Meet the Board of Sister Cities New Zealand
Please send all enquiries to admin@globalcities.org.nz
President: Mayor Grant Smith (Palmerston North)
Grant Smith is the 29th Mayor of Palmerston North City and is proactive in supporting Sister Cities and global relationships. Palmerston North has Sister City relationships with Guiyang and Kunshan in China, Mihara in Japan, and Missoula in the USA. Grant has had an extensive business background in advertising and marketing, as well as managing multiple international sporting and cultural events, before becoming Mayor.
He has also served on the boards of Te Manawa Museum Trust, The Manawatu Rugby Union, The New Zealand Rugby Museum, Central Squash Association, and New Zealand Squash.
He has championed the international programme Palmerston North city runs, which supports key city sectors of Food Research, International Education, Defence, and Trade.
Director: John Christie (Dunedin)
John is a senior management executive with previous director, CEO, and project manager experience at several high-profile New Zealand organisations. In his role as Director of Enterprise Dunedin, he is also a member of Dunedin City Council’s executive leadership team.
His governance experience includes roles with Otago Polytechnic, Knox and Salmond Colleges, Warbirds Over Wanaka, Diversity Works NZ, and New Zealand Chambers of Commerce. John is the former Chief Executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, a role that he held for 20 years. He has been instrumental in the development of Dunedin’s relationship internationally including its sister cities of Shanghai, Otaru, and Edinburgh.
Director: Beth Knowles (Christchurch)
Beth is a passionate advocate for internationalisation and the contribution of vocational education to workforce skills development and regional economic development. This passion has ensured Beth has been actively involved in supporting sister city relationships in Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, and the Canterbury regions.
As International Director at Ara Institute of Canterbury, Beth has over 30 years of experience in the international education industry. Beth’s career spans the fields of business development, export education marketing and recruitment, internationalisation of tertiary institutions, staff and student exchange, technical and vocational education and training and international education consultancy. In addition, her work experience spans trade development and international business exchanges. Previous roles included positions in four tertiary institutions in New Zealand and Trade Director at the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce. At a regional and national level, she has been involved in supporting the endeavours of Global Cities New Zealand and brings an extensive network of education and business relationships to the organisation.
Director: Taylor Marston (Auckland)
Taylor has an academic background in sister cities, having completed his master’s thesis on sister city relationships shared between Japan and Aotearoa New Zealand. He currently resides in Tāmaki Makaurau and is pursuing a PhD in the field of community development, once again focusing on sister city relationships. Taylor has a strong passion for the “Think Global, Act Local” doctrine and is eager to promote the actions of sister cities and their importance in contemporary society, especially to today’s youth. Taylor also teaches classes in the Japanese, and Social Sciences and Public Policy departments at Auckland University of Technology.
Emeritus President: Hiromi Morris (Wellington)
Hiromi was born and raised in Japan. She visited New Zealand for the first time when she was a young student. It was an enlightening experience that subsequently led to her getting involved in supporting global connections through people-to-people exchanges since 1994 when Wellington/Sakai relationship was formed. Hiromi became a SCNZ Board member in 2008 and has been President since 2012. She believes strongly in collaboration and working collectively with a wider range of organisations, embassies, central/local governments, businesses, communities, and schools. She is also enthusiastic to work with young people – our future leaders.
Hiromi stepped down from the role of President at the AGM in May 2022 after serving for 10 years in the position and she was subsequently appointed as Emeritus President. She was a recipient of Absolutely Positively Wellington 2022 for her contribution to Wellington’s sister cities. She also received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award for her distinguished achievements in contributing to the promotion of mural understanding between Japan and New Zealand, and friendship and goodwill between Japan and foreign countries.
She enjoys tennis, yoga, performing arts, reading and movies.
Advisors
Advisor: Luke Qin JP (Auckland)
Born in Sichuan China, Luke Qin first arrived in New Zealand as a high school student, representing Linwood College in the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme, and First XV Rugby. He currently leads Kiwibank’s international trade strategy and market offering.
Luke also serves on the board of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Transparency International New Zealand, and New Zealand China Council. He is a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network, Ministry for Ethnic Communities Development Fund Panel, Auckland City Council Demographic Advisory Panel, and Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum Emerging Leaders Programme.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Canterbury, Master of Applied Finance from Victoria University of Wellington, and qualifications in Sustainable Finance, Te Reo Māori, Medical Co-Response, Citizen Diplomacy, and Urban Fire and Rescue. Luke was awarded a Community Service Award from Multicultural New Zealand, and a Long Service Medal with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Youth Advisor: Elisha Hsiao (Porirua)
Elisha is a Product Manager at Volpara Health during the day, innovating software to assist with early cancer detection. She is also a member of the Asia NZ Foundation’s Leadership Network and previously a recipient of the French Embassy’s Hexagone Scholarship.
Originally from Taiwan, Elisha spent half her life in New Zealand and she has lived in France for six months during her university exchange. Elisha is a firm believer that fostering friendships around the world from a grassroot level is a great way to learn about other cultures. Sister Cities relationships is a way to achieve this. Elisha organised and led the SCNZ’s inaugural Youth Tour to 5 cities in China in 2018.
Administrator: Sally Ho (Palmerston North)
Sally is from Vietnam and came to New Zealand in 2018 to study at IPU New Zealand. In 2022, she graduated from IPU majoring in management and accounting. Since 2021, Sally has been joining the Committee at Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation, which mainly focuses on setting up to arrive at solutions for arising matters. Now, she is currently working as an administrator for Sister Cities New Zealand also known as Global Cities New Zealand. Her mission is to answer all inquiries you would like to ask Global Cities New Zealand as well as get your message to the right person. Please do not hesitate to contact her if you have any questions or concerns
Newsletter Editor: Caroline Pope (Christchurch)
Caroline is a graphic designer working in marketing, who enjoys sewing, reading, hiking, and her two sausage dogs.
Living in Japan for a year on the JET Programme in 2011 opened her eyes to a different culture and the life-changing personal and professional benefits that come with having that experience. She wants to continue being involved with exchanges between New Zealand and other countries around the world and encourages others to participate. She is also a former President of JET Alumni Association South Island.
Caroline hopes to be able to use various forms of communication to be able to showcase the work of SCNZ with a variety of people; including members as well as those who don’t yet know about SCNZ.
Global Cities New Zealand 