SLIANZ Board
Dan Hanks- President
Term: 1/ 2
Based in: Auckland
Wil Shen – Treasurer
Term: 1/ 2
Based in: Auckland
My name is Wil and I was born and grew up in Auckland. I was encouraged to explore interpreting by my NZSL teacher when I was taking night classes. At the moment, I do most of my interpreting in tertiary education – I really enjoy the linguistic challenges I encounter in this setting and just generally learning the variety of subjects available at university. Outside of tertiary education interpreting, I also prefer interpreting in healthcare settings. Outside of interpreting, I’m kept busy working part-time as a community pharmacist on the North Shore and part-time as a hospital pharmacist at Auckland City Hospital. I’m looking forward to working with a great team of interpreters on the SLIANZ board and broadening my governance experience.
Tasha Henneker – Secretary
Term: 2/2
Based in: Auckland
Nō Nuhaka ahau, ko Tasha tōku ingoa.
I grew up in the village of Nuhaka on the East Coast, between Hawkes Bay and Gisborne.
While I was studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Development, I took my first NZSL paper and became interested in interpreting. After finishing my first Degree, I went straight into Bachelor of Arts NZSL-English Interpreting. I graduated in December 2023, and have been solely interpreting ever since. Working as an interpreter has been amazing, with my favourite parts being the support from the community and the variety of settings we get to experience.
Outside of interpreting, my main hobbies are motorcycles and ancestry research.
Kerry Locker-Lampson – Board Member
Term: 2/2
Based in: Moutere Valley, Tasman District
I was born and raised in Wellington and started my journey into the Deaf world and interpreting through Deaf Studies at Victoria University in 2002. I moved up to Auckland in 2005 to do the interpreting diploma at AUT and graduated in 2007. I spent a short time in Auckland working in tertiary education before relocating to Central Hawkes Bay where I spent the next 15 years interpreting in the Hawkes Bay and Manawatu communities.
In 2023 my family spent 2 years living off grid in the Abel Tasman which was an incredible experience. Just recently we have made the permanent move to the Moutere Valley between Nelson and Motueka and are enjoying settling into the community (and being able to go to the supermarket easily!). I primarily work online but am doing more community work now we are back in civilisation.
When I’m not working I spend a lot of time in the bush with my son looking for insects and fungi or on the beach fishing with my family.
This is the second year of my term and I have served on the board/committee a couple of times in the past.
Sarah Billing – Board Member
Term: 1/2
Based in: Palmerston North
