Speakers (Kaikohe)

Dr Girol Karacaoglu
Dr Girol Karacaoglu is Chief Economist at the New Zealand Treasury, Wellington. He joined the Treasury on 1 March 2012. His role is to provide strategic leadership on broad economic policy issues, in particular fiscal and monetary policy settings, and New Zealand’s international linkages. The Chief Economist role is critical to championing and lifting the quality and capability of the Treasury’s economic advice. Girol came to the Treasury from The Co-operative Bank, where he was Chief Executive for nine years. His previous roles include General Manager at Westpac NZ, Chief Economist at the National Bank of NZ, and lecturer in economics at Victoria University of Wellington. He has a PhD in Economics and an MBA, and is fluent in French and Turkish.  He has three adult daughters and one son and enjoys reading, classical music, walking, dancing, movies, and family activities.

Kelly Yakas
Kelly manages a number of community-based initiatives in Kaikohe. She has worked within the education sector across the Mid-North as an educator, tutor and manager and recently coordinated a Ministry of Education project to strengthen early learning participation in Kaikohe.  She manages the local Kaikohekohe Drop In Centre for parents and children and also runs a specialized playgroup for 4-year-old children.  Kelly coordinates the annual ‘Whanau Fun Fest’ and has facilitated a number of ‘Street Play Days’ in Kaikohe, bringing together parents, families and whanau alongside organisations and services within the community. During her time with Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi, Kelly managed the Foundation for Youth Development programmes, ‘Kiwi Can’ and ‘Stars’ in the local primary and secondary schools. Kelly is a trustee for the R. Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust, former Chairperson of the Kaikohe West School Board, and is the current Chairperson of Northland College. Kelly also has a legal background and for the last three years has assisted Waitangi Tribunal claimants prepare evidence for the Te Paparahi o Te Raki (Northland) Inquiry and the Military Veterans (Kaupapa) Inquiry.Kelly is an enthusiastic sports person, a player and coach of netball and representative coordinator for the Bay of Islands Netball Centre.  Kelly is also the local Les Mills aerobics instructor and has been taking classes in Kaikohe for 15 years. Above all, Kelly is a parent of two beautiful children who she has raised in Kaikohe ever since her return home 17 years ago.

Jim Luders
Jim has been Principal at Northland College for three years and worked in education for 30 years primarily in Whangarei. He has always worked in low Decile 1 and 2 schools.

 

 
Deidre Otene
Te Uri Mahoe, Kohatutaka
Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa
Born and Raised in Mangamuka, educated at Maungataniwha te Kohanga Reo, Mangamuka primary school, Okaihau College, Auckland Girls Grammar and a University of Auckland Vice Chancellor scholar, Ms Otene recently returned home with her two children Tegen Atarangi and Temana mai i nga Rangi.
Ms Otene is currently the General Manager of The MOKO Foundation and Fellow of the Vodafone Foundation. Ms Otene has a successful career history to date, leading health and social services in Queensland, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand.  She has experience in building community development models relevant to the communities and environments they serve, to overcome inequalities and achieve sustainable outcomes. Ms Otene began her career in the Youth Justice space, moving into health leadership and advocating for Tikanga and Kawa to be leading drivers in maintaining relevance and true direction. Her experience working within the adult justice system then directed her to focus on strength based initiatives that would create intergenerational change for future generations. Ms Otene is strongly focused on lifting leadership and governance across the region to achieve sustainable outcomes and believes that placing Children and Youth at the centre of decision making will create positive, sustainable intergenerational change. Ms Otene enjoys participating in sport and physical activity and has represented New Zealand and the region in codes including netball, boxing, basketball, volleyball, marathons and kabaddi.  However, she finds more joy in following her children around the field, court, bush and on the water nowadays. ‘Through innovation, our commitment to fact and reason and ultimately our faith in each other we can overcome any problem and provide sustainable positive outcomes’
“Whaia te Muka o te Harakeke
Ko mātou i mataau
E Taurahere ana, ki ngā mātua Tupuna”

Mark Anderson
Chair, Kaikohe Business Association

 

 

 

Tania McInnes
Tania is Deputy Mayor of the Far North District Council and is also a director of GBT Ventures Ltd, trading as Breakthrough Seminars (a coaching business with the byline ‘be your potential’). She has been chair of the Kaikohe Social Sector Trials Advisory Group and is a member of the LGNZ National Environmental Advisory Committee. Described by Mayor John Carter as a ‘highly motivated change agent with an impressive record’, Tania has had a varied and interesting career to date. She is one of the instigators of Focus Paihia, a successful community Trust, which has won national – www.focuspaihia.org.nz. She has also been an employment coach and worked with ‘at-risk’ youth. Born in the Waikato, Tania grew up in the Bay of Islands, where she now resides. She has a passion for empowering individuals and communities, believing that government, whether it be central or local, is here to serve and support its communities. Tania is leading a major district high level planning initiative – Te Manawatoopu – Our Voices, Our Vision, Our Journey. This is currently being facilitated by the Far North District Council, working alongside a cross-sector community reference group. The 2050 Vision for the Far North was adopted by Council in 2015 – He Whenua Rangatira – A District of Sustainable Prosperity and Well-being. The key aim is to grow prosperity, through encouraging Far North communities to work together and head in the same direction.

2015 TacklingPovertyNZ workshop participants