Leadership Network members
Tara Shepherd
Tara’s leadership sits at the intersection of disability advocacy, rural communities, climate-resilient infrastructure, and mobilising people.
Tara coordinated Westport’s waste recovery after the 2021 floods, removing 1,100 tonnes of waste—work that shaped national emergency response frameworks and highlighted the need for accessible, resilient infrastructure.
With over a decade of advocacy, Tara has held roles such as Co-President of the National Disabled Students’ Association (2023–24), contributed to education policy spanning from early learning through to university, and serves on the Disabled Persons Assembly National Executive and Whakapuāwai Taskforce.
A Kiwibank Local Hero, she is now a UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader amplifying rural, youth, and disabled voices globally.