Celia's full biography

Celia Margaret Wade-Brown

42 High Street, Island Bay,
Wellington 6023
04 983 6691 - 027 483 6691

Key Strengths

  • Understanding of and experience in education, business, community and local government sectors, with extensive experimental environmental advocacy.
  • Ability to keep commitments, work to deadlines
  • Enthusiastic approach and openness to new ideas
  • Skilled communicator with ability to think on my feet and work with a wide variety of people
  • Recognition that limited resources must be deployed effectively to meet strategic goals
  • Live my personal life in accordance with my philosophy

Education

Qualifications

  • 2009     DELF B1 diploma in French Language
  • 2008     Making Good Decisions – Chair’s certification
  • 2005     Making Good Decisions – (Excellence), an RMA qualification
  • 2000     National Certificate in Horticulture (Distinction)
  • 2000     Royal Horticulture Society general examination (Distinction)
  • 1982     Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Warwick University)
  • 1982    ‘A’ level Economics
  • 1978     B.A. (Hons) Philosophy Upper Second (Nottingham)
  • 1974    4 ‘A’ levels – Pure Maths, Physics, Chemistry & Biology
  • 1972    10 ‘O’ levels including ‘A’s in English Lit and Language,

Courses 

  • Conflict resolution and Partnership building (Dudley Weeks)
  • Multi-stakeholder decision-making  (Palmerston North City Council)
  • Financial governance

Employment

Wellington City Councillor:      1994 – 1998 and 2001 – present

Environment Portfolio Leader

As portfolio leader, I have regular meetings with key staff, stakeholders and public interest groups. This portfolio includes:

  • Parks, Reserves, and the Botanic Gardens
  • Coastal Areas
  • Sewage, Stormwater and Waste
  • Energy
  • Environmental Education and Conservation Attractions (Wellington Zoo, Karori    Wildlife Sanctuary, Marine Education Centre)

As Environment Portfolio Leader, I’ve included public input and persuaded Council to significant engagement on Biodiversity, Water Conservation, Recycling mechanisms and Open Space Access. Plimmer Bequest funds have been directed to care for our coast and reserves. Planned open space purchases have connected the Outer Town Belt and the return of some alienated Town Belt land. Many reserves have now been correctly classified and are more strongly protected than a decade ago. I led unanimous agreement for best efforts to stabilise water usage at current levels, to avoid dams or meters

My role has included policy alignment of Asset Management Plans for infrastructural assets in stormwater, sewage, waste and reserves. I have also significantly contributed to the Renewable Energy and Central Area chapters in the District Plan.

As a councillor, I’m proud to have taken a leading part in the development and continuance of Wellington Community Net, Smart Newtown computer access, the pre-1930s demolition rule, a number of heritage areas, Sustainable Building Guidelines, employment of an Energy Manager and the initiation of the Environmental grants..

I successfully fought for bus lanes, Safer Routes to School, our cycling and walking plans and more walkways and signage in the city.

My track record shows I strongly support the upgrades to our social housing, retention of branch libraries, upgrades to community centres and sports facilities and community consultation on matters large and small.

I opposed the Hilton on the Outer T, fought for the retention in situ of historic buildings including Odlins, Herd Street Post Office, St Johns Ambulance Building and Shed 21.

Community gardens, orchards and revegetation projects are a tribute to the volunteers and it’s been a pleasure to ensure official support where necessary.

All these successes are due to elected members working together.

Previous employment

  • Director of Cetal (formerly Athol Consultants) – range of programming, teaching, analysis and standards roles as an ICT consultant. Contracts included Computerpower (Melbourne), Databank NZ (now EDS), Bank of Scotland, ANZ, BNZ and Hogan Systems UK – definitely more highly-paid than a councillor
  • Databank employee, Wellington 1983 – 1985
  • Secondary School Teacher 1982
  • APL Programmer   Cocking and Drury Ltd London
  • Systems Engineer    IBM Nottingham & Warwick, UK

Other Leadership Roles

  • Trustee of Wellington Zoo Trust 2004 - 2010
  • Member of Ethnic Council of Wellington
  • Participation in Newtown, Island Bay and Brooklyn Residents Associations
  • Chair for the Environmental Reference Group from 2001-2008
  • Deputy Chair for the Wellington Regional Environment Agency from 2004-2007   Chair 2007 - 2010, (renamed the “Waste Forum - Wellington Region”)
  • Co-Chair of Cityspace Committee – responsible for land use planning, natural       heritage, open space, and environmental education decision-making
  • Deputy Chair, City Infrastructure 2001 - 2004

Community Action

  • Founding member of the ‘Our City Our Future’ City Steering Group (Agenda 21)
  • Founding Chair and member until 2001 of 2020 Communications Trust in 1996, a charitable trust to promote access to computer technology for children, families and people in hospices.
  • Founder of Walk Wellington, in 1998. Now a nation-wide organisation promoting walkable cities and towns
  • President of Living Streets Aotearoa from its incorporation in 2002 - 2009
  • Instigator and steering group member of “Marine Bioblitz 2007” to promote community understanding of the biodiversity of the South Coast and the forthcoming Taputeranga Marine Reserve.

Memberships

  • Friends of Owhiro Stream
  • Southern Environmental Association
  • Southern Bays Historical Association
  • Committee member of Manawa Karioi Restoration Association (2007 – 2009)
  • Initiator of Friends of Central Park
  • Trustee of Friends of Taputeranga Marine Reserve Trust
  • Patron of Island Bay and Berhampore Community Orchard Trust
  • Patron of the Wellington Art Club

Leisure Pursuits

Kayaking, diving, gardening and revegetation, walking, reading, photography, theatre.

Home life

Born in Paddington, London

Grew up in a Council flat overlooking Paddington main line and loved trains, double decker buses, excursions to Kensington Gardens

Moved to Berkshire and attended girls’ grammar school – very monocultural! Played violin, hockey, netball.

Took a “gap year” in Cape Coast, Ghana, as a laboratory assistant in a girls’ school. Travelled in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Mali. This was a seminal experience – independence, making friends from many nationalities – Ghanaians, Peace Corps and similar volunteers from Canada and France, university staff.

Studied at Nottingham and thoroughly enjoyed university life – acting in Dramsoc, president of the Philosophy Society, hosting many dinners and parties at our student flat.

Emigrated to NZ, buying the house in 1983 that I now live in.

Married a NZer from Invercargill. Two sons (now 16 & 19) one black Lab!

We live overlooking the Cook Strait, on the edge of the wilderness (nothing between us and the Antarctic) but within easy cycling distance of culture, arts and work.