Committee Profiles 2024

Courtney Sole

Courtney is the President of the AGS and was previously the Secretary from the end of 2016-2021. One day, she was waiting to see a film at the German Film Festival and some former committee members started pointing at her from across the room. Curious to why she was being pointed at, Courtney approached them and was immediately recruited as the Secretary and the rest is history.

EVE WALTER

Eve is the Co-Vice President of the AGS and has been part of the committee since the end of 2020. She joined to become more involved with the German-speaking community in Auckland and to help organise cultural events. In 2018, Eve went on an exchange in Germany and stood in three countries at the same time (Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium) in the area of Germany known as the Dreiländereck!

Zoë Kiefte

Zoë is the Co-Vice President of the AGS and has been on the committee since the end of 2018. She studied Commerce, Psychology and German at the University of Auckland and now works at iHeartRadio. Zoë loves the German culture!

VaneSsa Chong

Vanessa is the Secretary of the AGS and was previously the Website Officer from the end of 2018-2021. She started learning German in high school and continued studying the language alongside her Engineering degree at the University of Auckland. Vanessa has an impressively decorated wall of postcards from Germany (and other countries) in her bedroom.

Diana feick

Diana has been part of the AGS committee since 2018 after having arrived in New Zealand in 2017. She is also a Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Auckland and currently enjoys rediscovering her "Ossi" heritage.

ASTRID SANDBERG

Astrid has been part of the AGS committee since 2018 and has previously held the role of President. She is passionate about the German language and culture and joined the AGS to participate in the variety of fun and fascinating German related events it offers, while meeting and spending time with people from all walks of life, who also share the same common interest in all things German! Astrid spent a year living in lower Bavaria and mastering the word "Oachkatzelswoaf", which locals use to test your skills in their dialect!

SOFIA MANAI

Sofia joined the AGS committee at the end of 2021 to connect more with the German community in Auckland. She is currently in her last year of her Bachelor of Laws and Arts majoring in German and linguistics. Sofia loves German efficiency of transport, especially after being stuck in a FlixBus for 12 hours from Leipzig to Munich in a snowstorm and spent 24 hours in Munich airport due to a cancelled flight.

Ryan Bougen

Ryan is the Treasurer of the AGS and joined the committee in December 2022. Ryan started learning German in school and presently at the Goethe-Institut. By joining the committee, Ryan hopes to participate in organising cultural events and connect others with a common interest in Germany and Europe. In May 2023, Ryan relocated to Wellington for his role at WSP, and is interested in creating a national network of like-minded people.

MAREIKE SCHMIDT

Mareike joined the AGS committee in December 2021. She is fascinated that people who live so far away from Germany are interested in German language and culture. Connecting these people is what drives her.

When she is not teaching German at the University of Auckland and promoting studying in Germany for the German Academic Exchange Service, she spends her time outside hiking long distances (for example, the length of New Zealand's South Island on the Te Araroa).

Nicole perry

Nicole has been part of the AGS committee since 2017 and joined because she wanted to share her love of German culture with other passionate people! She started learning German at 17 and is now a Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Auckland. Nicole also likes cats.

Stephan Resch

Stephan has been part of the AGS committee since 2004 (yes, that is a long time ago) and has previously held the roles of President and Vice President. Stephan is also a Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Auckland and a (not so) secret tango dancer.