Committee Profiles 2026

ASTRID SANDBERG

Astrid is the President of the AGS and has been on the committee since 2018. 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!

JOSH WANG

Josh is the Treasurer of the AGS and has been on the committee since 2025. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Honours in Environmental Science/Global Studies conjoint at the University of Auckland. He is heavily involved with the German Drama Company, 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.

EMAD KHELLA

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 is the Vice President of the AGS and has been on the committee since 2004 (yes, that is a long time ago). 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.

VaneSsa Chong

Vanessa is the Secretary of the AGS and has been on the committee since 2018. She started learning German in high school and continued studying the language alongside her Engineering degree at the University of Auckland. Vanessa has an impressive collection of postcards from Germany.

ANDREA MUELLNER

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

Jared has been with the AGS since November 2024. He is interested in learning the German language as a hobby.

Aleisha has been with the AGS since 2025.