The Alliance is run by a volunteer Steering Committee made up of people who are well connected in the children’s sector and can draw on a diverse range of experiences and networks throughout Aotearoa.
Our structure
The Alliance Steering Committee is made up of at least 7 people and is elected annually at our AGM.
From time to time, the Steering Committee co-opts new members to access a particular sector or to fill a knowledge gap. There is also capacity to establish sub-committees, working groups and branches to further the Alliance’s aims and objectives.
The Steering Committee, through its Chairperson and other selected members, regularly meets with coalition partners and others in the children’s sector, the Children’s Commissioner and government officials to raise awareness of children’s rights issues and seek to have them addressed.
Our Steering Committee
Amanda D’Souza, Chairperson
Dr Amanda D’Souza is a public health physician with expertise in children’s health, development and wellbeing and is an academic at the Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington. She commenced as chair of the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand in October 2023. Amanda brings extensive experience from policy, clinical practice, and community sector perspectives, including having worked at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, UNICEF NZ, and the Ministry of Health. Her PhD explored child-centred policy development in case studies of Sweden, Australia, and Aotearoa. Children and young people are important. Amanda is committed to making their rights a reality in Aotearoa and relegating childhood inequities to the past. Amanda is a Fellow of the NZ College of Public Health Medicine and a member of the Paediatric Society.
Michell Egan-Bitran, Vice Chairperson
Michelle was born and raised in Otepoti/Dunedin and now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland with her three daughters. She is a researcher, social worker, and advocate with about 25 years’ experience working within govt, NGOs and independent entities. This includes in leadership and senior roles as Principal Advisor and faith leadership team member at the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, as a staff member and researcher at the University of Auckland Social Work faculty, and as a Senior Advisor at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Michelle currently has two roles, the first as the Children’s Rights and Equity Lead at the Foundation for Equity and Research New Zealand. She is also a consultant at Family for Every Child. She completed her doctoral thesis in 2022, titled “Gremlin of Silence: Exploring the New Zealand Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian Institutional Responses to Interpersonal Violence. What is helping and hindering the development of their responses and how can their respective responses be improved.
Jacqui Southey, Secretary
Jacqui Southey is the child rights advocate and research Director at Save the Children New Zealand. She is fully committed to a positive and nurturing world for children, today and every day into the future. Her focus is systemic and cultural change that will see children’s rights understood, respected and upheld for all children in our everyday lives. Jacqui has a background in children’s rights – with a particular interest in children’s participation and empowering children’s agency, child rights education, speaking up with and for children on issues important to them, and teaching. She has a Master of Education focusing on child engagement, children’s social and emotional development, and has a particular research interest in the positive discipline practices of parents of children under five years of age. Jacqui lives in the Wairarapa, is mother to three adult children, and three beautiful grandchildren
Belinda Tuari-Toma, Treasurer
(He uri au no Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whenua Moemoea) dedicated kairongoā and advocate of hauora Māori in aspects of health, culture, environment, voice, rights and identity. Representing her community, whānau ora Takiri mai te Ata - health and social service collective -Kokiri Marae/Tū Kotahi Māori Asthma and Research Trust as an emerging research fellow. She has experience working across public and private sector as a Māori policy analyst, worked for UNICEF NZ and was a CMG member representing tamariki interests. Is a member of the rongoā collective, Te Putoiora, Tihei Mauri Tū – survivors of State care and is a social enterprise partner for a programme that focuses on holistic health, wellbeing and fitness.
Dr John Waldon - Tūhoe
(Ngāti Koura, Te Urewera), Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pōrou.
Born and educated in Whakatāne, John has whānau connections with Papakainga and Te Tōtara marae at Ruātoki, as well as Te Tira Hou in Auckland.
John has long-term interest in the rights and well-being of children. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Waikato), a Master of Public Health (Otago) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Massey) and has presented papers on Māori health and wellbeing internationally. John is currently a Restorative Justice Facilitator, contract researcher and a Board member of the Midcentral District Health Board. A life member of the Cancer Society, John has served on the boards of the Public Health Association, the NZ Drug Foundation and is currently Chair and President of the Manawatū Centre of the Cancer Society.
John has held the Tamariki Māori portfolio on the Steering Committee for many years and attended the 2003 session of the United Nations Committee for the Rights of the Child and the 2010 pre-session on behalf of ACYA.
Natania Katene
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Whitieria te maunga
Ko Raukawakawa te moana
Ko Takapūwahia te marae
Ko Ngāti Toa Rangatira te iwi me Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Taupo-nui-a-tia, Ngāruahine ki Taranaki, Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairoa.
Ko Natania Katene toku ingoa
Kei te noho au ki Tāmaki Makaurau.
Kia ora! I am honoured to be a part of the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa NZ Steering Group.
I have over 20 years of experience specializing in local and national advocacy being a voice for those less heard and channeling dedicated efforts to champion the needs, rights, and well-being of whānau Māori. My influence spans operational and governance levels, shaping strategic plans, guiding resource allocations, and influencing investments for Māori in health, education, and social services.
I'm a Māmā with 1 beautiful daughter, and to my whānau, I'm known as Aunty Nat.
Ashley Shearer
Nō Aferika ki te Tonga au
Nō Rotorua tōku kainga enaia nei
Ko Tangata Tiriti ahau
Ko Ashley Shearar tōku ingoa
I am a mother and step-mum who is passionate about children’s rights with an emphasis on lifting the voices of children. I have created platforms to amplify children’s voices in some of the most invisible and challenging circumstances, such as across apartheid South Africa, in war zones, in youth and adult detention settings and for those who have experienced the care and protection system. My PhD explored youth justice transformation focused on children’s rights and restorative justice approaches, as well as the power of advocacy coalitions to drive change. I have worked in a variety of advisory and inspector roles in youth justice settings. As the former Youth Participation lead at VOYCE-Whakarongo Mai, I was fortunate to support a rōpū of young care-experienced leaders to create a position statement for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care, Korowai Aroha.
Nicola Taylor
Professor Nicola Taylor is Director of the Children’s Issues Centre in the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago. She also holds the Alexander McMillan Chair in Childhood Studies. She has qualifications in both law and social work, a PhD, and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Nicola is a leading socio-legal researcher and has undertaken many studies with children, parents and professionals on family law, cross-border and children’s rights issues. She was the founding Treasurer of ACYA and has been involved with ACYA and the Children’s Rights Alliance for many years.
Sarah Te One
Dr Sarah Te One is the Senior Researcher at Tātai Aho Rau|CORE Education. She has had an abiding interest in children’s rights, particularly their rights in early education. Sarah has worked as a kindergarten teacher, a union leader, an academic and an advocate. She has been involved in many projects with young children, whānau and communities. Her most recent research has focused on transitions to school and on community-led equity issues. She is passionate about developing resources that kaiako can use in their everyday practice. Sarah was a past Chairperson of ACYA and has been a member of the Steering Committee for ACYA and the Child Rights Alliance for many years.
Sonja Cooper
Sonja Cooper (Principal Partner) started Cooper Legal in 1995 after years of working in the litigation teams of some of New Zealand’s biggest law firms. Sonja has extensive litigation experience and has appeared at all levels of New Zealand courts. Sonja has represented young offenders since 1987 and continues to do so. In 1995, Sonja started seeking redress from state and faith-based organisations on behalf of survivors of abuse in care, primarily children. She has specialised in this area since 2002. In 2016, Sonja travelled with other civil society groups to represent the interests of New Zealand children when the state was examined by UNCROC. She and her firm have continued to lobby national and international human rights bodies for better outcomes for their clients. More recently, Sonja gave extensive evidence and represented adults who were in care, mainly as children, before the Abuse In Care Royal Commission.
Leon Tan
Leon Tan (Staff Solicitor) is a staff solicitor at Cooper Legal. He has helped with the firm’s litigation, traversing children’s rights in a range of contexts including public authority liability, tikanga and Public International Law. He previously worked for a barrister in immigration and refugee law, which are areas that often converge on children’s rights.
Allan Cooke
Allan retired from practice as a barrister in June 2024, specialising in children’s and disability law. He particularly represented children, parents, caregivers and NGOs in cases under the Oranga Tamariki Act and the Care of children Act. Allan lives with Sue in Owairaka. Between them they have 4 daughters and a number grand and great grandchildren.
Allan obtained his BA from Auckland University in 1975 and LLB (Hons) -Victoria University in 1983. He completed a Post Graduate Diploma – Child Advocacy (Dist.) from the University of Otago in 2008 and obtained his Ph.D, also from Otago, in 2014 - “State Responsibility for Children in Care”. From June 2021 through to March 2024 Allan was one of the senior counsel assisting the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care and Faith Based Institutions. He took part in the foster care and state accountability hearings. Allan has written a number of published articles both in Aotearoa and overseas and has presented at conferences. These have reflected his interest in children’s and disability law and the complex interface between them.
Melanie Wilson
Melanie is Kaitātari Kaupapa Here Matua – Senior Policy Analyst at NZCCSS, focused on NZCCSS’ Children and Families portfolio. This role has recently involved the release of Te Korero mō ngā Tamariki – a report exploring the context of middle childhood in Aotearoa. Melanie has a background in project management, supporting the establishment of organisations in the community sector. She is on the board of the Mentoring Foundation of NZ. Melanie is mum to four girls and is based in Taranaki. She enjoys the outdoors, pottery and reading.
Our funding and annual report
The Alliance is funded through our membership fees, donations and philanthropic grants. We are extremely grateful for the generous and longstanding support we have received from the JR McKenzie Trust, which has enabled us to promote children’s rights, report effectively to the United Nations and build the Alliance.
Read our 2020 Annual Report
Read our 2021 Annual Report
Read our 2022 Annual Report
Read our 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Annual Report