CAMA welcomes new National Representative

The Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) is delighted to announce the appointment of former Fresh FM change manager Ceara McAuliffe-Bickerton as its new National Representative.

The National Representative role is a recent addition to the sector, established in 2020 to enhance coordination, advocacy, and the sector’s visibility at both national and global levels.

With Community Access Media increasingly playing a vital role in resilience, social cohesion, and the provision of trusted local information across multiple platforms, the position was created to raise the visibility of stations serving communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream media.

Ceara brings extensive experience across government, community, and creative sectors, with a focus on innovation, participation, and community-led capability building. Her background includes leading organisational transformation and innovation initiatives, and strengthening pathways for local storytelling.

Most recently, Ceara delivered a transformation programme at Fresh FM in Te Tauihu to modernise systems, enhance capability, and uplift the community’s storytelling. She also co-founded the social enterprise Collaborate, later acquired by Volunteering New Zealand.

“I have always been driven by kaupapa that strengthens communities and creates meaningful, lasting change,” Ceara says.

“What drew me here is the incredible breadth of voices and the deep relationships stations hold with their regions. My vision for this role is to support innovation, champion collaboration across the network, and highlight the unique contributions each station makes to cultural, social, and civic life.”

CAMA Chair Phil Grey says the sector is entering a strong period of continuity and opportunity.

“Ceara’s appointment follows five years of highly effective advocacy and sector development by Sasha Borissenko, who has relocated to New York, and leaves CAMA in a much stronger position than ever before.

“The systems and visibility built in recent years have given us a strong foundation to grow from, and Ceara’s experience and energy will help us continue that momentum.”

Five years of national progress

Ceara’s appointment builds on five years of national progress, including:

• Unified national strategies: A coordinated national approach to communications, marketing, advocacy, partnerships, and sector practice, including a CAMA Style Guide, Charter, updated five-year Strategic Plan, active working groups, improved reporting, and consistent national messaging.
• CAMA Snapshot: A robust evidence base capturing around 4,000 hours of monthly local content in more than 50 languages, clearly demonstrating the scale, diversity, and impact of Community Access Media.
• Sector rebrand and bilingual website: A refreshed national identity, bilingual website, and updated collateral that modernised CAMA’s public presence and strengthened engagement with funders, partners, and communities.
• Stronger national advocacy: Coordinated submissions, research, and policy engagement across emergency management, spectrum and frequency security, broadcasting reform, charity law, and public media funding.
• Emergency management leadership: Case studies, preparedness work, and national engagement highlighting the essential role of Community Access Media in emergencies, and supporting relationships with civil defence and emergency partners.
• Modern communications systems: Shared templates, reporting tools, design systems, and policy frameworks that support consistent, high-quality communication while reducing duplication for stations.
• Capability support for stations: Training, marketing collateral, and national communications resources that help stations tell their stories, grow audiences, and better serve their communities.
• 40th anniversary celebration at Parliament: A 2021 milestone event at Parliament recognising four decades of Community Access Media and its contribution to cultural, civic, and public-interest storytelling.
• International alignment: Closer connection with global community media standards, including work reflecting UNESCO, ITU, and UNDP guidance on Community Access Media as essential civic infrastructure.

Together, these developments have strengthened national coordination and created clearer foundations for the sector’s next phase of work.

Outgoing National Representative Sasha Borissenko says it has been a privilege to contribute to a sector defined by community connection and public good.

“CAMA stations are the heartbeat of their communities. They broadcast in more than 50 languages, support underrepresented voices, and provide essential access to information, culture, and connection. It has been an honour to work alongside such dedicated teams across the motu, and I am confident the sector is in a strong position for its next chapter.”

Looking ahead, incoming National Representative Ceara McAuliffe-Bickerton will continue to strengthen national coordination, support innovation, and help elevate the profile and impact of Community Access Media across Aotearoa.

For more information about the sector, check out this year’s CAMA Snapshot here.