Biography

Marg began working in the field of community road safety for Nelson City and Tasman District Council in 1993. A University degree in psychology and education, was initially put to use working in Alcohol Health Promotion and then as a paramedic in Auckland.

She says as someone who was almost daily exposed to the trauma occurring on roads the seed was sown and a passion ignited to become part of a more preventative approach. A young family and a move back to her home town at the same time a Community Alcohol Action Project (CMP) coordinator position was advertised at Nelson City Council was a match made in heaven and she has been there ever since. This initial position soon grew into broader areas of road safety and, as the then Land Transport Safety Authority funding pot grew, so did the work.

Marg has been involved in many, many community road safety projects over the years working alongside community groups caring for safety from the cradle to the grave. Her experience has been called upon many times over the years when she has participated in inter-agency national focus groups to develop new resources such as Practice, Drivetime and the "Getting there on foot and by cycle" national strategy.

LEADERSHIP

Marg has promoted road safety tirelessly for 19 years. She has witnessed the changing faces of the industry, continued to work wholeheartedly with colleagues despite numerous restructuring within national and local government bodies, acknowledging and working within the bounds of a changing framework on how road safety is pitched in the public arena.

ACHIEVEMENT

Recognition for some of the innovative approaches Marg has led is seen in the CAN cycle friendly awards to public organisations which has been collected by Nelson City Council on three occasions. There are many others.