About

I’m the Deputy Chair of the Waipapa/Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board, having been re-elected unopposed to the Board for a second term.

I live and work in the Papanui Ward in Christchurch, New Zealand. This is where my children have attended school, and where I’ve volunteered on the board of Casebrook Intermediate School as well as for a local church community trust.

I stood as a Papanui Ward candidate in the 2019 local body elections, and was elected to what was at that time the Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board. Central Ward has how been added to the Community Board area following a representation review in 2021.

In 2016 I founded the Think Papanui community engagement initiative, and am still involved on a daily basis. Think Papanui is an information source focused on the Papanui Ward (the suburbs of Papanui, Northcote, and Redwood, and also parts of St Albans, Bryndwr, Casebrook…). Think Papanui’s aim is to share information on City Council consultations, Community Board agenda items and decisions, local projects in action, and generally what’s happening in the community.

Since 2011 I have been working for Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi, a Papanui-based youth and community development organisation with a long history in the area. Previously I worked for Tait Communications in marketing management.

I am a previous Vodafone Foundation World of Difference recipient, working on a transitional youth employment project. I have completed two Canterbury University courses for leaders in the community sector, and participated in our Community Board’s community leadership forums.

I hold a New Zealand Certificate in Telecommunications Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. I have broad experience in the technology sector, working in the telecommunications industry for over twenty years, spending time in both New Zealand and Australia and often working with a global outlook. Responsibilities have included management of product strategy, leadership of major bids and development of partnerships.

I have a strong interest in youth and community development and am active in the community, with experience in governance roles with community-focused organisations.

Previous activities and achievements include:

See the link on the right of this page for a summary of Simon’s CV.

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