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.

Stephen Jones

Bio coming soon!

Michael Lu

Michael is a student at the University of Canterbury studying Psychology and Anthropology. Alongside his studies he has been lucky to be offered various opportunities in youth leadership. Having experience of being part of season four and five The Hive and Gen-Z Aotearoa. These experiences helped Michael see the impact that youth voice and leadership can have

Through his studies and roles in the youth space, Michael has developed a drive to work in the mental health space. Speaking at the inaugural Youth Mental Health Summit and currently serving as a member of the Youth Advisory Council at Youthline. Alongside this, Michael also works in the Enrichment Team at the University of Canterbury as a mentor for first year students, helping them transition to university life and offer them community impact opportunities. 

Michael hopes the Te Ara Tīrama will help young people to learn the power of their voices and be able to support the next generation of leaders in Aotearoa. 

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. 

Rachel Mackay

Rachel (she/they) is one of the senior policy analysts at the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services. Her specific focus areas are tenancy and older people – especially the way that ageism impacts policy and services. They see this happening at both ends of the lifespan and that the work of Te Ara Tīrama can directly contribute to solving some of the issues around voice, inclusion, and engagement for and with rangatahi.

She is also passionate about co-designed programmes and ensuring that work is by, for, and with the people it most impacts. 

As a parent to three very different kids and a Cub leader, the way Te Ara Tīrama supports different ways of leading is close to Rachel’s heart. 

She spends what little spare time she has reading, embroidering, and binge watching TV. 

Nikita Xalxo

Nikita is a passionate cybersecurity and AI graduate from Victoria University of Wellington, currently working in Digital Operations.

She enjoys combining technology, creativity, and problem-solving to help people and make a positive impact. During university, she was actively involved in the South Asian community, helped run a dance club, and enjoyed creating opportunities for students to connect and celebrate their culture. She has also contributed to charitable projects through Ignite Consultants Wellington and is now a Board Member here at Te Ara Tīrama Charitable Trust, where she is passionate about supporting and empowering young people.

Outside of work, Nikita loves dancing, graphic and UX design, meal prepping, going on walks, and getting involved in her community.

Matthew Smith

Bio coming soon!

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.