First ever election needed for Holocaust Centre of New Zealand board
For the first time in its history, the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand has had to hold an election following the nomination of more candidates than places on the Centre’s board.
Top Row: Deborah Hart (Chair), Miriam Bookman (Deputy Chair), Jeremy Smith (Treasurer)
Second Row: Marcus Blomquist, John Goddard
Bottom Row: Nicole Greensides, Rachel Korpus, Rivkah Nathan
Image Supplied
At this week’s AGM, three new members will join five re-elected Board members, offering a wide range of skills and experience to support the Holocaust Centre’s mission to inspire and empower action against antisemitism, discrimination, and apathy, by remembering, educating, and bearing witness to the Holocaust.
The re-elected Board members are:
Deborah Hart – Chair
Miriam Bookman – Deputy Chair
Jeremy Smith – Treasurer
Marcus Blomquist
Rivkah Nathan
The newly-elected Board members are:
John Goddard
Nicole Greensides
Rachel Korpus
John Goddard is a Wellington barrister and had previously volunteered to assist the Centre. Nicole Greensides is a history and social studies teacher in Marton, Whanganui. She is also a graduate of the Inge Woolf Memorial Seminar for NZ Educators at Yad Vashem. Aucklander Rachel Korpus is a business person and has previously worked on the Hope Project and March of the Living.
Board Chair Deborah Hart welcomed the new Board as the organisation begins another active term of delivering across the nation.
“It is a sign of the increasingly high profile and vibrancy of our organisation that sees good people putting their hands up to steer the organisation, says Deborah Hart.
“The new board will be challenged as the Centre strives to raise more funds to support its increasing workload, looks to open a new centre in Auckland and reinvigorate the centre base in Wellington.
“We are seeing growth in all areas of the work we do with teachers and schools, government engagement, civil society partnerships and civic commemorative events.
“Holocaust education and remembrance are important for Aotearoa New Zealand society, and our materials and resources are increasingly used. Our visitor centre, events and touring exhibitions are well received. We are a trusted source of information for the media as we work to combat Holocaust misinformation and antisemitism. In the last year, we are particularly proud of helping to ensure New Zealand’s observer membership of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
“The Centre is grateful to the organisations and individuals who support by donating, making bequests and grants, volunteering and attending events.
