Councillor on Auckland Council, representing the Waitematā and Gulf ward (2019- 2022), after serving nine years on the Waitematā Local Board as Deputy Chair and Chair for the 2016 – 2019 term.
I was born in London and immigrated to New Zealand aged 14, attending Auckland Girls’ Grammar School. I hold a law degree from Otago University. Following a legal career, in early 2009, I became a full-time volunteer in the community focused on cycling advocacy, community development and sustainability. In 2011 I received the SBN’s Sustainability Champion award for my cycling advocacy work and as chair of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. I was first elected on to Auckland Council in 2010.
During my time on Auckland Council I reported monthly on my activities here
RECENT governance roles
– Deputy Chair, Environment and Climate Change Committee
– Co-Chair, Hauraki Gulf Forum
– Member, Auckland City Centre Advisory Board
– Board Member, LGNZ National Council
– Member, Auckland Domain Committee
Ministerial Appointments
– Waters Service Entity A Establishment Board interview panel member, DIA (January 2023)
– Urban Cycling Investment panel member, NZ Transport Agency (2014 -15)
Education
– Te reo Māori (Te Kakano II) at AUT
– Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales, 2003
– Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of NZ, 1993
– Professional Legal Studies completed at Victoria University of Wellington, 1993
– LL.B (Hons), University of Otago
– Auckland Girls’ Grammar School old girl
(I was honoured to be the guest speaker at the Old Girls’ Annual dinner on 4 November 2010 and to speak at Founders Day assembly in September 2022)
background
My community involvement goes back to my school days at Auckland Girls’ Grammar, when I was a founding member of the Auckland City Youth Council.
Previous community and professional involvement:
– Chair of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market Management Committee (until October 2015)
– Trustee, Grey Lynn 2030 (until May 2016)
– Trustee and Treasurer, Connected Media (until October 2016)
– Trustee of Kelmarna Organic City Farm in Herne Bay (until May 2012)
– Coordinator, Frocks On Bikes – Auckland (until May 2013)
– Committee member and Membership secretary, Cycle Action Auckland
– Management committee, Citizens Advice Bureau (Wellington Central)
– Wellington District Law Society Council 1996 – 1999
– Vice-president of the Corporate Lawyers Association 1999
– Volunteer for Community Law Centres in Dunedin & Wellington
– Chair, Young Lawyers Committee (Wellington)
– Full-time volunteer at the Youth Law Project in Auckland
– English as a second language tutor with the Home Tutor Project
– Secretary of the Otago Law Students Association 1991
– NZ representative as an AFS student in Peru and at World Expo 92, Seville, Spain
– Secretary, Otago University Labour Club
Professional work
– Over 15 years of legal experience
– Specialising in regulated industries, most recently at Vector Limited
– I have also worked at the Ministry of Fisheries in Wellington, Network Rail in the UK and for the Stevenson Group Ltd.
Memberships
– Member, Grey Lynn Farmers Market
– Member , Vintage Austin Register (I have a 1934 Austin 7)
– Member, Auckland Girls’ Grammar Old Girls’ Association
– Member, Waiheke Community Art Gallery
– Member, Auckland Art Gallery
Declaration of interests
I maintain a register of interests here
Contact me
Find me on Facebook, Twitter @pippacoom, Instagram @pippacoom, and Linkedin