Profile
Pippa Coom
I am a corporate lawyer currently using my skills for social good and community work. I love living in central Auckland. My passion is community initiatives that create neighbourhoods that we want to live in – safe, vibrant, connected and sustainable. I’m involved with a number of groups including Grey Lynn 2030 and Cycle Action Auckland. I’m also a Trustee of Kelmarna Organic City Farm.
If elected to the Waitemata Local Board, I will be full time on the job, promoting projects that make our inner city suburbs, the CBD and waterfront more liveable, accessible and productive. I have the skills and desire to get things done.
Current Projects and Activities
Taking practical steps to build a sustainable community through Grey Lynn 2030: Transition Community.
- Steering Committee Member
- Editor of the monthly community newsletter
- Coordinator of monthly meetings
- Involved in a range of initiatives including the establishment of a Grey Lynn Business Association (with Suzanne Kendrick) , the introduction of local traffic calming measures and a water bottle refill station at West Lynn shops.
- 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
- Co-founder of Great Urban Rides
- Member of the Tamaki Drive Working Group
- 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. Next Frocks on Bikes event: A celebration of Cycling on Saturday 18 September as part of Ponsonby Market Day.
Taking action on on climate change by working on community-led solutions.
Organiser of the 350 Big Bike Ride and Ride Planet Earth in December 2009. Working with the same team on the Big Bike Fix up, a 350 Aotearoa Global Climate Working Bee (on 10/10/10).
Other current roles
- Grey Lynn Park Advisory Group Member
- Trustee of Kelmarna Organic City Farm in Herne Bay
- Member of the Ponsonby Road Working Party
- Member of the Sustainable Business Network
- Supporter of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market (joining the management committee at the AGM on 29 Sept)
- Co-ordinator of the Eco-Space at the Grey Lynn Park Festival 2009 and 2010
- Member of the Vintage Austin Register (I have a 1934 Austin 7)
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 am honoured to be the guest speaker at the Old Girls’ Annual dinner on 4 November this year)
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
