Our team

  • Holly Griffin

    FOUNDER AND MANAGER

    Pākehā and English. Grew up in Waitaha Canterbury.

    Lived and worked in France, Fiji and Bangladesh before returning to settle in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

    Background in humanitarian aid work, refugee support, community wellbeing and development.

    Fav comfort food: kimchi cheese toasties or any kind of soup!

  • Cathy Lum

    COORDINATOR

    Fijian Chinese. Moved to Ōtautahi as a teenager.

    Grew up in Fiji, lived in Ethiopia, and in the USA before settling in Aotearoa.

    Background in event management, small food business ownership, volunteer coordination, and community engagement. Volunteers for Sow a Lyttel Seed, Migrants Quilting Group and is an elected member of the Banks Peninsula Community Board.

  • Anzeel Chitrakar

    FINANCE AND CATERING OFFICER

    Nepali. Moved to Ōtautahi 5 years ago.

    Background in finance and accounting.

    Favorite meal: Nepali Dal Bhaat, the best version is always cooked by my mum.

  • Samuel Hidray Equbazgi

    EVENT COORDINATOR

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2019.

    Background in social work, journalism and community development.

    Favorite dish: the Eritrean dish hamli, braised greens and spices, served with Injera, sourdough pancake.

  • Anu Khapung

    EVENT COORDINATOR

    Nepali. Moved to Waitaha Canterbury as a primary schooler.

    Background in dance, Pilates and fitness instruction.

    Favorite food: any kind of vegetarian snacks!

  • Rose Shayler

    COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    Pākehā. Grew up in Ōtautahi.

    Background in communications, marketing and photography.

    Favorite food: Tom Yum soup (or anything really spicy!).

  • Meron Semere

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIGE LEAD

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi as a teenager.

    Favorite ingredient: garlic, because it makes everything taste better!

  • Semira Solomon Hayle

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2019.

    Favorite food: Eritrean Chicken stew, Doro Wat, because we always make this for special occasions.

  • Atsede Abraham

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2019.

    How did you learn to cook? From my mum and my community.

  • Husna Mohammad

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in the early 2000s.

    A pro at making Zalabia, North African round donuts.

  • Semhar Gebrenigus

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2018.

  • Okba Okbazghi

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2019.

    Makes the tastiest injera (sourdough pancake)!

  • Freweini Eyob Berhe

    ERITREAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Eritrean. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2019.

    Favorite food: Eritrean Chicken stew, Doro Wat, because it’s so yum!

  • Zahra Nazary

    AFGHAN COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Afghan, born in Tehran, Iran. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2019.

    Favorite dish to cook: Bolani because everyone always loves to eat it.

  • Jamila Ehsani

    AFGHAN COOKS COLLECTIVE MEMBER

    Afghan, grew up in Pakistan. Settled in Ōtautahi in 2024.

  • Alysha Vauju

    NEPALI COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Nepali. Moved to Ōtautahi 10 years ago.

  • Tulasha Khadka

    NEPALI COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Bhutanese Nepali. Settled in Ōtautahi 15 years ago.

    Favorite ingredients: spices and herbs, they’re good for our health.

  • Shova Khapung

    NEPALI COOKS COLLECTIVE

    Nepali. Moved to Waitaha Canterbury, then Ōtautahi, 20 years ago.

    Favorite dish to cook: momos, Nepali dumplings, easy to make and tasty!

  • Emily Gillingham

    IMPACT ADVISOR

    English. Moved to Aotearoa in 2022.

    Background in impact, evaluation and marketing.

    Vegan and proud!

  • Liz Hawes

    SUPERVISOR AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

    Pākehā. Grew up in Ōtautahi.

    Manager of Social Equity and Wellbeing Network. Background in community development, social work and the multicultural sector.