Profile
Pippa Coom
Deputy Chair, Waitemata Local Board, Auckland Council
Board responsibilities
Portfolios: Transport – West (with Greg Moyle), Community (with Tricia Reade)
Chair, Grants Committee
Positions: Grey Lynn Business Association, Newmarket Business Association (alternate)
Grey Lynn Park Advisory Committee
Other roles:
- Chair of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market Management Committee
- Trustee of Kelmarna Organic City Farm in Herne Bay
- Coordinator, Frocks On Bikes – Auckland
- Steering Committee Member, Grey Lynn 2030
- Trustee, Connected Media (since Dec 2011)
Current Projects and Activities
Taking practical steps to build a sustainable community through Grey Lynn 2030: Transition Community.
- Editor of the monthly community newsletter
- Coordinator of Grey Lynn 2030 monthly community meetings
- Organised the Grey Lynn 2030 Week and West Lynn Street Party (watch the video here)
- Community Economic Development Conference 2010 presentation – “Stories from the Front Line”
Working on a range of projects with Cycle Action Auckland to get more people cycling, more often by developing sustainable transport options.
- Membership Secretary (until August 2011)
- Co-founder of Great Urban Rides
- Supporting Bikes in Schools
- NZ Cycle Conference 2009 presentation “Developing Showcase Rides for Auckland”
Turning Auckland into a cycle- friendly city through events such as Frocks Day Out and Cycle Style Auckland that encourage everyday cycling in everyday clothes.
Taking action on on climate change by working on community-led solutions.
Organiser of the 350 Big Bike Ride , Ride Planet Earth in December 2009 and the Big Bike Fix Up a a 350 Aotearoa Global Climate Working Bee (on 10/10/10). Watch the video here.
Other memberships and community involvement
- Member, Campaign for Better Transport
- Member, Civic Trust Auckland
- Member, Sustainable Business Network
- Co-ordinator of the Eco-Space at the Grey Lynn Park Festival 2009, 2010 and 2011
- Member , Vintage Austin Register (I have a 1934 Austin 7)
- Member, Auckland Girls’ Grammar Old Girls’ Association
Education
- Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales, 2003
- Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of NZ, 1993
- LL.B (Hons), University of Otago
- Completing BA (Spanish) through Massey University
- Auckland Girls’ Grammar School old girl (I was honoured to be the guest speaker at the Old Girls’ Annual dinner on 4 November 2010)
My background
My community involvement goes back to my school days at Auckland Girls’ Grammar when I was a founding member of the Auckland City Youth Council.
Previous community and professional involvement:
- Management committee, Citizens Advice Bureau (Wellington Central)
- Wellington District Law Society Council 1996 – 1999
- Vice- president of the Corporate Lawyers Association 1999
- Volunteer for Community Law Centres in Dunedin & Wellington
- Chair, Young Lawyers Committee (Wellington)
- Full time volunteer at the Youth Law Project in Auckland
- English as a second language tutor with the Home Tutor Project.
- Secretary of the Otago Law Students Association 1991
- NZ representative as an AFS student in Peru and at World Expo 92, Seville, Spain.
- Secretary, Otago University Labour Club
Professional work
- Over 15 years legal experience
- Specialising in regulated industries most recently at Vector Limited
- I have also worked in-house at the Ministry of Fisheries in Wellington, Network Rail in the UK and for the Stevenson Group Ltd.
Other interests
Gardening, enjoying the bush and beaches of the Waitakere ranges, and playing social netball.
On Facebook on Twitter @pippacoom
