General Manager: Cheryll Martin

Cheryll is the General Manager of Volunteering Auckland (since 1995).   

Cheryll is currently a member of the Auckland Social Policy Forum, a board member of the Manawatu Volunteer Resource Centre and a Board member of the Birkdale Beachhaven Community Project.  She was a member of the Ministerial Reference Group for the International Year of Volunteers, 2001; and was a community representative on the Ministry of Social Policy Volunteers & Volunteering Policy Project. 

Cheryll has a particular interest in where volunteering fits within our communities from all aspects – arts, sport, conservation, health, social services, etc and the impact it can have on both the individual, the community/voluntary sector and the communities within which we live, work and play.  She is also a strong believer in making volunteering accessible and sees volunteering as an active form of Citizen engagement.  She also advocates for the right to spontaneous voluntary action and the freedom of an individuals’ choice of where and how to volunteer towards the benefit of the common good. Cheryll is also a strong advocate of the principles behind effective volunteer management and of the need for community groups/non-profit organisations to revisit their volunteer management practices regularly. 

Additionally, Cheryll has 1 daughter, 3 grand-daughters, 2 cats and spends most Saturdays at her daughter's shop - Miss Melicious Cupcakes.

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Services Coordinator: Marja van Straaten

 Marja has been with Volunteering Auckland since January 1999. Her current role is Services Coordinator [Internal] and this involves ensuring that the office runs smoothly, with adequate staffing levels for admin support and our recruitment and referral programme; this includes supervision and training of staff. 

She also liaises with member organisations so we have their up to date information and current volunteer vacancies so our database holds accurate information for our team to work with.

Marja enjoys most about her work is seeing a very positive side to people in general.  First of all the fabulous team of volunteers who make it all happen at VA, and there are those who have gone well beyond what could be expected.  And then there are those who come through our doors looking for a voluntary opportunity to make a difference in the community; whether it be to give something back, course related study, work experience or building new networks, they all give of their time and skill to make a difference to someone else’s life.  This is a spirit of Volunteering and a great environment to work in!

Her days off are spent with family and friends and her 5 grandchildren who keep her on her toes!  

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Employee Volunteer Programme Coordinator: Kym Burke

Kym has been with Volunteering Auckland since May 2011.  She has a back ground in Local Government, specifically community engagement, strategy and planning.  She has extensive experience in facilitating community relationships at all levels and is passionate about collaborative process.  

Kym’s role with Volunteering Auckland is to coordinate and continually develop the Employee Volunteer Programme.  This involves matching Corporate and Academic Member staff/students with Not for Profit Member projects.   Kym also assists Not for Profit Members to identify and develop projects and works with Corporate/Academic Members to grow the profile of volunteering within their organisations.  What Kym enjoys most about the role is building and maintaining relationships, helping people connect for mutual benefit and assisting in identifying creative solutions which further volunteering.

Kym keeps busy out of work looking after her son and is an artist, producing work from her home studio in Whangaparaoa.

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