Kathy Dedo to stand for Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board

The following statement has been received from Kathy Dedo.

"Local community leader Kathy Dedo has announced her intention to stand for the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board in the upcoming local body elections.

An experienced governance professional and long-time Wānaka local, Dedo is a current board member of the Central Lakes Trust (Deputy Chair and Audit & Risk Committee Chair) as well as Chair of Sport Otago. She has recently completed a term on ministerial advisory group Kāpuia, advising the government on its response to the Christchurch mosque attacks.

“I’ve been privileged to serve my community in a variety of roles over the past 23 years, and I’m excited to now put my hand up for local government,” she explains. “My experience in governance, business, and working at the heart of this community enables me to represent a wide range of views.”

Prior to moving to Wānaka in 2002, Dedo held corporate roles at KPMG and Mercer Consulting Group in strategic planning, organisational development, and leadership communication in the US and UK.

For the past 23 years, she has worked and volunteered across all facets of local community life: Serving on boards and committees of the Wānaka Businesss Chamber, Parenting4Life, Shaping our Future, Alpine Community Development Trust, Wānaka Area Youth Trust, Wānaka Alcohol Group, Holy Family School, and Montessori preschool. Most recently she co-managed Community Link Upper Clutha and worked in community outreach for the Presbyterian church. She is a Leadership New Zealand Fellow and a member of the Institute of Directors.

She is also a frequent contributor to the local music and theatre scene.

Dedo is married to Phil Smith and they have three children, the youngest of whom attends MAC. “We have built our lives here, raising a family, running businesses, and becoming part of the community fabric.”

The Wānaka-Upper Clutha ward has tripled in size during Dedo’s time here, and she feels strongly that the region can thrive with the right representation and support.

“There is so much to love about this unique place. The opportunity is to maintain our special character no matter what size we become. This takes leadership, informed decision-making, and listening to community voices,” she adds.

Her varied community roles have seen her play a strong part in local engagement and decision-making, including starting the community gardens that supply the Community Link foodbank, and accelerating public transport planning by leading the community shuttle trials. She contributed to past iterations of the Wānaka Town Centre Masterplanning and Wānaka Airport Masterplanning, both of which will be refreshed soon.

“Planning for the Upper Clutha’s future has been the focus of my work for years. I’d love the chance to continue that mahi on the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board.”

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