Our Team
Craig Carter
Chief Executive
Born and raised in Counties Manukau, Craig developed his love for sport and the benefits that come with it from a young age either participating or on the sideline supporting.
Craig has over 30 years’ experience in the Leisure industry, which started with North Shore City Council in the facility management space. After completing his business degree Craig started work with CLM as a seasonal Lifeguard whilst at university and worked his way to his current position of CEO.
Craig has been involved in governance roles with Counties Manukau netball and rugby for a combined 16 years. Craig is currently on the NZ Barbarians executive and on the sideline of his daughter’s sporting endeavours.
Craig has a Bachelor of Business Studies Majoring in Management from Massey University and a Diploma in Sport and Recreation from AUT. In 2015 Craig was awarded the New Zealand Recreation Association Paul Stewart Memorial Award.
Bernadette Tovio
General Manager
A proud Māngere resident of Samoan Heritage, Bernie has a deep passion for community, family and providing opportunities for young people to thrive.
With over 25 years’ experience in management, administration and social services, Bernie started with CLM Community Sport as General Manager in 2017.
She is very proud to lead and work alongside a great team that is focused on serving our Counties Manukau community through sport, active recreation and play.
Bernie is a graduate of the inaugural Aktive Women’s Leadership Development Programme (WLDP) in 2021 and was also one of 22 Pasifika Leaders selected from across New Zealand to participate in the Leadership New Zealand - Mana Moana Experience 2021.
Bernie has been involved in various governance roles and currently serves as Board Chair for Marcellin College. She has an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Massey University and is a proud Mum, Grandmother and loves a good walk, book and spending time with family and friends.
Maia Lewis MNZM
Schools & Kura Lead
Maia joined the team at the beginning of 2021 with a background in Secondary School Physical Education and Māori teaching, Disability and Inclusion Advocacy and Sport Administration.
As part of her role at CLM Community Sport, Maia is responsible for overseeing our Secondary School team – tasked with supporting rangatahi move, learn and have fun.
Maia has a broad range of cricket experiences ranging from Captaining the Whiteferns to getting the Blind Caps (NZ Blind Cricket Team) back onto the international stage as their Coach at a World Cup in India.
She is currently involved in Ground announcing for the NZ White Ferns and recently was appointed coach of the Aotearoa Māori Women's cricket team.
She retired from playing cricket in 2005. In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lewis was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to women's cricket.
She has Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Maniapoto whakapapa and is a proud advocate for kaupapa Māori and Wāhine in sport.
Nikki Johnson
Healthy Active Learning - Team Lead
Nikki joined the team after a teaching career of 25 years in secondary school Physical Education and Health where she held Head of Department roles.
A change in direction through her doctoral study in primary PE resulted in advisory roles with Play.sport and Sport New Zealand.
Nikki joined CLM Community Sport as a Healthy Active Learning Advisor in December 2019 and was appointed Team Lead in 2023.
She is passionate about providing young people quality physical activity opportunities through Play, Physical Education and Sport.
In her spare time, Nikki now enjoys recreational cycling including the many trails around the country after participating in a number of competitive sports in the past.
She is also an active member of Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ) co-organising the Easy Peasy HPE annual conference in Auckland.
Pat Spellman
Communications & Māori Engagement Advisor
Pat has worked in media, marketing & communications for over a decade. He has both Māori and Cook Island whakapapa and lives in Manukau.
Following tertiary study - where he graduated with a Bachelor in Media Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies, Pat worked in broadcasting spending 10+ years in commercial and Iwi Radio following which he worked in Marketing Management roles with a focus on storytelling and social media. He joined the CLM Community Sport team in 2022.
Pat has served in various governance roles and currently sits as Board Chair for Pasifika Touch Aotearoa, as a Board Director for Māori Touch NZ as well as an advisor for the Rise & Shine Josiah Mika Foundation and Te Huinga Tākaro o Aotearoa, the National Māori Sport Authority for Aotearoa.
Pat is Member of both the Institute of Directors New Zealand (IODNZ) and Māori Business Network Whāriki.
Junior Manapori
Regional Sports Director
Junior joined the CLM team in April 2021, coming from Auckland Girls Grammar where he served as Sports Director. Junior’s approach to his role as Regional Sports Director is influenced by his multicultural background, drawing on his Cook Islands Maori, Niuean, and Scottish heritage.
A passionate advocate for youth development, he has coached netball and basketball extensively. His experience spans various levels, from secondary schools and clubs to Open Nationals. Notably, he has contributed to professional franchises, the Northern Stars and Comets.
Equally impressive is his decade-long dedication to the Cook Islands sports community in Auckland, where he has organized successful netball and basketball tournaments. This leadership and dedication were recognized in 2023 with the prestigious Tu Rangatira Sports Award at the Cook Islands Te Maevanui Festival.
When not working, his focus remains on family and local initiatives, highlighting his dedication to building a positive and thriving community.
Judith Coe
Regional Sports Director
Judith joined CLM Community Sport in April 2022, coming to us via Waiuku College where she worked as Sports Director for over a Decade.
She is a huge advocate for sports having held many roles at Waiuku Netball, Local and Provincial Rugby and Surf Life Saving (SLS) where she is the Treasurer for her local club.
She has a Distinguished Service Award from SLS Kariaotahi and is also a Service Award Member of SLS Northern Region. Judith also serves as a fully qualified Funeral and Marriage Celebrant and loves spending time with friends, whanau and getting outdoors enjoying nature.
Jeza Clark
Community Sport Advisor
Jeza is a passionate advocate for all things South Auckland and joined CLM Community Sport in 2019.
An experienced coach, coach developer and pathways mentor - he has regional, national and international representative honours as both a player and coach across multiple codes.
As part of his role, Jeza is tasked with supporting the growth and development of community codes, groups and clubs throughout Counties Manukau.
He played an instrumental role in the establishment of the KuraConnect programme and currently serves on the advisory committee in addition to Moving Manurewa and Planet Youth.
Jeza has whakapapa to Waikato Tainui and currently serves on the Board for Counties Manukau Touch. He resides in Pukekohe with his loving Wife and Tamariki.
Tracey-Lee Dalton
Healthy Active Learning Advisor
Tracey-Lee is passionate about education, wellbeing/hauora and empowering life-long learners in an active way connecting to nature.
After her doctorate focusing on wellbeing and disability, she became a Healthy Active Learning Advisor with CLM Community Sport in January of 2020.
She has worked in New Zealand and abroad across the different levels of education from early childhood to tertiary and the disability sector. She has also worked in health and community recreation.
Tracey-Lee enjoys being part of making a positive change to promote better lives and futures enhancing wellbeing. She is married with children and enjoys being in the outdoors.
Rosie Koloti
Healthy Active Learning Advisor
Rosie joined CLM Community Sport as a Healthy Active Learning Advisor in January 2024.
A qualified teacher with 5 years of experience in the classroom, prior to joining CLM she worked at St Pius X Catholic and Owairoa Primary Schools.
She is passionate about sports and seeing Tamariki grow up to be confident, happy and healthy. Rosie graduated from Laidlaw College with a Bachelor of Education in Primary School Teaching and Worldview Studies.
She is happily Married with three children and is actively involved in her Tamariki sports and church activities. She enjoys spending time with friends, family and keeping active.
Kevin Charlie
Healthy Active Learning Advisor
Kim Squire
Sector Support Advisor
Kim was born in Mangere and attended Aorere College. A Management graduate of Manukau Institute of Technology, She is a passionate advocate for Counties Manukau.
Following 21 years working in Council and a brief stint with AUT - Kim joined CLM Community Sport as a Sector Support Advisor in 2019. She works closely with clubs throughout the region, supporting their aspirations to grow and develop through sport.
During her time working in Council, Kim played a key role in administering the Manukau, Community Facilities Partnership Scheme and Auckland’s, Facility Partnership Scheme which enabled her to help clubs on Manukau Parks with their building projects.
Kim serves on the committee for the Brookby Archery Club and is a member of the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) committee for Counties Manukau.
Kim is a devoted Wife, Mum and Grandmother and enjoys reading, drawing, swimming and shooting.
Shonte To'a
Healthy Active Learning Community Connector
Shonte is of Tongan & Māori whakapapa, grew up in Ōtara and has played professional rugby for a number of years.
She joined the CLM Community Sport team in 2024, coming from a Teacher’s Assistant role at Papakura Intermediate School.
Shonte also worked at Papakura High School in the Service Academy supporting rangatahi and has spent some time working at the Graeme Dingle Foundation as a Kiwi Can Leader.
In her role as Community Connector, Shonte works within Healthy Active Learning Schools in Counties Manukau with a focus on engaging tamariki and activating school spaces to allow for learning, movement and enjoyment.
She is passionate about culture, sport and engaging young people and has a goal of reclaiming Te Reo Maori.
Victoria Pone
Healthy Active Learning Community Connector
Victoria joined the CLM team in 2018 as an Administrator for our Community Sport team before being appointed to the Community Connector role in 2022.
As part of her mahi, Victoria is tasked with supporting our efforts to improve the wellbeing of tamariki & rangatahi in kura throughout our Counties Manukau rohe!
A talented Touch player, Victoria has represented New Zealand winning Silver at the 2019 Touch World Cup. She has represented both Auckland and Counties Manukau winning multiple National championships.
Victoria is of Samoan and Tongan heritage and serves on the Executive for Samoa Touch NZ. She is a proud Aunty who loves spending time with family and enjoys the outdoors.
Jayden Clark
Healthy Active Learning Community Connector
Jayden is an enthusiastic and passionate rangatahi who joined CLM Community Sport in 2024. Prior to this role, he worked as a development coach with Touch New Zealand, delivering programmes in schools and clubs across the Counties Manukau Region.
While working, Jayden has also been busy studying and is looking to complete the final year of his Diploma in Sport & Recreation at Manukau Institute of Technology.
A talented athlete, Jayden represented New Zealand at the 2023 Asia Pacific Touch Cup and plays Premier grade for Manurewa Rugby Club.
He also carries out various volunteer roles helping out at Papakura Marae, Manurewa Rugby Football Club and Counties Manukau Rugby Union where his family are heavily connected to.
Cynthia Ta’ala-Timaloa
Youth Sport Advisor
Cynthia joined CLM Community Sport in 2021 via Marist College, where she worked as Sports Coordinator and Coach. Prior to this she was employed as the Women’s Rugby Development Manager for Counties Manukau Rugby Union.
During her time with CMRU, She was instrumental in the growth and development of women and girls playing rugby.
She describes herself as a passionate Pasifika woman in sport, who serves in multiple community spaces including as a Board Member for Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame.
People and providing opportunities through sport, active recreation and physical activity is at the heart of what Cynthia loves to do. This has led to her playing numerous sports, coaching and mentoring at national and international levels.
Mack Cammock
Youth Sport Advisor
Mack joined the CLM whanau in January 2023 from Wesley College, where he worked for 6+ years including 2 years as Sports Co-Ordinator.
He has an extensive background in strength and conditioning, rugby coaching and athlete development. This mahi has included managing, developing and implementing sports programmes within New Zealand and the Pacific.
Mack graduated from University of Otago with a Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports Science and completed a Postgraduate Diploma, Strength and Conditioning.
Motivated by values of family, integrity, faith, and hard work, Mack brings a can-do attitude and a passion to use sport as a vehicle to engage with tamariki and rangatahi.
A.K Yap
Community Sport Advisor - ActivAsian
With over twenty years of global experience, AK Yap has built a successful career in entrepreneurship, management, leadership, and consulting.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Coaching from the University of Canterbury and an MBA from the University of Liverpool.
AK joined CLM via Counties Manukau Badminton where she worked firstly as their Community Development Officer then Chief Executive Officer.
In March 2021, AK was appointed as a Trustee to the Board of CORT Community Housing, further showcasing her versatility and leadership in the not-for-profit sector.
Currently, she serves as a Community Sport Advisor, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous roles as a CEO and entrepreneur. AK's career is marked by her strategic expertise and her ability to elevate organisational practices and performances.
Vanessa Kubuabola
Community Sport Administrator
Vanessa joined CLM Community Sport as Office Administrator in March 2023 following 13 years in Australia, working in Business Administration.
On her return to Aotearoa, she supported the inaugural CM Games as an Events Administrator, helping coordinate the event planning & delivery.
Vanessa is a proud Mum of two, Grandmother to her handsome moko and is passionate about sport, travel & her community.
Bringing with her a strong background in business administration, we’re excited to have Ness on board supporting our commitment to our Counties Manukau rohe.
Our Trustees
John Latimer
Chairman
Fay Freeman
Michelle Tsui
Paul Reidy
George Makapatama
Kirsty Knowles
Joe Griffin