Vanisa Dhiru

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit; Justice of the Peace; Commissioner, New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
New Zealand-born Indian Vanisa Dhiru is an equality champion with a strong sense of social responsibility. She holds commissioner roles with the New Zealand National Commission of UNESCO and the Library and Information Advisory Commission, alongside other advisory and panel roles for NGOs and government departments. During her career, Dhiru has held various leadership roles including CEO of Volunteering New Zealand, Executive Director of 20/20 Trust, and President of the National Council of Women NZ. Based in Wellington, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021, for services to the community and gender rights.