Jacquelyn Collins is Auckland Council’s Play Portfolio Lead, serving as the regional lead for play for Australasia’s largest territorial authority. With a BA (Hons) in Urban Planning and a Master of Environment Health, she uses her research to inform her work and ensure that principles of biculturalism and equity underpin Tāmaki Makaurau’s (Auckland’s) transformation into a city full of playful opportunities. In particular, she is eager to support efforts to expand play beyond traditional playgrounds by developing and implementing initiatives to create adventurous play in green spaces, develop community-led intergenerational play projects, and advocate for urban design that encourages people of all ages to play. Her most recent piece of advocacy has been the creation of 19 play strategies to advise more than 100 elected members and create new play opportunities in different local board areas across the region. Supported by one colleague, she works with colleagues and elected members to build an army of council play champions to embed play as a fundamental part of what Auckland Council provides to its communities. When she’s not working, Jacquelyn loves planning holidays, relaxing with her amazing husband, and dealing with the endless requests of her 12-year-old twins and cute dog.

Manumea Durie is the Play Advisor for Palmerston North City Council (PNCC), where she leads initiatives to integrate play into urban planning, community development, and city policy. Since joining in 2023, Manumea has played a pivotal role in advocating for play as a core element of city planning, ensuring its inclusion in the Council’s Long-Term Plan. She has spearheaded the implementation of the Play Palmy Play Policy, driving key initiatives such as the city’s Pop-Up Play series, the Council’s Play Equity Mapping research, and its Intergenerational Play projects in collaboration with Council partners. Her work spans all ages and abilities, promoting play across generations, from city-wide activations to community-driven, inclusive initiatives. Through the City Centre Play Programme, Manumea integrates play-based placemaking into city policy, shifting the perception of play from being confined to playgrounds to being an activity that can take place anywhere. She is committed to building strong relationships across the Council and with the community, advocating for play as a powerful tool for promoting well-being and connection. Through her role, PNCC is a proud member of Ihi Aotearoa Sport New Zealand’s National Play Workforce.

Katie Kennedy brings over two decades of experience across the cultural, creative, and community sectors, underpinned by a deep passion for equity, storytelling, placemaking, and the transformative potential of play. As Play Advocate at Gisborne District Council, she works across teams to ensure children’s play is thoughtfully integrated into projects, policies, processes, and everyday decision-making. Her work in Tairāwhiti — a region navigating the impacts of climate change and recovering from severe weather events — has focused on the role of play in recovery and resilience, including co-leading the development of a regional play study and future play provision plan. Through a placemaking lens, Katie works strategically to embed equity and child-centred thinking into the fabric of community development. She advocates for play as a vital tool in shaping thriving, connected spaces that reflect the voices and values of local communities. Katie is also mum to two incredible girls who continue to inspire and energise her passion for play.

Damien Puddle, affectionately known as "Dr. Play," is a playful academic and urban mischief-maker on a mission to turn cities into vibrant playgrounds. Based in Invercargill, New Zealand, he’s a play enthusiast with a PhD in parkour—yes, really. Damien’s diverse career spans academia, local government, and non-profits, where he challenges the status quo of what cities—and their people—can be. Whether he’s advising councils, calling out those who hide behind health and safety excuses, or dreaming up bold ways to inject play into urban life, Damien blends research, provocation, and fun to spark change. He’s not afraid to ask hard questions, break the mould of traditional planning, and remind us all that the biggest risk might just be a childhood without adventure.

Louise Van Tongeren has over 20 years of experience in the field of children's play. She currently works as the Council Play Advocate at Christchurch City Council, where she works across council units and teams to ensure that children's play is considered in all projects and processes. Louise is a board member of Play Aotearoa and is excited to be part of the committee organising the International Play Association Conference in New Zealand in 2026. For 15 years, Louise worked in Paediatric Early Intervention, specialising in play and music therapy at The Champion Centre, an interdisciplinary, research-based centre in Christchurch. Her passion for play grew in the aftermath of the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, when she founded a successful online platform to help families play locally and to support families to access the positive impact of play during times of crisis. Louise is currently pursuing further studies in play through the Master of Physical Activity and Hauora programme at Victoria University. She is a mother to three sons, who have taught her more about play than anything else!