Our Board
Melissa Fergusson
CHAIR
Melissa has a wealth of experience across the private, public, and NGO sectors, specialising in digital innovation, marketing, communications, brand management, and creative projects. With a deep commitment to making a positive impact, she has volunteered and collaborated with over 15 charities in the past two decades and served as a board member of the Ponsonby Business Association from 2016 to 2018.
Passionate about social impact and change, Melissa earned her Master in Technological Futures from Academy EX in 2021, focusing her research on global loneliness among Generation Z (ages 18-24). Her thesis, “Loneliness in Aotearoa,” was published in He Rourou Magazine in October 2022. Additionally, she has a strong interest in Te Ao Māori, having completed He Papa Tikanga at Te Wananga o Aotearoa in March 2023. Melissa is dedicated to furthering her knowledge in governance, change management, and sustainability.
Nalini Dutt
DEPUTY CHAIR
Nalini Dutt, originally from India, joined the board of RPE in 2024, bringing extensive experience in governance, financial management, strategic planning, and marketing from roles in both India and New Zealand. Currently serving as National Manager of AA Home, a joint venture between the New Zealand Automobile Association and AA Insurance, she directs AA Home’s success with strategic leadership and business acumen.
Before AA Home, Nalini held leadership roles at global brands like NZAA, Volvo Eicher, Hyundai, and Yamaha, driving growth and innovation. At Volvo Eicher, she was a member of the POSH committee, enhancing her understanding of addressing sexual violence and fostering inclusive workplaces.
Passionate about empowering women and advocating for equality, Nalini's journey from India to New Zealand instilled a deep commitment to creating inclusive communities. Her commitment to social justice and empowerment drives her work, including her contributions to reducing sexual violence on the RPE board.
Outside work, Nalini enjoys sci-fi thrillers, podcasts, reading, and discussions on geopolitics, women empowerment, and leadership.
Charlotte Trevella
SECRETARY
Charlotte is a GP registrar working in Onehunga. Originally from Christchurch, she studied medicine at the University of Auckland, before working in hospitals in Tāmaki Makaurau and the UK. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Cambridge, and her thesis focused on improving mental health outcomes among homeless women. She has a long-standing passion for the prevention of sexual violence and helping young people to develop a robust understanding of consent and respectful relationships. Outside of her work, she enjoys reading, hiking and travel.
Anne-Marie Parsons
Anne-Marie is a wellbeing strategist and leader with over 20 years’ experience in student wellbeing, equity, and engagement across top universities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. She has led major initiatives to create safer, more inclusive environments — including founding Te Papa Manaaki | Campus Care and developing the University of Auckland’s Student Wellbeing Strategy and Creating Cultures of Consent and Respect Action Plan.
Anne-Marie is passionate about prevention, systems change, and creating cultures of consent, respect, and care. She brings to the RPE board a deep commitment to advancing equitable, evidence-based approaches that promote safety and wellbeing for all.
Siobhan Patia
Siobhan Patia joined the board in 2024 and has a background in criminal law and family law. She also brings previous governance and board support experience. Siobhan's work in criminal law included jury trials in Crown prosecutions and criminal defence. In her family law work, Siobhan handles a variety of cases including family violence, parenting/guardianship matters, care and protection and relationship property. She adopts a strategic and transparent approach to governance, drawing on her previous experiences working for similar charities and non-government organisations.
Siobhan's guiding values include excellence, care, respect and integrity. She is dedicated to the prevention of family and sexual violence and supports endeavours that amplify consent culture and healthy relationships.
Dr. Emma Barker-Clarke
Dr. Emma Barker-Clarke is a Violence Prevention Educator working with young people and adults. Emma works with NGOs in the sexual violence and family violence sector. She was previously a trustee board member and rejoined their Trust Board in 2024. In 2024, Emma was awarded a PhD in Sociology/Criminology from the University of Auckland; her research, co-designed with young people, explored youth experiences of technology-facilitated sexual violence.
Before emigrating to Aotearoa in 2011, she worked in the UK as a probation officer with children, young people, and adults. In the youth justice sector, she specialized in supporting young people using violence and experiencing violence in intimate relationships, which motivated her to design a youth-centric intervention programme. She built on this work with research for her MSc in Criminology & Criminal Psychology. As a result of this research, she has focused ever since on domestic violence and sexual violence prevention.
Emma is of British Caribbean descent; her dual heritage is rooted in the twin Caribbean Islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. Outside of work, Emma loves to spend time with her husband, two teenagers, and the family miniature schnauzer, alongside participating in weightlifting and karate.
Cathy Mckenzie
I am committed to assisting New Zealand businesses to grow and to develop their personnel through best practice leadership and governance. Over the past twenty years I have been in senior leadership roles internationally, for the United Nations. Much of my career focused on organizational transformation, including leadership efficiency and effectiveness, through innovation.
Now I am returned to New Zealand, I endeavour to combine both national and international best practise methodologies to the benefit of New Zealand businesses; assisting them to benefit members and the communities they support.
My work experience is in risk management, business continuity, emergency planning, personnel development, and corporate sustainability. I am passionate about good governance, integrity, corporate sustainability and ethical responsibility.
I still support International NGOs; managing their risk in both surge and interim management roles, and have recently returned from Gaza.
Join Our Board
To express an interest in joining the board as a trustee, email info@rpe.org.nz