Committee Profiles 2025

VaneSsa Chong

Vanessa is the Secretary of the AGS and was previously the Website Officer from the end of 2018-2021. She started learning German in high school and continued studying the language alongside her Engineering degree at the University of Auckland. Vanessa has an impressively decorated wall of postcards from Germany (and other countries) in her bedroom.

ASTRID SANDBERG

Astrid has been part of the AGS committee since 2018 and has previously held the role of President. She is passionate about the German language and culture and joined the AGS to participate in the variety of fun and fascinating German related events it offers, while meeting and spending time with people from all walks of life, who also share the same common interest in all things German! Astrid spent a year living in lower Bavaria and mastering the word "Oachkatzelswoaf", which locals use to test your skills in their dialect!

Emad joined the Auckland Goethe Society in 2024 and loves the German People and the German Language. Emad joined the AGS committee in May 2025. Emad is 68 years old and is working as a Learning Assistant at a Primary School in Auckland. In Emad’s spare time he likes reading about nutrition (which he has studied at the University of Auckland) and the Christian religion. 

Stephan Resch

Stephan has been part of the AGS committee since 2004 (yes, that is a long time ago) and has previously held the roles of President and Vice President. Stephan is also a Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Auckland and a (not so) secret tango dancer.

Nicole perry

Nicole has been part of the AGS committee since 2017 and joined because she wanted to share her love of German culture with other passionate people! She started learning German at 17 and is now a Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Auckland. Nicole also likes cats.

Josh is a student studying an Honours in Environmental Science/Global Studies conjoint at the University of Auckland. He is heavily involved with the German Drama Company, being the co-director for this year’s play, and has been learning German throughout his school years. He’s excited to be part of the Auckland Goethe Society, and help strengthen the community of German learners and speakers in Auckland.

Ryan Bougen

Ryan is the Treasurer of the AGS and joined the committee in December 2022. Ryan started learning German in school and presently at the Goethe-Institut. By joining the committee, Ryan hopes to participate in organising cultural events and connect others with a common interest in Germany and Europe. In May 2023, Ryan relocated to Wellington for his role at WSP, and is interested in creating a national network of like-minded people.

MAREIKE SCHMIDT

Mareike joined the AGS committee in December 2021. She is fascinated that people who live so far away from Germany are interested in German language and culture. Connecting these people is what drives her.

When she is not teaching German at the University of Auckland and promoting studying in Germany for the German Academic Exchange Service, she spends her time outside hiking long distances (for example, the length of New Zealand's South Island on the Te Araroa).

Originally from Austria, Andrea works as an architect in Auckland. She joined the Goethe Society to stay connected to the German language and culture while living far from home. Passionate about building cultural ties and supporting the local German-speaking community, she has been a committee member since May 2025. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, pottery, and all things cultural — and she’s still on a mission to find a decent Semmel in New Zealand.

Other Committee Members

Simone has been part of the AGS committee since 2025 after attending AGS events for several years. Originally from the Ruhrpott area in Germany, she is interested in fostering cultural exchange between New Zealand and Germany and to meet like-minded people

Jared has been with AGS since November 2024. He is interested in learning the German language as a hobby and also because it would be useful for his next holiday to Europe!