Four new DPA National Executive Committee (NEC) members have been elected following the election at the end of last year and a repeated ballot after candidates receiving an equal number of votes. Congratulations to Kera Sherwood-O’Regan, Jason Boberg, Oliver (Ollie) Goulden and David King
The DPA NEC 2022/2023 are: Joanne Dacombe (President), Nathan Bond, (Immediate Past President), Henrietta Bollinger, Kera Sherwood-O’Regan, Jason Boberg, Oliver (Ollie) Goulden and David King.
Kera Sherwood-O’Regan
Kera Sherwood-O'Regan (Kāi Tahu) is an Indigenous and disabled climate justice and community advocate from Te Waipounamu, based in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Kera is the Co-founder of Activate, an Indigenous and disabled-led social impact agency specialising in ethical campaigning and narratives for social change.
Kera has a background in political science and public health, and is deeply involved in the United Nations climate change and human rights arenas. Attending the UNFCCC Conferences each year, she works within the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change for better inclusion of Indigenous people and recognition of Indigenous rights; and is a founding member of the SustainedAbility Disability and Climate Network, which facilitates greater inclusion of disabled people and our representative organisations on climate change issues, especially calling for the UNFCCC to recognise a Disability Constituency where we can have our voices heard.
She founded Fibromyalgia Aotearoa NZ, an initiative bringing visibility and support to people living with this chronic illness, and is passionate about Neurodiversity and the rights of tākata hauā and takatāpui - disabled Māori and queer communities.
She hopes to bring her governance, strategic communications, and community engagement experience to DPA to serve our vision of an equitable society where all disabled people can direct our own lives and thrive in community.
Jason Boberg
Jason Boberg is a proudly disabled advocate and social entrepreneur based in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
The co-founder of the SustainedAbility Disability & Climate Network, Jason has advocated for disability inclusive climate action at the UNCRPD and the UNFCCC, particularly campaigning for a formal Disability Constituency to bring disabled people together and promote disability rights within the UNFCCC.
As the founder of social impact agency, Activate Agency, he brings a critical disability rights lens to his work, providing training, policy advice, and media to NGOs and government. He has also served as co-chair on the Auckland Council’s Disability Advisory Panel.
Jason is a Climate Reality Leader and Founding Trustee of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter. His publications include contributing the disability chapter to Climate Aotearoa, edited by The Right Honourable Helen Clark.
Ollie Goulden
Ollie is a proud disabled man, a wheelchair user, an animal lover, a nature lover, and passionate about disability rights. Ollie lives in Hamilton.
Ollie is passionate that all New Zealanders, regardless of whether they are disabled or not, should be able to live the lives they want.
In 2019-2020 he worked for DPA as the Kaituitui in Wellington. This job was his first exposure to the world of Disability Rights and has taken him on an exciting, and at times difficult journey.
His time as a DPA Kaituitui gave him an in depth understanding of documents such as UNCRPD and the social model of disability. He made connections with council staff in Wellington, teaching him how councils work. In his current role he works a lot with councils where he advocates to make systemic change for disabled people.
In his work life he has facilitated a lot of training on topics such as ableism, human rights, and language of disability.
Having recently moved to Hamilton, he has been welcomed into the community with open arms, showing him the power of community - that if we all work together, each doing what we can, using our own strengths and interests, we can achieve great things.
David King
David feels that the knowledge he has acquired from living with a learning disability and achieving what he has can be used to help others achieve their goals. David lives in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
David is open minded to different ideas. He has a good knowledge of the disability sector and working with people with various disabilities, and has a good knowledge of the UNCRPD.
He is President of DPA Dunedin, Vice President of the Southern Region of People First, part of the Enabling Good Lives Leadership team, and has been a member of the Dunedin City Council's Disabilities Issues Advisory Group for over three years.
David is also involved in various disability awareness training activities with different organisations such as Dunedin City Council.
David love to help others to improve their life.