About Clare

I grew up in Dunedin, went to school, started my first jobs and went to university there. I have strong family ties to the Dunedin South electorate.

I came back to Dunedin at the end of 2002 after 14 years away. I have twin boys. It was family that drew me back to Dunedin and a deep sense of belonging.

I am currently the Labour Party spokesperson for Broadcasting, Communications and Information Technology.

Current parliamentary roles

• Member, Commerce Committee
• Spokesperson, Communications and Information Technology
• Chair of the Cross-Party Parliamentary Committee on the Republic
• Chair of the ICT Committee of the Parliamentary Service

Personal details

• Mother of two

Education/qualifications

• BA (Anthropology and History), University of Otago
• Honours, Anthropology, Victoria University of Wellington

Career

• Journalist 1985-1988
• Social Change Media 1989-1994 (Sydney)
• Communications and media officer for the Australian Council of Trade Unions 1994-1999
• Essential Media Communications 2001-2002 (Sydney)
• Founder, Inzight Communications 2003-2008 (based in Dunedin)

Awards

• Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) Award (Not for Profit/Limited Budget) Fair Share - Five in 05 Campaign 2006

Community activities

• Founder, Dunedin Communications Network, a meeting place for Dunedin communication professionals.
• Member, Portobello Community Association
• Board member Greenpeace NZ 2006-2007

Party activities

• Member, New Zealand Labour Party 2006-
• Former Member, Australian Labor Party
• Otago-Southland representative (regional respresentative), NZ Council of the New Zealand Labour Party