Chairperson:  David Haigh

David has an MA in sociology and diplomas in public health, community work and professional ethics.  He has been self-employed, carrying out social policy research for local authorities, NGOs and Iwi.  He is also a lecturer at Unitec in the Department of Social Practice and an external examiner for the Planning Department at the University of Auckland. He has sat on two ethics committee dealing with social and health research.  He is chair of the Grafton Residents Association and chair of the Newmarket Arts Trust. David received the Queen’s honour of Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).  He is also a practising JP.

Vice-Chairperson: Beate Matthies
Beate comes from Germany where she did a M.A. degree, specialising in linguistics. She then completed her MBA in Business Administration and International Marketing.
At present she is the Manager of the Mercy Spirituality Centre in Epsom.Beate does a weekly radio programme on ACCESS Radio and is a member of the Board of Management of the station.
She has been a member of ADCOSS Executive for the last 3 years and her special interest is Social Justice.

Secretary- Joan Lardner-Rivlin
Joan studied Social Work and Social Administration at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
She has worked in Community Development and Youth Work in England, South Africa, Zambia and Hongkong before coming to New Zealand. She worked for the Auckland Regional Authority as Community Advisor. She is now a member of the Senior Advisory Panel of Auckland Council and a volunteer Community Coordinator for the Office of Senior Citizens MSD.
Joan does a weekly radio programme on ACCESS Radio and is a member of the Board of Management of the station.
She has been a member of ADCOSS for more years than she cares to remember, and looks forward to a new era in the history of ADCOSS.

Treasurer- Rika Werner
Rika did her M.A. degree in Social Work in South Africa, immigrated to Germany where she worked and studied for 19 years. She did a three-year management diploma in Germany that prepared her for the Treasurer position in ADCOSS. Rika was involved in the first working group in Schleswig Holstein Germany integrating quality ISO9001 into social services.
She is an executive member of the women’s network OWN (Our Women’s Networking) and she has been a member of ADCOSS Executive for the last 3 years. Rika is also a member of the Inner City Network steering group. Rika has been working in community development and Mental Health in South Africa, Germany and now in New Zealand.

Andrew Beyer
Secretary of Community Networks Aotearoa has been on their executive since 2002 and was chair for six years. He is also on Manukau East Council of Social Services executives.
Andrew lives and works in South Auckland with a community liaison role across the region and local ministry through an Anglican Church in Mangere.

Anne-Marie Coury

Anne-Marie educated at Canterbury University (BA English), Victoria BA Hons Education and Psychology, Maori Tikanga and Te Reo through Victoria and mentoring by kaumatua.  Her whanau links to celtic shores of Ireland and Cornwall are valued, as well as her mother’s links with Ngai Tahu.
Anne-Marie trained as a primary teacher, was a senior advisor in education, became a director of a cross-cultural communications business. Anne-Marie is currently President of Auckland Grey Power, passionately advocating for seniors’ wellbeing, developing policy within national advisory groups for Grey Power nationwide, and being media spokesperson for the 50 Plus policies and media spokesperson on Central Auckland Issues as well as co-ordinator for 50 Plus Cycling.  She enjoys her performing role with Te Puru of Tamaki, Ngati Whatua’s kaumatua kapa haka group.

 Thurai Thuraisundaram

Thurai comes from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and studied Civil engineering in Sri Lanka and worked in the Public Works Department, afterwards joined the Sri Lankan Navy as a commissioned officer (Marines). He was head of the Civil Engineering department as Commander. On leaving navy he joined the Norwegian Aid Organisation (NGO) Save the Children “Redd Barna – Sri Lanka” as Program Engineer. He carried out several projects for the settlement of lower income families. There after he worked in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria as Project engineer in capital cities. He arrived to New Zealand in mid 1984. He joined Auckland City Council as a Senior Engineer and worked for 25 years.
He as a member co- founded several Community Organisations in Auckland since 1989, helping Asylum seekers Refugees and Migrants to settle in New Zealand. He held the position of President for many years for Auckland Refuge Council, Auckland Multicultural Society, NZ Tamil Society and NZ Tamil Senior Citizens Associations. Presently he is a member of the Board of Management at Asian Net Work, ACCESS RADIO and ADCOSS. He is also an Executive Member of Meadowbank and St Johns Residence Organisation. He is a Justice of Peace since 1990.
Thurai, received the Queen’s Service Medal, Auckland Silver award from Age Concern, Kiwi Bank Local Hero and Senior New Zealander of the year and Good Citizen award from Auckland City Council for the services rendered to the Public and Community.

Other Executive members: Ronald Andreassend, Lucia Davis, Barbara McCulloch, Laurel Taufauata,