Lauano has 30 years experience working with children and youth in South Auckland, Aotearoa.

Lauano has worked in the various education and community roles below:

• Year 0 -13 teaching experience
• Academic mentor for at-risk secondary students
• Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour in Otahuhu, Mangere, Otara, Papatoetoe, Pukekohe and Papakura regions
• Māori and Pasifika Culturally Responsive Leader in two RTLB clusters
• Head of Learning Support and ESOL Department, Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in two secondary schools
• Trained Kip McGrath tutor
• Voluntary literacy private tutor for parents and children in Otara & Manurewa region
• Community Holiday programme Coordinator in Manurewa and Otara
• Otara Youth Drop-in centre volunteer
• Church Elder, Sunday School superintendent, Young Adults and Youth Pastor/Leader

Contact Email: oceanialiteracy@gmail.com

David is an award-winning children’s writer and teacher.

David has 30 years experience working with youth in South Auckland:

• Head of English and Head of Performing Arts at Tangaroa College
• Specialist Classroom Teacher
• Youth leader and Sunday School teacher at Ōtara Church of the Good Shepherd

David has delivered reading, writing and drama workshops throughout Aotearoa and in the Cook Islands. He also assists Māori and Pasifika community groups and young people to write and publish their own stories. Organisations he’s worked with include the Auckland Tuvalu Community Trust, the Vagahau Niue Trust, Tokelau Petone Kaulotu, New Zealand Kiribati Council and children from schools across Aotearoa. 

Contact Email: oceanialiteracy@gmail.com

Richy is the Connected Communities Lead and Coach at Auckland Council. He is also the President of LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa).

Linda is the General Manager of Duffy Books in Homes and has been with Duffy for 18 years. She is very community driven and loves directly supporting communities and their young people to succeed. Linda has a real passion for being able to be a part of uplifting young people to succeed in general life.

Outside of work, Linda lends a hand anywhere that supports empowering young and Pasifika peoples to thrive so whanau, church and sporting communities or events are mostly where you will find her. 

Linda is a former Silver Fern. She has played 64 test matches for the Silver Ferns. 

Contact Email: oceanialiteracy@gmail.com

Roger is the former General Manager at the New Zealand Athletes Federation and co-founder of Create Holistic Performance.

Vicki is passionate about all young people having the opportunity to see, and to believe in, their best lives. During the past 25 years she has led the establishment of various community initiatives, projects and causes that reflect this purpose.

Vicki is a founding trustee and the current Executive Director of Tāwai Takapiri Connect Futures NZ Trust, a social justice organisation that supports state schools in low socio-economic areas to connect and engage with their ngā tāura communities of former students, staff and other stakeholders. She feels privileged and proud to have been part of the Oceania Literacy Trust since its inception.