Christopher Le Breton
Acting General Manager
Chris Le Breton is uniquely placed to make a difference at the interface of peace in the world, having been an environmental project officer in the European Commission in Brussels in charge of projects in the former Soviet Union to foster multi-country and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Among his most important achievements was to have persuaded the Governments of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to work together under a Caspian Sea Environment Programme supported by the European Union, United Nations and World Bank. Chris took part in the climate negotiations at Kyoto in 1997 and was also a European Union environmental adviser and capacity-builder on the ground in Belgrade, Serbia. He has lived, worked, and travelled in 97 countries around the world, engaging at all levels, from Government to grassroots, from private sector to not for profit sector.
In 2010-2011 Chris cycled through Australia and Indonesia leading workshops in communities en route, inspiring them to create sustainable, just and thriving communities. Since late 2011 Chris has made his home in New Zealand, based in Dunedin. Last year he visited Ecuador twice at the invitation of indigenous tribal leaders who asked him to help them stay on their ancestral lands in the face of exploitation of the Yasuni forest from oil companies.
Chris joined the Peace Foundation to help organise and run the recent conference World Without War: Action for Peace. Chris has stepped into the role of General Manager to assist the Peace Foundation in its 40th year.
Annie originates from Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand but has also lived in London and Melbourne. She returned recently after 15 years overseas, in order to 'give something back' to her country of origin.
Alessandra Kuribara is The Peace Foundation's Web Developer. She is originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has pursued a career in Information Technology (IT) after graduating from Centro Universitario da Fundacao de Ciencias Aplicadas with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In her drive to acquire deeper knowledge and skills in this sector, she enrolled at the University of California, Irvine, in 2008 to obtain a certification in Oracle Database Administration. She has also worked as a DBA intern with EMPOWERTRAIN in California. In the course of her IT career, Alessandra has held various positions in Sao Paulo including as a Programmer with Telefonica, a Systems Analyst with ABN AMRO Bank and a Senior Systems Analyst with Consist Software. In Sao Paulo, she ran her own business, FEAST CATERING. Since arriving in Auckland in May 2015, Alessandra has completed a course at Cornell Institute of Business and Technology, graduating with a Diploma in Software Development. She joined The Peace Foundation in October 2015, initially as an IT intern. Alessandra enjoys travelling and baking in her spare time.
Alyn Ware is the International Representative of the Peace Foundation. He is also the International Co-ordinator for the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament, and Consultant for the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.
Manager and Trainer [Christina Barruel] Christina has trained thousands of student peer mediators and teachers during her 24 year association with Cool Schools both as a School Programme Coordinator and in her present position as School Programmes Manager and Trainer for The Peace Foundation. In this role she leads a team of trainers who work in schools throughout New Zealand empowering students and staff with life-long conflict management skills for both personal and professional use. Christina has also introduced the programme to schools in Fiji, Hong Kong, Iceland and, more recently, Los Angeles, USA. Christina comes from a primary teaching background. She has had over 25 years teaching experience in both primary and secondary schools. Her contribution to The Peace Foundation has been invaluable. She has worked at developing a world-class peaceful conflict resolution and peer mediation programme for schools. During 2011, Christina was recognized for her contribution to peace education in New Zealand and was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship. This enabled her to spend time with an organization in Seattle, Washington State, USA, who also provide a successful peer mediation programme for schools. “This amazing experience equipped me with lots of ideas and strategies. These have really helped to enhance our own Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme.” Christina continues to remain passionate about her work. She considers it a privilege to work in schools teaching peaceful conflict resolution and peer mediation skills ... what she loves most. Furthermore, she says, "I have the opportunity every day to remind myself... I must practise what I preach!" Christina enjoys cycling and yoga to keep in good shape. She loves listening to a variety of music, singing and dancing ... "food for the soul". Her regular social activities with family and friends always bring great joy and happiness.
Lisa is a qualified teacher, devoted mother of two teenagers, coordinator and trainer of the Peaceful Family Communication Programme. Her background involves a teaching and training career both in NZ and Europe; she has taught in Switzerland, France and UK for six years, primarily with children and young adults. She has worked for other social enterprise organisations such as Great Potentials Foundation in leadership/training roles as well as educating parents and caregivers in brain development during the early years. Her interest in self-development has led her into gaining qualifications as a Master Practitioner in NLP, Multiple brain integration coach and as a Transforming Communication trainer. She is passionate about education and her mission in life is to help people become more authentic in communication with themselves and each other. She feels inspired and honoured to work with like-minded people at the Peace Foundation in their collective desire to create a more peaceful world.
Lucy Stewart is the Youth Programmes Coordinator delivering a range of Peace Education and Disarmament Programs to youth groups around Auckland. Her programs involve Responding to Armed Conflict (REACT), Schools' Peace Week, Youth Week, and the busy internship programme. Lucy has a Masters of Professional Studies in International Relations and Human Rights from the University of Auckland. Lucy completed her undergraduate degree in International Relations at Victoria University in Wellington. Aside from her academic qualifications, Lucy brings a range of life experience having travelled extensively throughout Asia, North and South America, the Middle East and the Caucasus region. She also spent three years working in a primary school in the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq as a course facilitator for adult training classes and a teacher at both the adult and primary level. Lucy gained invaluable experience in peace education and conflict resolution working in a community where conflict, even if not directly present, constantly affected the community. She is currently learning the Arabic and Kurdish languages. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience of living in the Middle East and getting to be a part of the vibrant and fascinating way of life there. In her spare time Lucy loves spending time with her gorgeous young son Haval, reading, festival films, cooking, yoga, cycling, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Cherie believes that love is a universal language and aims to strengthen her fluency by seeking opportunities to serve others each day.
