Denise (she/her, Pākehā) is a community activator with extensive experience in community-led development, placemaking, research and evaluation. She has worked in roles that have successfully activated local change in a wide range of settings across Aotearoa, including in her own neighbourhood in Tāmaki Makaurau. Denise's mahi is often focused around what matters to local people, with a focus on social inclusion, social justice, neighbourhood-level resilience and regeneration, especially where people, organisations, and businesses work towards collective goals. 

 

Denise runs Catalyse Network, is a founder of Placemaking Aotearoa, a Regional Network Leader for PlacemakingX, former Board Member for the International Association of Community Development (IACD), former senior member of the Inspiring Communities team, founding Chair of Gribblehirst Community Hub and current Chair of Grow Space. She holds a Masters degree in Human Geography (Hons) from the University of Auckland. Denise passionately believes in a society where everyone and every place has the capacity to thrive by working with and from our strengths together. Because we are on one planet. Because we have everything to lose if we don’t. And because, together, 1+1=3.

 

Find out more at catalyse.co.nz.

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