President: Richard Northey

A former MP and Auckland City Councillor, Richard Northey has been President of the University of Auckland Society since 2022. He is a University of Auckland graduate, with undergraduate degrees in science and arts, and a Master of Arts with first-class honours in political studies. Richard has also lectured in political studies and planning at the University.

Richard chairs the Auckland Community Housing Trust, the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand, and the Auckland Inner City Network Steering Group. He is an elected member of the Waitemata Local Board, and is on the Labour Party's New Zealand Council.

Richard is also a board member of the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium, and is patron of the Peace Foundation.

Vice-President: Janet Copsey

Janet was elected as Vice-President in 2022 and has also been President of the University of Auckland Society from 2016 to 2020. Janet previously served as the University of Auckland’s University Librarian and Director of Libraries and Learning Services. At the completion of her tenure, Janet was awarded the title University Librarian Emeritus by the University Council.

Janet has contributed to library initiatives both nationally and internationally. In 1996, she was awarded a Fellowship of the NZ Library and Information Association for her leadership in the introduction and management of information technology in New Zealand libraries. From 2006-2009, she was a government appointee to the NZ Library and Information Advisory Commission.  

Janet was also one of seven initial members of the OCLC Asia-Pacific Regional Council. From 2008-2010, she was also appointed a delegate to the OCLC Global Council. From 2013-2015, she chaired the Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance.

Treasurer: Karen Thompson

Karen joined the Society’s Executive Committee in 2015 upon becoming the Alumni Relations Manager for the University, having worked as the Events Manager for Alumni Relations and Development team since 2008.

Appointed as Associate Director, Communications and Alumni Relations in March 2018, Karen has also taken on the role as treasurer for the Society.

Amy Malcolm

Amy has been the President of the Society on two occasions: for four years from 2012 to 2016 and then again from 2020 until 2022. She also previously served as Vice-President from 2010 to 2012. Amy has worked in the tertiary education sector for many years in marketing, communication, recruitment, and community engagement roles. She is passionate about providing opportunities for alumni to benefit from engaging with various parts of the University.

Eva Tollemache

Eva joined the Executive Committee in 2001. An Occupational Therapist who had previously worked in both London and California, Eva worked for Ranfurly Veterans and also Enliven as the Team Leader for the Dementia Day Programme up until 2022. Eva now works part-time at AUT supervising students on clinical placements. 

A trained newsreader with broadcasting experience, Eva plays both the piano and flute, and uses music as a therapeutic medium in her occupational therapy practice. In 1994 Eva completed her BA degree, majoring in English. She also studied Italian, Art History, Acoustics and Politics. She’s also a qualified Modified Tai Chi instructor.

Rachel Yang

Rachel has been an Executive Committee member since 2011. The founder of the Auckland University Chinese Alumni Club since 2010, which today boasts thousands of Chinese graduate members. She is a University of Auckland graduate with a Bachelor in Commerce and a Master of Legal Studies. 

Rachel maintains a strong connection with the University’s young populace.is a mentor for the Business School Women Mentoring Programme from 2018 to 2022, mentor of the Workplace

Insight Programme since 2014, startup mentor for the Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Velocity Programme, and also the mentor and judge for the Young Enterprise Scheme. 

Rachel is the founder of Auckland tax specialist firm Ysquared CA, Ysquared Education and Trusted AML. Ysquared was the finalist in three separate categories of the Westpac Auckland Business  Awards in 2018 and 2019. Rachel is the winner of CA ANZ Regional Advocate 2020 for Auckland and Northland.

In her leisure time, she does Taekwondo, kickboxing, boxing, ski, badminton, and lego. 

Neil Pollock

Neil is a retired anaesthetist who spent the majority of his working career in Palmerston North. He was raised in Auckland and retired about 5 years ago. Neil's interest areas have been around a very uncommon disorder – malignant hyperthermia, triggered almost exclusively by anaesthetic drugs.

Neil has been a Society member since 2004 and has enkoyed the many events hosted by the Society over the years. He is also a committee member of the Auckland Medical History Society and other organisations such as a probus club and U3A. Neil attends a Baptist church in Mairangi Bay. In his spare time Neil enjoys cycling and also attends several dancing groups, particularly sequence dancing which is a type of ballroom dancing.