volunteer Outreach

As a recent returner to Aotearoa from the UK, where I was involved in supporting the community sector in inner London, I am delighted to have joined the team here at Volunteer Kāpiti. I am looking forward to getting to know Volunteer Kāpiti’s members better and assisting with growing an effective knowledge sharing network across the sector.

Helen Casey

Administrator/Outreach

I come from a background of working in I.T. for many years and have lived on the sunny Kāpiti Coast for the past 7 years. I am looking forward to working with the Volunteer Kāpiti team and sharing in the great work that they do within the community. In my spare time these days I enjoy the local beaches and touring every local playground with my 4-year-old daughter.

Barb Kay

Volunteer Advisor

I have lived in Kāpiti for almost 51 years, raised my family here, and have been involved in several community groups over that time. My background involved work in the government sector, focusing on people and reintegration. Now I have retired, I look forward to being part of the Volunteer Kāpiti whanau.

Beatrice Fisher

Volunteer Advisor

When I left primary school teaching, I moved into working in the not for profit sector, predominantly as a manager of volunteers. I find spending time with people who are committed to supporting their community in whatever role they are involved in extremely rewarding. You have the pleasure of meeting a wide range of people who have similar core values. I look forward to continuing this through my involvement with Volunteer Kāpiti.

Chris Joseph

Manager / Trustee

I am a dedicated advocate for social and community well-being, grounded in the values of Manaakitanga, Kotahitanga, Tūakiritanga, and Wairuatanga. As a husband and father of two, my family inspires my commitment to fostering a world where everyone feels safe to be themselves. I lead with collaboration and inclusivity, building strong relationships and driving positive, customer-focused outcomes. Guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, I strive to ensure it remains central to everything I do. I am grateful to be part of Volunteer Kapiti and look forward to contributing positively to the community I proudly call home.

Chris Joseph

Trustee

I am a dedicated advocate for social and community well-being, grounded in the values of Manaakitanga, Kotahitanga, Tūakiritanga, and Wairuatanga. As a husband and father of two, my family inspires my commitment to fostering a world where everyone feels safe to be themselves. I lead with collaboration and inclusivity, building strong relationships and driving positive, customer-focused outcomes. Guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, I strive to ensure it remains central to everything I do. I am grateful to be part of Volunteer Kapiti and look forward to contributing positively to the community I proudly call home.

Mandy Preston

Co-Chair - Trustee

Mandy’s background includes nursing, social work, HR and policy development. Recently she has provided management supervision in the NGO sector and enjoys helping people get jobs. She has experience in governance across the wider Wellington region. Mandy strongly supports the principal of volunteering in communities, and her responsibilities under Te tiriti o Waitangi. She lives on the Kāpiti coast with her partner, many whanau members and some great friends.

David Wright

Co-Chair / Trustee

David’s extensive experience has made him a leading mentor and facilitator of change for organisations in New Zealand and Internationally. He is a past and present Board member of several commercial and nonprofit enterprises. David advises: having recently returned to New Zealand I am excited to be part of Volunteer Kapiti. Playing the role of a volunteer in several ways will help me to connect to our community and inform my role as a Trustee. It is a great privilege to be invited to join the Kapiti volunteer team.

Jill Griggs

Trustee

Jill began her career in engineering in the north west of England shifting from technical to strategy. She then practiced as a business consultant, originally with a big London consultancy and then operating her own business culminating in running transformation programmes in New Zealand government. Since she gave up full time work and moved to the Kapiti Coast, she has increasingly become involved with community activities.

Cheryll Read

Trustee

Cheryll has been mainly living on the Kāpiti Coast since the late 70s. She sees volunteers as the heartbeat of community life, enriching links between people and community organisations for the benefit of both. Cheryll has a background in social work, multidisciplinary service management in Health and in HR contracting and organisation development. Now retired, alongside providing some clinical supervision to front-line professionals, and volunteering with VK. Cheryll thanks VK for taking her on to assist and support the VK mahi and vision.

Janet Chambers

Trustee

Janet is delighted to be able to contribute to the resilience and vibrancy of the local community as a trustee of Volunteer Kapiti. She has held strategic policy, planning and governance roles in the public and private sectors, and in nonprofit organisations. Her experience includes developing KPIs to monitor strategy implementation, leading a government agency's Treaty partnership capability programme, and co-ordinating a partnership between industries, NGOs, Māori, and central and local government to implement biosecurity strategy.

Galumalemana Ueligitone (Junior) Sasagi

Trustee

Talofa lava, my name is Galumalemana Ueligitone Junior Sasagi, but most people call me Junior. I am a son, a brother, a husband, and a father. I was born in Samoa and migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in the mid-90s.

I grew up with the Samoan value of Tautua, which is often translated as servant leadership, though it means so much more. It’s about service, humility, and the idea that leadership is not about power but about working for the betterment of others.

This aligns closely with the Zulu concept of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—a reminder that we are all connected and thrive as a community.
I’m excited to be part of Volunteer Kapiti and to contribute to the incredible work being done to support and empower volunteers. I believe in action, accountability, and ownership, and I look forward to making a positive impact alongside the team.

I’m here to serve, to listen, and to help drive meaningful change in our communities. I can’t wait to get started!

Marece Wenhold

Trustee

Proud to be a New Zealand citizen yet strongly rooted in the heritage of my birth country, South Africa. As a former volunteer at WREMO and Age Concern New Zealand, my commitment to community well-being runs deep. With over 10 years of experience in public policy, my competence spans research, strategic planning, and data science. Interpreting complex information to deliver actionable insights and drive impactful decisions is a passion. Dedicated to integrating Te Tiriti o Waitangi into every aspect of my work, I look forward to making a positive impact at Volunteer Kapiti and supporting our community.