Gino Maresca

Community Programme Manager

Gino has been working in the field of community and youth development for the last 15 years. He has designed and run NZ Conservation Corps programmes, various life skills programmes, leadership development programmes and worked at local government level as a youth development coordinator. His particular interest in community education lies in the application of global education and community building principles to current youth worker/community educator development in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Cindy Munn

Schools Programme Manager

Cindy has come from a community development and teaching background, and has taught in various schools around Aotearoa New Zealand. She has been involved in coordinating community centres in Wellington, including a long association with the Aro Valley Community Centre. Most recently she has been studying for a Masters in Development Studies at Victoria University. Cindy believes that the creation of a just world begins in our own backyard, but that we need to understand our interconnectedness globally in order to give meaning to our actions.  

Jennie O'Donovan

Community Education Officer- Youth Media

Jennie has just returned from four years working and travelling, including three months teaching in Guatemala, and a year working for the Development Education Association in London. Before leaving on her travels she completed a postgraduate degree in politics and worked at the YWCA, providing training and support to young women, and creating and promoting resources for young people, on issues ranging from health and sexuality to social activism. Jennie is passionate about increasing young people’s understanding about the world they live in and creating opportunities for meaningful participation and taking action!

Will Watterson

Community Education Officer-Youth Engagement

Will is a pom-turned-kiwi with a passion for working with young people, both in a voluntary and professional capacity. After moving to Wellington in 2001 he completed a BA in Theatre and English Literature. He went on to manage several youth-development projects with the Boys’ & Girls’ Institute (BGI) and worked as a volunteer at Zeal, a central-city youth venue, before finding his way to GEC. Will is passionate about the potential of education to empower young people to shape their own future … and he utilises his theatre background to make sure they have fun doing it! Will is currently completing his Masters in Development Studies at Victoria University, with a thesis focusing on Fair Trade.

Rachel Tallon

Schools Programme Officer

Rachel is a trained Geography and Social Studies teacher who has taught in Aotearoa New Zealand for 10 years. She's lived in Asia and travelled a bit, which explains why she buys her rice in 25kg bags. Rachel took time out to have her two children and complete a Masters in Development Studies so she could understand the world better. Rachel's main role at GEC is to assist teachers by providing them with up-to-date and interesting resources on current global issues.

Jo-Lynne Jack

Schools Programme Officer

Jo-Lynne has had a variety of roles in education, from working in Early Intervention and teaching preschool - new entrants to middle school English, through to lecturing on Special Education.  She has a BA in English Literature and a MED in Special Education with an Early Childhood certificate.  She has worked in volunteer training and educational programmes with Amnesty International, Aids Foundation, Refugee Resettlement, Adult Literacy and Public Television.  After a two year stint in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Caribbean, she moved to New Zealand five years ago, advancing from visitor through to grateful citizen. She is keen on integrated curriculum, service learning/volunteer projects, and participatory learning.

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Sara Tamati

Community  Programme Officer

Sara’s life has been immersed in youth and social development as a youngster watching her parents being youth and social workers through to her later becoming a youth worker both formally and informally. She has been a participant in the Aotearoa hip hop scene for the past 10 years as a writer, graffiti artist, MC and also involved in the dance forms of Locking, Boogaloo and B Boying. She's excited about working on The Next project in the Community Programme.

Mandy Hager

Community Programme Resource Writer

Mandy Hager started her professional life as a teacher, before specialising in the teaching of people with learning difficulties. As well as her Teaching Diploma she has an Advanced Diploma in Applied Arts (Writing) and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Victoria University. She has also worked as a youth education officer, a research assistant, a tertiary-level writing tutor, and continues to work as a writing mentor and assessor, as well as a freelance writer and editor. She writes for The Global Education Centre, and has also published several books, poems, resources, scripts and novels. 

Justin Duckworth

Community Programme Education Officer- Trainer (contractor)

Justin has been working in grassroots youth and community work for the last 18 years. He has pioneered and developed different projects over this time. A driving passion running through all these projects has been a desire to see young people equipped and encouraged to work together for a better world. Justin during this time has also dabbled in teaching, street performing, marathon running and community theatre.