Meet The Team
Meet the Board Members

Amanda Sorrenson
National Coordinator, Instagram Manager and Vegan Speaker
She is from Auckland has been a board member and the National Coordinator since 2011. As a board member she’d like to ensure that the Vegan Society continues to increase its resourcing and building of the vegan community so that we can help people become and remain vegan in New Zealand.

Claire Insley
Media Spokesperson
Claire became vegan in 2000, having been vegetarian since she was 15. She has been a board member since February 2015. She volunteered for Greenpeace for over 20 years, including a year of sea time. Improving the visibility of veganism in mainstream media is part of her mission. She currently lives a low carbon lifestyle on the West Coast in Buller, teaching qi gong and offering therapeutic massage and Reiki. She has authored a book “The Way of the Rainbow Warrior”.

Mark Fitzpatrick
Vegan Living Talks Coordinator

Suli Autagavaia
Pasifika Correspondent

Chris Huriwai
Māori Content Creator

Helen Fletcher
Finance
Helen has been involved with the Vegan Society since 2015, the same year she took off her blinkers to discover what went on behind closed doors in animal agriculture and dairying. Between being a busy mum to two young vegan kids and working for a vegan cheese company, Helen helps the Society on the financial side to ensure that we are financially sound and compliant.
Meet the Team

Hannah Lessells
IT

Adrian Hatwell
Vegan Magazine Editor and Facebook Manager

Jana Kastner
Designer, Magazine Layout and Food Editor
Originally from Germany, Jana moved to Aotearoa in 2010. She has been plant-based and vegan for more than 20 years. Trained as a
graphic designer she supports the Society in various design projects since 2011. She also does layout and food editing of our NZ Vegan Magazine.

Jo Sim
Challenge Coordinator
Jo runs our 21 Day Easy Vegan Challenge. A veggie since 11years old, and vegan since 2005, she is committed to animal protection and has worked and volunteered for animal charities across the globe in various capacities. Jo also has a passion for sustainable travel, social justice and works with non-profit, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Canterbury in the South Island. Originally from Scotland, she now calls Aotearoa home.

Meg McKenzie
Website Layout and Updates

Our Volunteers
We also give thanks to our amazing team of other volunteers who help out so much with the Vegan Society’s important work. They might help keep our website up to date, run stalls, help out at Vegan 101s, do some admin work, film vegan VIPs and so much more! Together they contribute some 500 hours of work every month. Go team!
Contact a Vegan Society representative in your area
You can find links to vegan facebook groups and meetup groups on our groups page. This can be a great place to meet other vegans and ask questions and get support.
Also remember to check out what Vegan Society events are on in your area and get together with local vegans.
Vegan Society representatives
AUCKLAND
Amanda Sorrenson: Amanda@vegansociety.org.nz
AUCKLAND ~ WAIHEKE ISLAND
Aya: amc.photog@gmail.com
CHRISTCHURCH
Christchurch Vegan Society: info@veganchristchurch.org.nz
www.veganchristchurch.org.nz
COROMANDEL
Joy Sachell: joysatchell@xtra.co.nz
DUNEDIN
Dunedin/Otepoti Vegan Society (DOVeS): doves@doves.org.nz
HAMILTON AND WAIKATO
Sarah Oliver: saraholiver222@gmail.com
HAWKES BAY
Donna Hossack: donna444@gmail.com
INVERCARGILL
Invercargill Vegan Society: info@invsoc.org.nz
KAPITI/HOROWHENUA
Eric Wolff: horowhenuaVeg.ns@outlook.co.nz
KAWERAU (BAY OF PLENTY)
Loretta Westbrook: lorettainnz@icloud.com
MOTUEKA
Eerainuh: me@eerainuh.com
NELSON
Jordy and Jeremy: jordybeans88@gmail.com
NORTHLAND
Kayla: vegannorth@outlook.com
PALMERSTON NORTH
Palmerston North Vegan Society: veganpalmy@gmail.com
https://veganpalmy.org.nz
QUEENSTOWN
Kat Gollop: admin@veganqueenstown.org
www.veganqueenstown.org
ROTORUA
Tony Bland: rotovegan@gmail.com
TAUPO
Samantha Goodwin: Samantha.goodwin@live.com
TAURANGA
Zara Lynch: zara.lynch@gmail.com
TIMARU, OAMARU AND WAITAKI
Jane Thompson: sud.grrl@gmail.com
WANGANUI
Tamsin Forest: tamsinlf@hotmail.co.nz
WELLINGTON ~ UPPER HUTT
Lynda Mountfort: lynzoe@clear.net.nz
WELLINGTON
Sally: sally@faisandier.co.nz
WELLINGTON ~ VEG FAMILIES
Dee Lindsay: d_lindsay1024@hotmail.com
WESTPORT
Claire: claire@vegansociety.org.nz
WHANGAREI
Cathy Duffield: 09 432 0714 or 027 630 4628