Meet the Team

  • Karena Shannon ​

    Oracy Aotearoa Founder, Speech Language Therapist

    As a Speech Language Therapist / Primary teacher who has worked across all levels of education since the early 80’s, I’m particularly concerned about a growing number of mostly underserved tamariki who have poor oracy. I’m on a mission to raise awareness of these kids, improve their access to support and share my simple, everyday tips to help them.

  • Tim King,

    Mayor, Tasman District


    ​Tim King has been involved in local body politics since 1998. After six terms as the Deputy Mayor of Tasman District Council, he became Mayor in 2019. Tim is also a Trustee of the Cawthron Institute, a Director of Chatham Island Ports Ltd and a member of the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board.

    ​Alongside these roles, Tim also farms a beef and sheep property in Eves Valley and coaches senior and junior rugby. Tim strongly believes that the ability to communicate effectively, and the confidence this brings whether it is to education, future employment or on the sporting field is a hugely important and under-recognised part of everyday life. This is why he has chosen to be involved in Oracy Aotearoa to promote the development of language skills.

  • Mary Ellen O’Connor

    Retired English Teacher, ESOL Specialist, Historian and Author​

    Brought up to value the spoken and written word, I am an English teacher by profession, and the author of textbooks, commissioned histories and a family history. I have also been involved in numerous community campaigns which have taught me the value of public speaking. I have 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren and live in Nelson with my partner David Wickham.
    I have always had a strong social justice focus with a particular concern for equity. A vitally important aspect of this is the ability to understand and use language competently. It is this concern which has motivated me to assist in the establishment of Oracy Aotearoa.

  • Toshi Phillips

    Early Childhood Teacher, New Entrant Teacher​​.

    Tēnā koutou katoa, He pākehā, he tāngata Tīriti ahau,ko Toshi Phillips tōku ingoa.

    I am a mother of 2 (mostly) grown-up children, a lover of being active in the outdoors, and an experienced ECE teacher currently working in the Primary school sector. Every day I see the impacts of oracy (or lack thereof) on children's learning, wellbeing and relationships. I am passionate about improving learning outcomes for tamariki, and I believe the best way to do this is through empowering them to express themselves and be in the driving seat of their own learning.

  • Margaret O’Connor

    Retired  Playcentre Supervisor (20+ years) Retired Nurse, Grandmother ongoing

    I am the middle child in a family of five, raised in an environment rich in spoken language. What I took for granted growing up, I now recognise as a taonga. As a parent of six, a member of the Playcentre movement for twenty years and a grandparent, I have a library of experience in observing children’s oral language and how critical it is to most other aspects of their development.
    Fluent oral expression was essential to life as a nurse and has greatly enriched my social world. For me it is a joy.

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