Dr Deane Searle is a Supervisor with the New Zealand Police, leading a group of researchers that support harm prevention in the crime and crash environments. Deane led the establishment of the New Zealand Institute of Security and Crime Science, University of Waikato. This Institute is the primary research partner of the New Zealand Police and aims to reduce crime and crash through multi-disciplinary, evidence-based research. Deane is a founding member of the formation committee for the Waikato Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court. This Court’s role is to connect people with treatment, re-connect them with society and reduce re-offending. Deane’s academic background includes a master’s degree and PhD in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.

Mihi Bennett-Smith is new to her role as the Community Engagement Advisor in the City Transportation Unit at the Hamilton City Council. She was previously the Road Safety Coordinator where she spent four years providing road safety outcomes for the City. During this time Mihi developed a keen interest for education and behaviour change through the various programmes, campaigns and training that she assisted and coordinated. She is looking forward to some new challenges in transport and is excited about the opportunities regarding the Vision Zero philosophy in Aotearoa. Mihi is a beekeeper in her spare time and loves being out in nature with her family when they get the chance.

Rachel Cook is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Waikato Regional Council. Rachel has diverse experience across energy, commercial, local and regional government sectors in resource management and transport strategy. Recent focus has been on active transport, road safety and leveraging economic development from cycle trails in the Waikato region. Previous experience includes travel demand management and active transport in the Auckland region. Rachel was the local government representative on the road user reference group for the new national road safety strategy and is on the Executive for Trafinz. Rachel has been advocating for Vision Zero and systemic improvements and is very interested in how we widen the conversation on safety to grow community leadership and gain public mandate to act, and on how active transport can support the transition to a low carbon economy.

Claire has been working in road safety and active travel programmes for the past 18 years. Firstly at Auckland City Council and she then moved to Auckland Transport during the amalgamation. She is passionate about improving both road safety outcomes for all road users and increasing active modes of travel for school journeys in Auckland and is fortunate to lead a very motivated and passion Community Transport team of 40 staff to help deliver on this.

Robyn Denton is the Network Operations Team Leader within the City Transportation Unit of Hamilton City Council. She manages a team of seven who deliver a wide range of projects and services including the minor safety improvements, parking control changes, road safety education and travel demand management. Robyn has a passion for road safety and for ensuring the best outcomes for all road user modes are achieved for the projects delivered by Council and loves to be involved in national and regional projects that can make a positive difference. Robyn is the Treasurer for Trafinz, a member of the Waikato Regional Road Safety Working Group and Regional Speed Management Steering Group. In her ‘spare time’ Robyn is kept busy supporting her husband and daughter in their archery pursuits and is the Registrar for their local archery club and Secretary for Archery NZ.