Our committee members
Executive committee
Premila D'Mello, President
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Alex Finn, Treasurer
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Prathima Rao, Secretary
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Committee members
Prathima Rao | Alex Finn | Mark Bils | Ian Manson | Ramesh Sharma | Ian Manson | Beverly Vokia-Scarlett | Stan Gregec
Prathima Rao | Alex Finn | Mark Bils | Ian Manson | Ramesh Sharma | Ian Manson | Beverly Vokia-Scarlett | Stan Gregec
Meet the people behind Multicultural Tauranga
Premila D’Mello, President
Premila moved to New Zealand with her family in 2000. She has a post-graduate degree in Business Management and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching and Learning. She truly believes that multiculturalism enriches societies. A truly multicultural society is one where everyone is accepted. Lack of acceptance stems from ignorance. Therefore she sees the challenge ahead of her as an individual and Multicultural Tauranga as a group to dissipate the divisiveness that stems from ignorance. She believes that this can be done by encouraging dialogue between cultures. She firmly believes that the collective task of the committee is to educate people about the rich and diverse cultures here in Tauranga and to create mutual understanding and respect between locals and migrants in this community.
Premila moved to New Zealand with her family in 2000. She has a post-graduate degree in Business Management and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching and Learning. She truly believes that multiculturalism enriches societies. A truly multicultural society is one where everyone is accepted. Lack of acceptance stems from ignorance. Therefore she sees the challenge ahead of her as an individual and Multicultural Tauranga as a group to dissipate the divisiveness that stems from ignorance. She believes that this can be done by encouraging dialogue between cultures. She firmly believes that the collective task of the committee is to educate people about the rich and diverse cultures here in Tauranga and to create mutual understanding and respect between locals and migrants in this community.
Alex Finn, Treasurer
Alex moved with his family to New Zealand from South Africa in 1994. He retired in 2018 after a multi- disciplinary career in civil engineering involving consulting engineering and local authority management. His interests lie in a number of pursuits such as fishing, old aircraft and migrant cultures. Alex has served on the boards of other charity organisations in the past and works happily in both governance and operational roles. He has experience in teaching English to migrants and used this role to provide support and empathy to migrants who struggle to cope with the migration experience and a new social culture.
Alex moved with his family to New Zealand from South Africa in 1994. He retired in 2018 after a multi- disciplinary career in civil engineering involving consulting engineering and local authority management. His interests lie in a number of pursuits such as fishing, old aircraft and migrant cultures. Alex has served on the boards of other charity organisations in the past and works happily in both governance and operational roles. He has experience in teaching English to migrants and used this role to provide support and empathy to migrants who struggle to cope with the migration experience and a new social culture.
Prathima Rao, Secretary
Prathima and her family have lived in New Zealand for 18 years and are proud call themselves “Kiwi- Indians”. Having lived in Auckland for a year, a job opportunity brought them to Tauranga and have now made it their home in NZ. Prathima was a tertiary educator and a forest science researcher back in India, and has continued to share her passion for science with young people in NZ. She believes that New Zealand is unique in the sense that everyone here is an immigrant except for the native flora and fauna and so it is imperative that we embrace the diversity that comes with multiculturalism. Prathima has been involved with various volunteer groups – Literacy and Language, Explorers Tauranga (NZAGC) and TEDx Tauranga to name a few, over the last 18 years as a way to give back to the country that whole heartedly welcomed them. She is now keen to share her experiences with the new migrants and help them navigate their way to becoming kiwis and make the most of everything this beautiful country has to offer.
Prathima and her family have lived in New Zealand for 18 years and are proud call themselves “Kiwi- Indians”. Having lived in Auckland for a year, a job opportunity brought them to Tauranga and have now made it their home in NZ. Prathima was a tertiary educator and a forest science researcher back in India, and has continued to share her passion for science with young people in NZ. She believes that New Zealand is unique in the sense that everyone here is an immigrant except for the native flora and fauna and so it is imperative that we embrace the diversity that comes with multiculturalism. Prathima has been involved with various volunteer groups – Literacy and Language, Explorers Tauranga (NZAGC) and TEDx Tauranga to name a few, over the last 18 years as a way to give back to the country that whole heartedly welcomed them. She is now keen to share her experiences with the new migrants and help them navigate their way to becoming kiwis and make the most of everything this beautiful country has to offer.
Beverly Vokia-Scarlett, Committee Member
Beverly, originally from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, has been living in New Zealand since 1998 and a Welcome Bay resident since 1999. A former primary school teacher, she retrained and is now a New Zealand qualified Early Childhood Educator. She has been a member and in fact a committee member of Multicultural Tauranga for over 10 years. Beverly gives speeches to new Kiwis at citizenship ceremonies, participates in conferences and likes to include aspect of Maori culture such as her harakeke art, especially floral arrangements.
Beverly, originally from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, has been living in New Zealand since 1998 and a Welcome Bay resident since 1999. A former primary school teacher, she retrained and is now a New Zealand qualified Early Childhood Educator. She has been a member and in fact a committee member of Multicultural Tauranga for over 10 years. Beverly gives speeches to new Kiwis at citizenship ceremonies, participates in conferences and likes to include aspect of Maori culture such as her harakeke art, especially floral arrangements.
Mark Bils, Committee Member
Even though Mark was born in Tauranga, he spent his first 15 years in Sydney, Australia. His mother was a third-generation Tauranga person; his father was German Jewish, growing up during those difficult times in Germany.
Having grown up in a multicultural environment and in another country, Mark has strong empathy for new residents to New Zealand. He has a background in teaching and has enjoyed teaching English at Multicultural Tauranga in a voluntary role on a Thursday morning for the last eight years. He and his wife have travelled extensively and take pleasure in the international environment of Multicultural Tauranga.
Even though Mark was born in Tauranga, he spent his first 15 years in Sydney, Australia. His mother was a third-generation Tauranga person; his father was German Jewish, growing up during those difficult times in Germany.
Having grown up in a multicultural environment and in another country, Mark has strong empathy for new residents to New Zealand. He has a background in teaching and has enjoyed teaching English at Multicultural Tauranga in a voluntary role on a Thursday morning for the last eight years. He and his wife have travelled extensively and take pleasure in the international environment of Multicultural Tauranga.
Ramesh Sharma, Committee Member
No information provided
No information provided
Stan Gregec, Committee Member
Stan Gregec was less than one year old when he arrived in New Zealand with his Croatian/Yugoslav parents in 1959. He
grew up in Whanganui and Auckland and was the first member of his family to go to university, graduating in 1982 with
a Masters in History. Stan's career has spanned Government, Industry and Education, including a period overseas as a
trade commissioner. Stan has lived in Tauranga since 1995, andhas most recently served as chief executive of the
Tauranga Chambers of Commerce. Stan currently has a number of volunteer roles including being a trustee of Taonga
Tauranga, Heritage Bay of Plenty and is a foundation member of Kickstart Toastmasters.
Stan Gregec was less than one year old when he arrived in New Zealand with his Croatian/Yugoslav parents in 1959. He
grew up in Whanganui and Auckland and was the first member of his family to go to university, graduating in 1982 with
a Masters in History. Stan's career has spanned Government, Industry and Education, including a period overseas as a
trade commissioner. Stan has lived in Tauranga since 1995, andhas most recently served as chief executive of the
Tauranga Chambers of Commerce. Stan currently has a number of volunteer roles including being a trustee of Taonga
Tauranga, Heritage Bay of Plenty and is a foundation member of Kickstart Toastmasters.
Ian Manson, Committee Member
Ian has been living in Waikato area of Tauranga for the last 2+ years on a “lifestyle” block, moving from the Waikato where he & family lived for 38 years, 25 of them on a farm.He is of Ngati Rangiweiwehi descent, from Maketu & Rotorua. Ian & wife Leigh emigrated to Canada where they lived & travelled for 10 years. They love motor homing, getting off the beaten track, discovering rural NZ. Ian believes that meeting people from around the world makes life more interesting & diverse. He has been self employed since 1981 in various businesses, has 2 children & 5 grandkids.
Ian has been living in Waikato area of Tauranga for the last 2+ years on a “lifestyle” block, moving from the Waikato where he & family lived for 38 years, 25 of them on a farm.He is of Ngati Rangiweiwehi descent, from Maketu & Rotorua. Ian & wife Leigh emigrated to Canada where they lived & travelled for 10 years. They love motor homing, getting off the beaten track, discovering rural NZ. Ian believes that meeting people from around the world makes life more interesting & diverse. He has been self employed since 1981 in various businesses, has 2 children & 5 grandkids.
Ann Kerewaro, Committe Member