Meet Our Climate Network Participation Fundholders
CCAN is all about amplifying the voices of our climate action community across Tāmaki Makaurau and, where possible, support our members to keep up the good work and keep increasing their capacity and impact.
To this end, in October 2024, we announced our Climate Network Participation Fund. This opportunity is aimed at enabling individuals and groups to actively participate within and alongside CCAN over a period of six months—an opportunity to have an impact, become connected within the network, and gain climate leadership experience. We received strong applications and our proud to introduce our three fundholders for the next six months.
Tamsin Norman
“I'm passionate about sustainability and community building, and believe that the solutions to many of our society's problems (whether in relation to individual wellbeing, community or the environment) are interconnected. To this end, I helped to found a Community Hub network where I live in Te Henga.“
The Hub is geared towards helping people come together around big picture issues such as sustainability, in an inclusive and accessible way. Through the Hub, Tamsin demonstrates that while climate change can be daunting when we face it individually, when we come together to work on the challenges, it can be inspiring, uplifting and fun! From lift sharing schemes to nature based celebrations, with this Hub, the community aim to create “something for everyone!”
Afshan Rajabpour
“As a financial accountant, my journey into climate action began during my MBA with a Sustainability Specialization. This shifted my mindset from awareness to action and I saw the power of KPIs in tackling environmental preservation.” Post-MBA, Afshan specialized in carbon accounting and climate change, gaining expertise in emissions, climate policies, and financial strategies for sustainability. Next, seeking hands-on experience, Afshan started volunteering in Auckland.
“Joining CCAN has been a natural progression in my commitment to climate action and I’m honoured to have received funding to support my efforts with this passionate team. This opportunity allows me to apply my skills to real-world sustainability projects, helping organizations improve accountability and drive meaningful change.” Afshan believes that “Sustainability is not a cost, it’s a profitable investment in our future. Together, we can create a better environment.”
Ema Barton and Edwin Judd
Holding Space Aotearoa Charitable Trust is an Arts Organisation with a mission to ‘hold space’ for our artistic community and worthy causes in Tāmaki Makaurau. They focus on community events, open mics, workshops, music and education; creating opportunities and creative content to uplift our people and whenua.
“Songwriters 4 Climate Action (SW4CA) is one of our leading music projects. Our aim is to spread awareness, education and encouragement around climate and environmental issues through art and connection. We create opportunities for local musicians to record original songs to a professional level with our support. We have recorded 2 compilation albums so far with SW4CA Vol.3 Rangatahi in development right now with a plan to release this project in the next few months. Our team leader Ema is also working on a Climate Action Music / Video Project called Move Mountains.”
The team also hosts many workshops, talks and performances, and participate in environmental and indigenous activism and festivals, with part of their kaupapa to uplift Te Ao Māori principles and Rangatahi.
Ema Barton (EMA I'U, Lucky May, Coco-Rocky) and Edwin Judd (Edwin Judd Music, The RVMES) are both full-time musicians who founded Holding Space and lead most projects with support from a network of other musicians, tutors and guest facilitators including fellow musicians Jono Annandale, Windon Bradfield, Jean Yern (Te Ao Māori Specialist) and Dr Grant Hewison (Environmental Lawyer). “We have a growing collective of artists who have been part of our SW4CA projects and events. We have developed relationships with community venues including Gribblehirst Community Hub, MoveSpace, Ellen Melville Centre, Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood, The Flagship and Roundhead Studios and programmed events and entertainment as part of the Auckland Climate Festival, Eco-Festival and Matariki. We look forward to seeing how we can collaborate with the Community Climate Action Network this year and bring a creative edge to this movement.”
