Our leaders
GWNZ National Executive and Council 2026-2027
GWNZ NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
President: Dr Sarah Lockwood
Vice President: Perya Short
Secretary: Sonya Giles
Treasurer: Yvette Absalom
International Convenor: Perya Short
Advocacy Convenor: Anna Campbell
GWNZ CHARITABLE TRUST
Trust Chair: Barbara Benson
Trust Secretary: Lyn Howe
Trust Treasurer: Noza Djalolova
Trustee: Janet Stribling
Trustee: Lorelle George
Trustee: Jules Gross
Scholarships Officer: Jules Gross
BRANCH PRESIDENTS
Independent Members Network (IMN) Lorelle George
Graduate Women Manawatu (GWM) Megan Hooper-Smith
Graduate Women Wellington (GWW) Dr Rosanna Rahman
Graduate Women Otago (GWO) Nadja Baker
Sarah Lockwood
Sarah is an education leader, academic researcher and experienced board member with a strong commitment to advancing opportunities for women. Alongside her professional work, Sarah brings a background in community leadership, having spent the early part of her career in senior management roles within the For-Purpose sector. After completing a PhD she moved into tertiary education as an academic manager and researcher, bridging research, education, and strategy. As a previous Fulbright Scholar recipient, Sarah understands first-hand the meaningful opportunities that education, advocacy and community can create for women.
Contact: president@gwnz.org.nz
Perya Short
My experience is extensive ranging from business consultancy to NGO's, Government agencies, as well as private enterprise and international agency consultancy. My voluntary work includes advocacy and fundraising for large to small organisations in New Zealand and internationally with projects including everything from assisting with the funding for a Toy Library to Women's education projects funded by the World Bank in India, Thailand and the South Pacific. I am the former Deputy Chair of a private international destination school that’s part of a global education group plus I am currently on the Board of a conservation sanctuary in the Wellington region.
I can be contacted at international@gwnz.org.nz
Yvette Absalom
Yvette is an education leader with a Master of Digital Learning Leadership and an MBA. She is a strong advocate for affordable and accessible education for women. Prior to entering the education space where she currently works as an Education Consultant, Yvette worked in public practice and is a Chartered Accountant. She's passionate about new innovations in education, and enjoys pushing the boundaries to improve enjoyment and retention of educational content for all learners.
Contact: treasurer@gwnz.org.nz
Anna Campbell
Anna's career so far spans fifteen years across NGO and private sectors, working with global and local brands. As General Manager of Te Tautiaki Hoiho Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Anna managed nature reserves and advocated for sustainability from Rakiura to Nice, attending the third United Nations Ocean Conference. She holds degrees from the University of Otago and Grenoble Ecole de Management in entrepreneurship, international business and art history, and is working on a doctorate in sustainability transitions. Highlights with Graduate Women include attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York and the International Triennial and Conference in Zambia. Anna champions innovative solutions and young voices.
Contact: advocacy@gwnz.org.nz
Barbara Benson
Barbara returned to live Dunedin in 2021, bringing with her 30 plus years of involvement with Graduate Women Otago committees, activities and in particular its gowning activities. With a background in science, she has spent her working life in science education and initial teacher education.
Barbara has supported our 2024 - 2025 President Otila Osborne in her role as Immediate Past President. GWO are delighted that Barbara has returned to support the GWO President Nadja Smith in her role as GWO Vice President.
Outside of her GWO work, Barbara is busy caring for her grandchildren, gardening, politics, cooking, music and reading.Barbara is also very involved in our GWO Gowning Business, supporting Jules Gross.
GWNZ welcome Barbara onto the National Executive as the GWNZ Charitable Trust Chairperson.
Barbara can be contacted via the "Trust Chair" email trustchair@gwnz.org.nz
Noza Djalolova
Noza joined Graduate Women New Zealand as Treasurer and a member in 2025. She is a Chartered Accountant with experience in both Big Four audit and commercial finance. Following her tertiary studies in Palmerston North, Noza built her career in accounting and finance across a range of industries. She is passionate about supporting women’s advancement through education, professional development, and leadership opportunities. As Treasurer, she brings strong financial expertise, strategic thinking, and a commitment to supporting the organisation’s long-term sustainability and impact.
Contact: trusttreasurer@gwnz.org.nz
Lorelle George
Lorelle became a member of Graduate Women North Shore in 2005, following completion of a BA Social Science; joined the Committee in 2017, and became Branch President in 2019. In the twelve years prior to retiring in 2016, Lorelle worked in health promotion and community engagement roles on Auckland’s North Shore, initially for a small community organisation and latterly with a PHO. Currently she continues her linkage with health through consumer advocacy roles with Harbour Hospice.
Contact: independent@gwnz.org.nz
Nadja Baker
I officially joined GWO at the end of 2023, however, I have worked with Graduate Women through their Regalia business since 2020. I was honoured to be voted in as Vice President in 2024 - 2025, and am thrilled to have been appointed your GWO President. My work with GWO has involved Advocacy, and co-facilitating the Young Members group.
I started my tertiary education immediately after high school, travelling to the other end of the country, to complete my BA majoring in English and History and minoring in classics. I spent seven years in high school studying Latin, which I continued for two years through my Classics minor. I continued my studies at Victoria, University of Wellington, where I completed my Masters in Information Studies, focused on library science 2024. In my spare time I am an avid sports player, supporter, umpire and coach in hockey, plus I enjoy skiing, reading, playing board games, and role-playing games, and spending time with friends & family.
Contact: otago@gwnz.co.nz
Megan Hooper-Smith
I joined Graduate Women in 2025 and am honoured to have been appointed GWM Manawatu president.
I am an experienced midwife with a diverse clinical background, having worked in busy tertiary hospitals and now in rural community midwifery. I have also worked in midwifery education, coordinating and facilitating education for registered midwives, and in research, where I provide midwifery guidance to research teams.
I am deeply committed to advancing women's and girls' education and believe in the positive societal impact of their empowerment.
Contact: manawatu@gwnz.org.nz
Rosanna Rahman
Rosanna has been a Graduate Women member since 2003 and a passionate advocate for education for life.
Dr Rosanna Rahman is a neuroscientist, general practitioner and proceduralist. She conducts research in the Department of Neurosurgery at Wellington Regional Hospital (WRH), practices community medicine at Connolly Street Medical Centre in Lower Hutt and specialises in skin cancer and sexual health surgeries, with clinics across the country. Her academic and medical training has spanned the globe with an BSc Hon in Neuroscience at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia), PhD in Neuropharmacology at the University of Otago under a Bright Futures Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship, a postdoctoral research fellowship in neurology at Harvard Medical School, MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital under a Fulbright Scholarship, and lastly, a MBChB at Otago with clinical training at WRH.
For the few precious hours of the week she’s not working, she can usually be found playing sports and recently completed the Coast to Coast in a family team.
Contact: wellington@gwnz.org.nz