Patrons & Trustees

The Rt Hon Helen Clark

Patron of The Religious Diversity Centre

The Religious Diversity Centre was launched in Parliament Building in Wellington in March 2016 by our patron, former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Helen Clark. The event was hosted and welcomed to Parliament by the Hon Chris Finlayson. The invited guests included representatives from the Religious communities, NGOs, Chaplaincies, Government Commissions, Police, Universities and Members of Parliament.

“The world badly needs voices of reason and tolerance, and those who will work to build dialogue and respect across faiths and beliefs. I do believe New Zealand can show the way” – RDC Patron, the Rt Hon Helen Clark

Jocelyn Armstrong

Co-Chairperson RDC Trust

Retired secondary school teacher, former ecumenical leader, inter-faith educator, researcher and writer; Co-Chairperson. – Christian

Dr Jenny Te Paa Daniel

Co-Chairperson RDC Trust

Te Mareikura, National Centre Peace and Conflict Studies, Otago University, Teacher and writer on race politics, public theology, social justice. Co-Chairperson. Christian

Jon Lamb

Manager

Professor Paul Morris

Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington

Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington; UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and intercultural Relations – Jewish

Professor Edwina Pio

University Director of Diversity, Auckland University of Technology

University Director of Diversity, Auckland University of Technology, Professor in the Faculty of Business, Economics & Law, Leader of the research group Immigration and Inclusion. – Multifaith

Selva Ramasami

A delegate to the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia 2012. Experienced community work in legal, policy and finance areas particularly for the Wellington Hindu community. – Hindu

Marc Rivers

CFO, Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, CFO, Auckland, New Zealand – Baha’i

Bhai Verpal Singh

Radio Broadcaster

Radio Broadcaster, Researcher, Writer, Editor. – Sikh

Ricky Waters

Coordinator of the Unitec Institute of Technology Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team

Coordinator of the Unitec Institute of Technology Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team, the Chaplaincy Team at Massey University (Albany) and at Manukau Institute of Technology; Christian

The Ven Amala Wrightson

Sensei

Founder of Auckland Zen Centre, Founder and Former Chairperson of the New Zealand Buddhist Council, member of the American Zen Teachers Association. – Buddhist