Welcome to the Trust Waikato whaanau, Poppy Barran!

Joining Trust Waikato in October 2026, Poppy will be supporting the implementation of the Trust’s Strategy 2027-2036. Focusing on working collaboratively across the organisation to embed our Ngaa Pou Rautaki and ensure our strategy guides planning, decision-making and continuous improvement.

What excites Poppy most about this role is the opportunity to contribute to positive outcomes for our region. She is passionate about turning strategy into meaningful action and helping create lasting impact for the communities we serve. Before joining Trust Waikato, she worked in local government, leading climate and sustainability strategy, reporting and education initiatives for Hamilton City Council and the wider community.

Originally from south-east London, Poppy first came to Hamilton while completing a research placement at the University of Waikato as part of her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Bath. After returning in 2019, we are fortunate Poppy has made Hamilton her home and has enjoyed being part of the Waikato community ever since.