Jane Stevens

Kai Tahu, Waitaha, Kaiti Mamoe, Hawera, Rapuwai, Ngati Toa

Jane has a long history working in the community sector. She worked in the co operatives movement in the 1970’s and went on to set up the Wellington Unemployed Workers Union and became National Coordinator of Te Roopu Rawakore o Aotearoa- The Unemployed and Beneficiaries Movement of New Zealand. Jane worked as manager of the Wairarapa Polytech Community Skills Certificate Programme before moving to Hamilton where she worked as a neighbourhood development Advisor for 6 years. For the last 9 years she has worked with Community Waikato (which is a capacity strengthening organisation that works alongside of over 500 Iwi, Social Service and Community organisation throughout the Waikato Region) where she manages the Community Advisory Services. Jane is currently the Chairperson of the Ngaruawahia Community House.

Jane has a Post Graduate degree in Not- For- Profit Management and is a passionate community development practitioner. She has been a contributor to the development of many community initiatives including, women’s and whanau health initiatives, community education programmes including the first Community Workers Certificate Programme, environmental protection groups – G.A.S.P and Greengate, the NZ ethnic soccer festival, Green Dollars, Music for Kids, Twin Rivers Art Centre, the Workplace Wellbeing project and 4 Community House establishment projects including Ngaruawahia.