Event Journal

AGM 2026

15 Jun 2026

Our annual AGM was held on the 10th June 2026, in person at Dulux Newmarket, and online for our networks outside of Tamaki Mākaurau.

Thank you to everyone who attended online and in person.

Changes in the team:-

Shereena Sumeran stepped down as a co-chair. Thank you Jamie for all your hard work.

Petra Trousilova & Katie Simmonds have been elected into the role of a Co-Chair .

Core Committee-

Co-Chair - Katie Simmonds
Petra Trousilova
Treasurer - Arfa Yasin
Secretary - Kaea Kerkin

Introduction of Portfolio Leads-

Events - Carolina Cocever, Zanetta Arnold

Supporting Events Team Members: Paige, Nidhi, Katie, julianna, Leonila (May), Yenegh

Website - Kahkashan Noor

Networks - Rebecca Burgess

Newsletter - Natasha Clayton

Social Media - Tamara Kiseleva, Madison Carkeek

Mentoring - Jenny Chen,Kitty Fan

Research & Policy - Shereena Sumeran,Nadya Chadovich

Sponsorship - Jaime Lawrence, Gina Hochstein

Archivist - Anna Hamilton

NZIA Liaison - Yvette Loubser
Kaitautoko - Antoniah Snooks
Mana Taumata - Sarah Treadwell

We are on a look out to fill the remaining roles for 2026. Please get in touch if you are interested to get involved:

Website, Newsletter.

We are now looking ahead-
Research and Policy
● Architectural Career Breaks
● Expanded Fields Series: continuation
● Care | Work Series: continuation
● Tātuhi Drawing Archive: continuation
● Cultural working group: Cultural safety and inclusion

Events
● A new events team has been created as the number of events increases and we will continue to reinforce the guidelines and steps for event planning
● Balancing sponsor acknowledgement with events
● Building the regions to provide for more events
● A+W NZ Dulux Awards
● Wikiproject
● Weaving Connections
● Sponsor’s Evening

Networks
● Monthly Newsletters
● Mentoring
○ Speed Mentoring: Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch
○ Exploring other opportunities including high schools and universities
● Local Chapter Champions
A new Local Networks Handover Guide has been developed to ensure consistency of information and requirements across all regions
○ Ōtautahi Christchurch: Annabel Fraser and Jessica Glen
○ Waikato/BOP: Louise Booth and Shereena Sumeran
○ Wānaka: Petra Trousilova
○ Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington: Andrew Tucker
○ Ōtepoti Dunedin: Biljana Pesun and Andrea O’Connor
○ Whakatū Nelson/Marlborough: Magdalena Garbarczyk and Jo Monaghan
○ Whanganui: Elinor Harvey

A huge thank you to our 2025 core team for all their hard work and donated time to A+W NZ. We look forward to continuing working hard with our 2026 team!

2025 Core Team

Chair: Shereena Sumeran

Treasurer: Arfa Yasin

Treasurer Assist: Bo Amoafo

Secretary: Katie Simmonds

Events: Kaea Kerkin, Yvette Loubser

Events subgroup: Beatrix Hegyi, Nadia Rivai, Shreya Rai, Vanisha Chandiramani, La Marie Fernandez, and Lily Huang

Website: Petra Trousilova

Networks: Ornela Priotti

Newsletter: Gillian Hatch, Natasha Clayton

Social Media: Charlotte Dunning, Selena Sager

Mentoring: Kitty Fan, Jenny Chen