Connecting People has a simple but significant commitment through all its work: to connect people and communities to build a better future.

Since itscreation in 2015, Connecting People has worked with more than 50 local, regional and national communities, groups, organisations and agencies in New Zealand, as well as local and central government. We work collaboratively with our clients to develop innovative programmes that inspire people to take action to create the communities they want.

Our founder and Director, Sandra James, is a skilled facilitator, motivator, innovator and collaborator. She has brought together a passionate and creative team of people, with a wide range of complementary skills, so that Connecting People Ltd can deliver the best outcomes every time.

Meet the team

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Jane Röllin

Jane started her career in effective risk management early, completing her Masters thesis in 1995 having spent two summers measuring the spectrometry of Mount Etna’s active lava flows. Over nearly 25 years, Jane’s experiences have included supporting local, regional, and central government entities (both in New Zealand and the UK); and small, medium, and larger businesses – predominantly joining seemingly unconnected workstreams to enable better outcomes and anchoring deliverables to purpose.

Jane’s joy comes from building strong and trusting relationships that help reveal a richer understanding of context. Although Jane’s CV is a bit of a car crash of experiences, they are rooted in strengthening all aspects of organisational resilience – from managing risk; ensuring appropriate plans and contingencies are in place and supporting quick management of cascading impacts during a crisis.  Jane has a passion for ‘getting under the hood’ of a problem to help better understand ‘how we got here’, and what we might learn from our actions.

Jane has experience in risk management, governance, gap analysis and performance reviews.  She is the Chair of the Board of RiskNZ; a Board member of the American Foulbrood Pest Management Agency (under the Biosecurity Act 1993); and is a Director of Rehua Orchard and Simplexity.

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Sandra James

Director & Founder

Growing up in a Four Square, in a little rural town in Canterbury, New Zealand in the 1970s taught Connecting People’s founder and Director, Sandra James, about the power of human connections and community.

From a young age, Sandra’s experiences within her community showed her that small communities are capable of great things and that all transformative ideas have humble beginnings.

Sandra is highly regarded as an effective and efficient professional with proven expertise in community development and innovative community engagement, as well as extensive experience in project management.

Prior to establishing Connecting People, Sandra worked in local government for two decades specialising in community development and championing community-led approaches that create strong and vibrant communities.

Sandra also has extensive experience in Social Recovery following disasters.
Past roles include:

• Social Recovery Manager at Waimakariri District Council for 3.5 years – Lincoln University Evaluation
• New Zealand Red Cross Recovery Manager
• Canterbury Group Civil Defence and Emergency Management Recovery Manager
• Guest lecturer at Canterbury University and Massey University
• Response and Recovery planning for Christchurch City Council, Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council, Hurunui District Council, Kaikoura District Council, Canterbury CDEM Group

She has been a trusted advisor to many other communities facing recovery situations.

• Christchurch City Council
• Canterbury CDEM Group
• Kaikoura District Council
• Hurunui District Council
• Dunedin City Council
• Hawkes Bay CDEM Group
• Wellington City Council
• Porirua City Council
• Taranaki CDEM Group
• Stewart Island Rakiura Community
• Queenstown District Council

Sandra has also co-authored a practical social recovery guide for anyone who is faced with leading in this area – Social Recovery 101

She has established relationships and networks locally, regionally, nationally and internationally in central and local government and NGO and community sectors.

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Kate Pierson

Communications Specialist

Kate Pierson has worked as a strategic communications consultant for the last decade in public and private sector while simultaneously building a brimming magazine portfolio as a feature writer.

Kate’s simple philosophy for great communication is the ’right message, to the right people, at the right time’. She is forensic in her approach to determining each of these elements.

Kate creates content ranging from blogs and infographics through to Powerpoint Presentations and Press Releases. She is also trained in photography and has extensive media relations and stakeholder relationship management experience. Each of these skills gives clients the option to express themselves in different ways.

Kate’s varied career – locally and internationally – adds up to a professional repertoire that gives clients confidence that she will help them to fulfil their business objectives using communication that is personalised, innovative and engaging.

WHO WE’VE WORKED WITH

Connecting People is proud to work with passionate, committed people, communities and organisations that are committed to community wellbeing and development.

WHO WE’VE WORKED WITH

Connecting People is proud to work with passionate, committed people, communities and organisations that are committed to community wellbeing and development.

Testimonials

Simon Markham

Sandra is a highly skilled and experienced advisor and facilitator of developing communities and undertaking social recovery from disaster. She is passionately committed to the innate strength in community and seeks to bring the best out in people and community engagement situations with this always in mind. It’s been my pleasure to work with her in a variety of contexts for close to 15 years

Simon Markham | Manager, Strategy & Engagement
Waimakariri District Council

Sally Rossiter

I have known Sandra James for the the past 4 years. Any time I have needed some advice with regards to a variety of issues. Sandra has always been available and willing to spend time with me. Her vast knowledge of community and non profits, funding etc make her my go to person when I need help.
I highly recommend her.

Sally Rossiter | Trust Manager
Hope Community Trust

Jo Ealam

I worked alongside Sandra James where she managed a large team of community and Government agencies for 5 years. In that time I observed that it is rare to meet someone as organised and calm as Sandra. She always knew exactly where every project was at, and also what needed to be done daily. Nothing seemed to faze her no matter how frantic or how much turmoil people’s lives were in. Sandra was always a sea of calm. At team meetings Sandra would always help us meet deadlines and tackle every task with a smile.

Jo Ealam | Manager
Oxford Community Trust

Robyn Steel

Sandra crafted our first welfare plan for the city and throughout the development of this document also managed to create a wonderful training opportunity for the Welfare Managers as we worked through each section – planning and learning!

Robyn Steel | Manager City Partnerships
Porirua City