mary-lynn creates
based in auckland, nz · relocating to the uk, april 2026 · open to uk roles now

let's create an engagement
plan together.

i work with and in organisations, communities, and teams who want to design engagement that goes beyond ticking a box. i care about building genuine participation, connection, and lasting change.

my approach is by community, for community: co-designed, values-based, and grounded in the knowledge that the people most affected by a system are often the most expert in it.

mary-lynn with community
7+years engagement experience
40+workshops delivered
100k+programme budgets managed
10+organisations collaborated with internationally
Y25 retreat craft session values writing exercise

services

what i can help with

engagement design

designing engagement plans and participation strategy that meet people where they are. accessible, intentional, and grounded in the lived experience of your key audience. from strategy through to delivery.

participation frameworksco-design processescommunity consultationyouth engagement

facilitation & workshops

creative, community-centred facilitation that builds trust and creates conditions for genuine dialogue. from single sessions to multi-day retreats to co-design projects.

workshop designwananga facilitationleadership programmesteam sessions

events & programme design

end-to-end design and delivery of events that centre participant and community experiences. from intimate gatherings to large-scale flagship events for 150+ people.

event designprogramme logisticsaccessibility planningcommunity dinnersretreatsmusic gigs

digital & community management

building digital engagement strategies that extend participation beyond physical spaces. growing community, creating accessible content, and driving organic reach. i hand platforms directly to community members to speak in their own voice, because the best digital engagement is by community, for community.

social media strategycommunity takeoversemail newsletterscontent creation

policy analysis & systems navigation

i bridge the gap between complex government systems and the communities they affect, analysing legislative and policy proposals and translating them into accessible formats. i support communities to understand and influence the systems that shape their lives. i've contributed to select committee submissions, the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in care, and the national care strategy, always centring the voices of those with lived experience.

policy analysisselect committee submissionssystems navigationrights-based practicelegislative translationyouth engagement

strategy & advisory

supporting organisations to develop or refresh their engagement and participation approaches, drawing on best practice, lived experience frameworks, and sector, community and stakeholder knowledge.

participation strategyprogramme reviewadvisorystakeholder mapping
Y25 retreat craft session

my approach

how i work

01

understand

every engagement context is different. i start by deeply understanding your audience, goals, barriers, and what genuine participation looks like for your work. i am always asking who is in the room, and who is missing.

02

co-design

working with you and your community to shape the approach. not designing for people, but with them. this produces better outcomes, deeper engagement and builds trust overtime.

03

deliver

bringing the plan to life with care, energy, and flexibility. holding space for people takes skill, presence and the ability to read the room and adapt in real time.

04

sustain

good engagement doesn't end when the event does. i help you think through how to maintain relationships and momentum beyond any single event and project.

hikoi to parliament wide shot Y25 retreat group selfie

who i work with

you might be a good fit if...

you're a community organisation, charity, or ngo wanting to strengthen how you engage the people you serve
you're a government agency or local authority looking to run meaningful consultation, not just box-ticking
you're designing a programme or event and want it to genuinely centre participant experience
you work with young people, marginalised communities, or people with lived experience, and you want to do it well
you need someone who can hold complexity, navigating cultural, political, and relational dimensions of engagement
you need someone who has managed programmes end-to-end, including budgets, direct reports, and stakeholder relationships
you're working in or adjacent to government systems and need someone who understands how to navigate them without losing community trust

a note on values

i do my best work with organisations that genuinely believe in the power of community voice, not just as a compliance exercise, but as a core part of how they operate.

i bring an intersectional lens, a commitment to te tiriti principles, and a care-experienced perspective to everything i do. the best partnerships are ones where these values are shared.

what sets me apart

lived experience meets strategic practice

i've worked at every level

from one-to-one relationship building with young people to national campaigns, parliamentary submissions, and international delegations and building teams. i understand how engagement connects from the ground up to systemic change.

i centre relationships

maintaining relationships with 30+ young people post-events isn't a metric, it's a commitment to treating participation as an ongoing relationship, not a transaction. people trust me because i show up consistently.

i understand systems from the inside

i've worked at the intersection of government, ngos, funders, and community for seven years, navigating select committees, national policy frameworks, and getting law change over the line. i understand where the leverage points are and how to position community voices so they land where it matters.

i bring international perspective

having engaged with community organisations across new zealand, uk, ireland, scotland, usa, and australia, i understand how different systems approach youth voice and community engagement as well as what translates across contexts.

facilitation workshop values writing exercise

sound like what
you need?

i'm open to full-time roles, freelance contracts, and collaborations. relocating to the uk april 2026.

get in touch →