I’ve been involved with sustainable development and voluntary work across a wide range of groups in the Ōtaki community since 2014 after living for the previous 20 years back in Germany. Among being the Treasurer for Energise Ōtaki, I have been actively involved as a volunteer in projects like developing the Ōtaki Curtain Bank.
Working together with different organisations is close to my heart. I strongly believe that working across different groups, drawing on the strengths of each, will deliver a positive social and environmental impact and achieve a better outcome for members of the Ōtaki community by creating a sustainable energy efficient community.
Before engaging in the world of marketing and communication I was teaching physically disabled children in Germany. I first came to New Zealand in 1980 on an international Rotary Award for study and work with students with special needs, completing supporting studies in psychology and sociology before adding business studies.
I returned to Germany (with a New Zealand husband) in the early 1990s to set up a destination marketing office as Regional Manager for an Australian State tourist office, working in the Central European markets (G, CH, A, F, I, NL), responsible for establishing B2B und B2C relationships, developing marketing and advertising campaigns, and public relations. Prior to that I was creating and managing travel programs including special interest itineraries and incentives for people visiting New Zealand, whilst applying my teaching skills to teaching German at night classes.