Waikato District Councillor
Crystal Beavis
Local body experience
I am Chair of the Waikato District Council's Policy and Regulatory Committee and serve on all other major Council committees in the interests of the whole District. I regularly attend all local community committees and key hall committees in the Ward - including Tamahere, Matangi, Tauwhare, Newstead, Eureka, Puketaha and Gordonton - to ensure I understand the local issues and can serve my community well.
Before being elected as a Councillor in October 2022, I had - in the past - worked for both the Waikato District Council and the Hamilton City Council as a communications and engagement professional. This has given me good insight and understanding of Council business and processes from the 'inside' which has, in turn, enabled me to help guide constituents seeking assistance from the Council with their own issues.
Governance and advocacy
I have nine years’ experience in District Health Board governance, and more than 10 years in health advocacy. I served on the Waikato DHB for six years, chairing its Disability Support Committee, and previously served on the Auckland District Health Board during the construction of Auckland City Hospital. I am a former President, now a Life Member, of national patient organisation Diabetes Youth NZ. I have sat on Government and DHB advisory groups on diabetes and have prepared and led submissions on Government health legislation.
Community work
I have committed hundreds of hours of volunteer time to community programmes, developing and running youth camping programmes for Diabetes Youth NZ, running school sports programmes, and serving my St Stephens Tamahere (Anglican) church community in a variety of ways. I was a member of the Matangi Community Committee for three years before being elected to the Council.
Career history
I am an award-winning communications specialist with a 30+ year career in marketing and communications, and business journalism, in New Zealand and the UK. As a director of Bridger Beavis & Associates Ltd I have consulted for organisations operating across a range of technical and industrial sectors including educational and research organisations, health, utilities and financial services. I moved into marketing and public relations consulting after working as a business journalist for the NZ Herald and National Business Review.
My Qualifications
PGDip Mgmt (Distinction), University of Waikato 2016
MA (Hons), University of Auckland 1985
APR, Public Relations Institute of NZ, 1994
Accredited RMA Commissioner, 2023.