Our People

I spent the last eight years of my career in the philanthropic sector supporting systemic change, and leading relationship management. That experience gave me an opportunity to learn about a lot of incredible charities across Aotearoa and see firsthand the significant difference resourcing can make.  

Before that I ran my own charity, which I co-founded during university, Film for Change Aotearoa, wrangling volunteers of all kinds to run the organisation and make short films for Wellington Charities. 

Most of the volunteering I do is in the governance and impact film spaces. Recently, I made a short film about the Ki te Hoe Wānanga series – a programme that is bringing leaders from philanthropy and the not-for-profit space on a series of wānanga to learn about Te Tiriti and the country. Screening it at the Philanthropy New Zealand conference helped increase sign ups to create the biggest cohort yet. 

I’m a mama to two boys so I have little spare time. But when I catch some, I'm co-hosting a Wellington Access Radio show about tattoos, making mini-websites for charities, projects and small businesses, and trying to change the funding system.

Tēnā koutou katoa,  

Ko Takitimu te waka, Ko Pukeruru te maunga, Ko Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenenge Mātangi Rau te awa Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa te iwi  

Ko Marcia Skinnon tōku ingoa  

Ko wai tēnei?  

Kia ora, my name is Marcia and I am the Manager of Volunteer Hutt, a role I have held since November 2023. Over the years, I’ve built strong community connections and a wealth of experience, having spent much of my career working in community and social development roles, with a focus on strengthening communities.  

I was born and raised in Pōneke, and 35 years ago my whānau and I moved to Wainuiomata, where I still live today. I am a proud mother of three adult children and grandmother to eleven mokopuna.  

Tūao (volunteering) has been a lifelong commitment for me, shaped from a young age through my upbringing in the Rātana Church, my involvement on marae, and my mahi within the local community. Grounded in tikanga values such as whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, and manaakitanga, my contributions have included working in kitchen and hosting duties, coaching sports teams, and supporting local whānau.  

I currently serve as a volunteer on two not-for-profit boards and continue my learning journey by studying te reo Māori me ōna tikanga at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.  

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. 

As the Coordinator of Volunteer Wellington’s Corporate Volunteering programme, I connect employers around the Wellington Region with our network of community organisations. I enjoy bringing my knowledge and experience working in both the corporate and local government sectors to match corporate volunteers with opportunities in the community.  

My goal is to introduce more people to the concept of volunteering even if they’re just doing it for a day. 

Some people say volunteering is in the DNA of New Zealanders. I don’t know if that’s right or not but if you have the time and the opportunity, then I think it’s a great thing to be able to do. I have been drawn into different forms of volunteering at different times in my life, from being involved in school fundraising activities to driving for Meals on Wheels or sorting food for Kaibosh when I haven’t been working.  

For fun and relaxation, I garden, catch up with friends, walk the dog, and go to the movies. 

I'm originally from the United States, but I graduated with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Anglo-American University in Prague (with a trimester exchange at Te Herenga Waka).

My role at Volunteer Wellington is two-fold; as the Fundraiser, I bring experience from my time as Director of the Chamber of Commerce to apply for funding, nurture relationships with donors, and attempt various types of fundraising strategies. As the Communications Lead, I manage and copyedit our newsletters, social media platforms, and approve all copy from Volunteer Wellington.

My family has always been very involved in our community; it felt like every other weekend we were volunteering at community events as emcees, facilitators, parade and festival coordinators, or photo/videographers. Community and socialising is more important than ever, and getting to support community organisations is such a fulfilling role. Community spaces can help break down the binary of home and the workplace, and give us space to be ourselves so we can support a healthy and participatory society.

I bring a background working in a variety of different roles. My first office role was in customer service for Octopus Energy, a renewable energy based in the UK, championing customer service initiatives and specialising in customer happiness. I spent some time working in data and operations at the stock market (NZX) and more recently have spent time at the Treasury working in administration, and a little bit of project management thrown in.

I’m a volunteer basketball coach at Wellington College. It's really important to me because the age range is 13-14, a time where a lot of kids don’t really know what they want to do. When people show an interest in what they’re interested in is really giving back and it’s bliss to be able to give back to kids and parents and help them achieve things. Additionally, the values of Wellington College align with my own belief as well as those commonly shared in the volunteering space.

For fun and relaxation, I do lots of sport; I used to play basketball until I got injured. Now in my spare time, I go on powerwalks, hikes, and cook. I'm always ready to learn something new, so I've become quite tech savvy.

I have spent a long time working in central/local government and community groups from big to small. I think we all have great stories to tell, and by telling those stories we can help build great teams and get things done. 

My big goal here is to build the capacity for all of our amazing community groups to spend less time filling out paperwork and more time doing what they do best. I want to help them share their incredible stories so the whole region knows just how much they matter, and I want the leaders who back our communities to know how vital our collective mahi is. 

During COVID, I joined the team in Porirua, going door to door, helping people within more vulnerable hapori (communities) who were unable to get the vaccination to support them to take the wero. I think about how important it is to connect, but more importantly to realise just how big things can happen from small gestures offered with aroha. We all have that ability to change people's lives every day: Ahakoa he iti he pounamu. 

Volunteering is central to both my professional life and my personal values. As a Professor at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, my research has focused on how volunteering is organised, supported, and sustained across contexts such as community organisations, major events, health, emergency management, and tourism. Alongside this, I have worked closely with not‑for‑profit organisations across Aotearoa to strengthen volunteer leadership, capability, and impact. 

I am passionate about Volunteer Wellington’s role as an enabler of volunteering across the Wellington region. As Chair, I am focused on supporting a strong, values‑led organisation that backs volunteers and volunteer‑involving organisations, strengthens sector capability, and advocates for the vital contribution volunteering makes to communities and wellbeing. As an educator, a particular area of focus for me is supporting pathways into volunteering for young people — recognising volunteering as a powerful way to build connection, confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging, while also strengthening the future of the sector. 

Originally from the north‑east of England, I have made Wellington my home for over twenty years, where we raised our two sons. Outside of work, I enjoy creating art (linocut print is my current favourite), reading, and in summer you can find me aqua jogging in my happy place, the Thorndon Outdoor Pool. 

One volunteering experience that has had a lasting impact on me was serving as Event Director for the Thorndon Fair for almost a decade. This community event brought together hundreds of volunteers, local organisations, businesses, and residents, and showed me first‑hand how volunteering builds connection, pride, and shared ownership of place. It was also an important fundraiser for the local primary school, and a reminder that the power of volunteering is not just in the activity itself, but in the longer‑term impact people have through contributing to communities that thrive. 

I’m Linn, born and raised in Te Awa Kairangi, Lower Hutt in Te Āti Awa’s place. I'm a proud Wellingtonian, where I live with my husband and three teenage/adult children. 

I'm grateful to be a trustee on the Volunteer Wellington Board. 
My career has been shaped by a deep commitment to supporting people and communities, with a particular focus on children and young people. I have worked extensively across the public and philanthropic sectors, engaging with community organisations, funding partners, governance boards, government agencies, and Ministers. I hope to bring some of the skills and experience I've picked up along the way to support the awesome work of Volunteer Wellington.   

I love to read, walk my two dogs and hang out with family and friends. I've volunteered on a couple of boards, on sports committees as a manager and coach and parent help on various kaupapa related to creche, kindy and school over the years. I think volunteering is so important because it supports community connections and capability. 

Tihei Mauri Ora, Ko Laauli Joe Seupule tōku ingoa.

I am of Samoan decent, supporting the kaupapa of Wellington Volunteer through governance and the mahi of charitable trusts and non-profits. I contribute to local and regional councils by way of community led governance and leadership roles advocating for Pasifika communities in Pōneke. Community engagement is essential to empowering volunteers and strengthening the impact of volunteering across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

For many years I have been involved in the cultural practice and preservation of Samoan tatau (tattooing) which has a strong aiga (family) and community focus. 

A Samoan proverb that guides me in the voluntary sector is: O lupe sa vao ese'ese ae ua fuifui fa'atasi / "We are from different parts of the forest but connected in one cause", reflecting collaborative service and unity.

Nathan is a Manager at KPMG New Zealand, where he advises a wide variety of organisations on accounting and tax matters, as well as a range of business issues. He is passionate about supporting local communities and creating opportunities for people to make a positive difference. 

He brings experience working with charities, particularly in financial reporting, and has a keen interest in governance and sustainability. Through his work with charitable organisations, Nathan has seen the significant impact not-for-profit organisations can have on the communities they serve and is excited to join the Volunteer Wellington Board in 2026.