Staff

Dianna Cotter

Head of Peace Education

Proudly Kāi Tahu, and a descendant of Tahu Pōtiki, Dianna knows we have a collective responsibility to honour those who have come before us for the benefit of present and future generations.

Dianna serves within community spaces for our most vulnerable and is deeply committed to her desire to create greater social cohesion in strategic and sustainable ways.

Dianna’s tertiary qualifications in International Relations Politics, History, and Education underpin her 30 year career within the Education Sector where she has served as a teacher, deputy principal, special education needs coordinator and Kāhui Ako Across School Leader.

She has seen firsthand the powerful impact that peace education has, through her previous role as a Cool Schools Peer Mediation coordinator in a primary school.

Dianna is grateful for her family and friends, and enjoys spending time in nature. As a creative, she has always enjoyed singing, acting, dancing, painting and writing.

Dianna is a person of principles and passion who lives to make a positive difference in the world – Ki te hanga i te rereketanga pai i roto i te ao.

John Reichert

Finance Manager

John brings stability and focus to The Peace Foundation based on his extensive experience in the management of small to mid-sized companies. Before coming to the Peace Foundation in 2017, John’s work experience was mostly in for-profit businesses. He is happy to now contribute to a more peaceful world through his work with The Peace Foundation.

“It’s my job to create a platform that puts our team in the best possible position to deliver our educational programmes. Providing a solid financial foundation is at the core of creating organisation stability and enabling the entity to pursue opportunities as they arise.” Originally from the United States, John now lives in New Zealand with his three kids and enjoys sharing the beauty and simplicity of the Kiwi lifestyle.

Vitae Manuputty

Peace Education Administrator & Intern Supervisor

Vita moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in February 2024 to pursue a Master of Public Policy at the University of Auckland. Her research focuses on education policy for Indigenous peoples. She was born in the Moluccas Islands in eastern Indonesia, where communities uphold Pela Gandong, a traditional value rooted in harmony and brotherhood. This philosophy is integrated into education to foster peace and mutual understanding among young people.

She was drawn to join the Peace Foundation whānau because of the incredible mahi the organisation does with schools and communities across the country. She has experience in research, policy evaluation, and project management. By joining the Peace Foundation, she hopes to carry the spirit of Pela Gandong, inspire peace and understanding in others, and support the organisation’s continued growth and impact.  

Olivia shimasaki

Youth Programmes Coordinator

Olivia Shimasaki is extremely passionate about human rights, and nuclear disarmament. She holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology and first-class Honours in Human Services from the University of Canterbury. Since 2019, Olivia has travelled to Japan and around Aotearoa, New Zealand, to research nuclear narratives through interviews with test veterans, Hibakusha (a Japanese term used to refer to individuals exposed to an atomic bomb and/or its radiation) and individuals who work with those exposed to nuclear radiation. In 2022, she was a fellow at the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna, Austria. Over the past 8 years, she had the privilege to hear oral histories of those directly impacted by nuclear weapons which has inspired her to join their efforts in pursuing peace.

In this role as Youth Programmes Coordinator, Olivia hopes to inspire rangatahi to engage in current nuclear and peace-related topics. Prior to joining The Peace Foundation, Olivia had volunteered and worked for multiple non-governmental organisations which advocated for human dignity and social justice.

Guy Patrick

Youth Programmes Assistant

Guy holds a Master’s degree in Global Studies from the University of Auckland, with a focus on peacebuilding and humanitarian initiatives. Driven by a deep commitment to fostering understanding and positive change, he is passionate about empowering youth and supporting grassroots efforts to create lasting peace. He has experience working in diverse cultural settings and is excited to contribute to the Peace Foundation’s mission of promoting a culture of peace and non-violence.

Jessica Huang

Youth Programmes Assistant

I’m an environmental science student studying at the University of Auckland. I’ve been a mediator at my high school and have been a Peace Ambassador for the Peace Foundation for the past two years. During my time as a Peace Ambassador, I have really enjoyed the mahi that I have gotten involved with, which has inspired me to take up an internship with the Peace Foundation. I’m really passionate about local and global peace issues, especially those related to climate justice and equal rights. Outside of the Peace Foundation, I also volunteer for climate groups and community organisations in my local area.