The Committee

Anna Curnow

Anna is a business graduate and chartered company secretary, with a history of managing projects, leading communications and funding projects in local government, corporate and not for profit sectors.

Her time in local government as a political leader and Deputy Mayor of Kaipara District Council demonstrated the very real benefits of including those who are affected in the decision-making process. Studying with the Tamarack Institute grew her understanding of how to work with communities to achieve the best outcomes. She recently completed the Facilitating Deliberation training with New Democracy Foundation and Mosaic Lab in Melbourne and is engaging with several local councils to encourage uptake of deliberative process through her company Decision Works Ltd. Anna is a member of the Institute of Directors.She believes the relationship between those who deliver services and produce products, and those who use or are affected by them, is under severe stress. A great believer in “leaning in” to challenging problems, Anna continues to immerse herself in new and more inclusive decision making and democratic models.

John Pennington

Having had a break after serving two terms on the committee, I am back for more!

My experience includes as a ministerial advisor in Parliament, Manager of Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council and as a partner in a consultancy called Public Engagement Projects (PEP). I have been worked on a number of award-winning national public dialogue and deliberation processes.

I am a social scientist with expertise in sustainability transitions, innovation processes, environmental values, and contemporary policy theories and practices.

Andrew Ecclestone

I am a researcher and consultant on Freedom of Information and Open Government systems, process and culture. I joined Trust Democracy because public access to information, and participation in policy development and service design, are integral to a healthy democracy that works to ensure people’s needs are met rather than privileging the voices of the well-connected. I’m keen to help deepen and strengthen the discourse on democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I was formerly a Senior Investigator in the Office of the Ombudsman. I’ve also worked for the State Services Commission on implementation of its first Open Government Partnership action plan. I have a Master’s in Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington. I’m originally from the UK. I’m also a committee member of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties.

Simon Wright

Simon is a public engagement professional with over 15 years’ experience working for organisations such as Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council and the Wellington City Council (WCC). More recently, he has worked as a partner in Public Engagement Projects (PEP) that specialises in designing and evaluating deliberative approaches to decision-making, agenda setting and social learning, and taught a Masters-level course on digital public engagement at the Victoria University of Wellington.

Simon is a member of the Public Service Commission’s Expert Advisory Panel for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and has served on the Board of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) (Australasia). He was the coordinator of the WCC’s Youth Council, and a Trustee of the Citizenship Trust and of Youth Work Wellington.

Finn Shewell

Finn is Wellington-based and joined the committee in 2024. He brings a wide range of experience across community engagement, facilitation, and movement building – including organising and hosting several events focused on democratic innovation. 

Finn has served on the boards of Social Change Collective and Collective Intelligence, working with both to bring the voice of their respective communities to the table. He has also led community-building efforts with Collective Intelligence and City for People; with the latter successfully advocating for more housing in Te Whanganui-a-tara.

Finn loves helping people work together; from supporting teams to collaborate effectively, to impacting the systems of governance that make up our current democracy.