Patron & Trustees

The Rt Hon Helen Clark

Patron of The Religious Diversity Centre

The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark served as Prime Minister for New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, and was the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. As Patron, she launched the Religious Diversity Centre in Parliament Building in Wellington in March 2016.

“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

Jocelyn Armstrong, founding Chair of the Religious Diversity Centre, is a retired secondary school teacher, former ecumenical leader, inter-faith educator, researcher and writer; Christian.

Dr Jenny Te Paa Daniel

Co-Chairperson RDC Trust

Dr Jenny Te Paa-Daniel is Te Mareikura of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin. She is a teacher and writer on race politics, public theology, social justice; Christian

Anthony Green

Anthony Green is a former secretary of FIANZ (Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand). He is a freelance writer, author, editor and independent researcher, based in Christchurch; Muslim

Jon Lamb

Jon Lamb is a director of MedReleaf NZ Ltd. and an Independent Director of AFT Pharmaceuticals Ltd. He is the former Chair of the Sea Cleaners Charitable Trust and the former Chair of Zoono Ltd; Christian

Professor Paul Morris

Paul Morris is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, and holds the UNESCO Chair in Interreligious Understanding and Relations in New Zealand and the Pacific; Jewish

Professor Edwina Pio

Edwina Pio, the first Professor of Diversity in New Zealand, was appointed University Director of Diversity at Auckland University of Technology in 2017. She is Professor in the Faculty of Business, Economics & Law, and Leader of the Research Group, Immigration and Inclusion; Multifaith.

Selva Ramasami

Selva Ramasami participated as a delegate to the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia 2012. He is experienced in community work in legal, policy and finance areas particularly for the Wellington Hindu community; Hindu

Marc Rivers

Mark Rivers is the Chief Financial Officer  of the Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand, formerly CFO at Roche Pharmaceuticals Division in Switzerland. He has previously worked in various finance roles in the healthcare industry in Eastern Europe, China, Japan and the U.S.; Baha’i

Bhai Verpal Singh

Verpal Singh heads The Sikh Centre, a not-for-profit organisation engaged in promoting greater interaction between Sikhs and the wider New Zealand community. He is also a radio broadcaster, researcher, writer and editor; Sikh.

Ricky Waters

Ricky Waters is the Coordinating Chaplain of the Unitec Institute of Technology Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team, the Chaplaincy Teams at Massey University (Albany) and at Manukau Institute of Technology; Christian

The Ven Amala Wrightson

Amala Wrightson Sensei is the founder of the Auckland Zen Centre. She is also the founder and former chairperson of the New Zealand Buddhist Council and member of the American Zen Teachers’ Association (AZTA); Buddhist.