Our Board

Molly Kennedy is an experienced consultant supporting organisations with leadership, strategy and performance. She has worked with a diverse array of public, private and not-for-profit organisations, including Hato Hone St John, Ministry for Primary Industries, Civil Aviation Authority and Volunteering New Zealand.
Molly has held roles of Chief Executive for KiwiClass and National Refugee Services Manager for New Zealand Red Cross. She began her work in the sector as a volunteer, supporting resettlement of former refugees from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. 
Molly has a Master of International Relations degree from Victoria University of Wellington, where she received the Mike Moore Prize, and has lived and worked in Kenya, South Korea and the United States. She also received the COVID-19 Response Recognition Award from the New Zealand Government for her work with MIQ during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She has held governance roles in three organisations, including co-chair in a waka hourua board, and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

As the child of a migrant family, I've firsthand experience with the challenges of communicating with migrants. I grew up being my parents' interpreter, so I have a real affinity with the services INZ provides. I'm excited to contribute to this cause

I have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by Interpreting New Zealand's members, being an interpreter and translator myself. I'm committed to leveraging my expertise to support them effectively. Additionally, I bring experience in transforming organisations to bolster cultural capability. I believe these skills will be instrumental in contributing to the growth and success of INZ, ensuring it serves its members even better and thrives in the future.

Cecily is an established public servant. Amongst other qualifications, she has a Master of International Relations degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching of English as a Second Language. Cecily has also completed governance training at the Institute of Directors. 
As a migrant from China, Cecily has personally experienced the challenges of adjusting to a new culture. She understands the importance of interpreting services, not only in giving non-English speaking people a voice, exercising their right to be understood, but also in helping government and community services reach all parts of NZ’s diverse population.  
Cecily is keen to use her experience, skills and networks to ensure Interpreting New Zealand thrives and continues to minimise the language barrier for the people, communities and businesses that make up Aotearoa New Zealand. 
 

I understand the intricacies of cultural nuances and the challenges of integration, having experienced them as a migrant. My goal is to contribute to bridging that gap and fostering an environment where individuals can communicate freely.

Rula Talahma has been an integral part of Interpreting New Zealand since 2016, serving as a skilled Arabic interpreter. Elected to the board in 2022, her strong academic background and insightful perspectives are vital assets. Rula's dedication and balanced approach enhance our organisation's capability to deliver high-quality interpreting services, making her a cornerstone of both our interpreter team and our board of directors.

Rabia is a passionate advocate for equitable access to interpreting services, and it is with great pride he serves as a board member for Interpreting New Zealand. With a career focused on building trust, strategic collaboration, and cultural awareness, Rabia brings a unique perspective to advancing inclusivity in communication.
As a former user of the services as a former refugee, and then as a qualified interpreter Rabia understands the vital role interpreters play in connecting diverse communities.
Currently, Rabia works as Senior Partnerships Advisor for Ethnic Communities at New Zealand Police. Also, an advisor for the New Zealand Refugee Advisor panel. In the last few years, Rabia extended his advisory reach globally and played a role with the Refugee Advisor Group for UNHCR - the UN Refugee agency.

Alda Rezende has joined INZ Board in 2024 as staff representative. She has been a Portuguese interpreter with Interpreting NZ since 2012 and became part of the Coordinator Team in 2018.
She has been living in Aotearoa for the last 21 years and lived before in several countries (Denmark, Italy and England). In her native Brazil she worked as a news reader for TV and had several radio shows on cultural subjects such as cinema, literature and music. 

Alda has a degree in Social Communication and Journalism and has studied music her whole life. She has a 40+ career as a singer with several tours and albums to her name.
In New Zealand, she has created the first Brazilian culture festival in the country and hashave done countless projects on Latin American culture.
Alda have been hosting, for the last 18 years, the world music show Global Pulse, on the iconic Radio Active. 

She has always been interested in languages and I has studied French, Italian, Spanish and Danish. Alda is involved in politics and is one of the founders of the group Brazilian Democrats in NZ. Alda is a very well know member of the Latin American community in New Zealand.