Abby Golden

Abby is the founder and driving force behind Te Ara Tīrama Charitable Trust and its flagship project, Te Ara Tīrama: Youth Impact Network.

Recognising the barriers young people face in accessing decision-making spaces and bringing their ideas to life, Abby set out to create a platform that challenges traditional leadership models and opens doors for all rangatahi to have a voice, a network, and the tools to create change. 

Abby is a passionate advocate for authentic youth co-design, ensuring young people are not just consulted but actively leading the conversations and decisions that affect their futures. She challenges the idea that leadership requires a loud, confident voice, and instead celebrates leadership through action.

Based in Dunedin, Abby works as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, balancing this role with her Te Ara Tīrama mahi. In her spare time, you’ll find her playing music, gardening, going for walks, and spending time with friends and whānau.

Karla Sanders

Karla’s commitment to authentic youth co-design comes from seeing firsthand how powerful it is when young people are trusted to lead change. She believes it’s essential because when youth have a real voice in shaping their world, the solutions are stronger and more meaningful. Young people bring fresh ideas, lived experience, and unique perspectives that lead to better outcomes for everyone. Her work—first with Sticks ’n Stones and now with Netsafe—has always been about ensuring youth are heard, valued, and supported to make a difference.

She sees Te Ara Tīrama: Youth Impact Network as a way to make sure young people across Aotearoa feel included, listened to, and empowered. Too often, decisions are made about youth without them being part of the conversation. This network is about changing that—creating real opportunities for young people to share ideas, work together, and have a genuine say in things that affect them. Karla believes that when young people are given the space and support to lead, they bring fresh thinking, passion, and energy that can create real change in their communities and beyond.

Karla lives in sunny Central Otago with her husband and two children, where she can usually be found reading a good book or enjoying all the region has to offer.

Jennifer Huddleston

Jennifer has been working in education for 16 years as a teacher and facilitator, and now as a Project Manager in Netsafe’s Education and Outreach team. Her focus is on youth leadership, co-design, and online harm prevention—continuing some of the mahi she was involved in at Sticks ‘n Stones, a bullying prevention organisation. She’s passionate about creating spaces where young people can lead real change and have a genuine say in the systems that impact them. Outside of work, you’ll usually find her outdoors, reading, or spending time with her three amazing kids.

Jennifer believes authentic youth co-design isn’t just about asking young people for their thoughts—it’s about making sure they’re active decision-makers. Their lived experiences bring fresh ideas and new perspectives that help create real, lasting change.

Meg Thomas

Meg is excited to be a trustee of Te Ara Tīrama: Youth Impact Network. She is currently completing her studies in Law and Commerce at the University of Canterbury and has been involved in a range of leadership, governance, and community roles over the years.

From working in youth advocacy and mental health initiatives to mentoring students and gaining experience in legal and commercial spaces, Meg is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to connect, lead, and make a real impact.

Meg firmly believes in the power of rangatahi to drive change and is looking forward to helping build a network where young people can support and uplift each other.

Sinead Kirwan

Sinead is an experienced Partnerships Manager, Service Designer and Product Manager with a strong belief that all mahi should be driven by those impacted by it. The last six years has seen Sinead working in philanthropy supporting incredible community organisations empowering rangatahi. This experience confirmed for Sinead that the most impactful mahi is driven through co-design, ensuring all mahi has the voice of those impacted at its heart.

Sinead sees Te Ara Tīrama: Youth Impact Network as a powerful opportunity for rangatahi to build strong networks across the country that support and hold each other up as they do the tough work of driving positive change.

Based in beautiful Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta (Upper Hutt) with her whānau, including one gorgeous red staffy and one sassy ginger cat, Sinead loves spending time learning, reading, sewing and knitting. 

James Avenell

James is a dedicated computer science student at the University of Waikato. Passionate about technology, he has worked on various projects, including contributing to climate change visualisation and running several of his own ventures. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, James is an avid outdoors enthusiast who enjoys jet boating, tramping, four-wheel driving, and other adventurous activities.

James recognises that without genuine collaboration, many innovative ideas (especially those that adults might overlook) may never be heard. As a teen, developing his own innovations, he has been challenged by his age, reinforcing his belief that empowering youth in decision-making is essential for fostering fresh perspectives and meaningful change.

James hopes to see Te Ara Tīrama: Youth Impact Network open a new world of possibilities and lower barriers to meaningful youth engagement and innovation across Aotearoa.