Welcome Georgie Craw, our new Communications Lead
At the end of 2024 we welcomed Georgie Craw to the WEAll whānau as our Communications Lead.
We’re excited to have Georgie join our team. We asked her some questions to introduce herself and her mahi. Have a read!
Kia ora Georgie, you’re a historian, you’ve worked in the non-profit space and now you’re here. How did you come to the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa?
Although it’s not the most straightforward career path, I think it makes sense. I’ve worked as a historian at the Waitangi Tribunal, for hapū and for the Crown, and I’ve been involved at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in a number of different roles. In all of these I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how colonial capitalism continues to harm our society and environment.
My time at CPAG was such an education about the importance of true systemic change: no child should have to rely on charity for the things they need to thrive. A warm and secure home and enough healthy kai should just be a matter of course. I see the mahi that WEAll Aotearoa does as capturing all of this - and more - with a true ‘upstream’ approach. If we move to a Wellbeing Economy that truly honours te Tiriti, then we will be on the right path.
Who gives you inspiration?
Heaps of people. “Big” people like Naomi Klein and Moana Jackson. But also lots of people in the community: people planting their berms, running community gardens, and food rescue organisations.
And then, closer to home, I’m endlessly inspired by my 4 year old. In my experience, kids have the most incredible ability to learn and grow and thrive - if they’re given the right environment.
They also ask lots of questions. WEAll’s global co-founder Dr Katherine Trebeck who spoke at the Economy for Public Good conference last year says we all should channel our inner child - and ask ‘why’ all the time. Why are things the way they are? Why is the system designed this way?
But being a parent in our current system is hard. I’ve spent a lot of time since he was born thinking about how to create the best environment for him to grow up in (and for us to be parents in), but there are so many systemic barriers making it so difficult for so many in our community. We simply aren’t meant to be this isolated and disconnected from each other.
Image: Georgie and her son at the Hamilton Botanic Gardens
How do you explain a Wellbeing Economy?
A Wellbeing Economy is the future! It’s an economy that truly values the valuable things (like freshwater and trees) and delivers a good life for everyone.
What are you reading at the moment?
I usually have a few books on the go. I’ve just finished Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe, and The Economic Possibilities of Decolonisation by Matthew Scobie and Anna Sturman. I would recommend both.
And then I’m keeping it a bit lighter with a plot-driven, high fantasy novel The Will of the Many by James Islington.
Side-note: I love history because I feel it’s an extended exercise in empathy, but I’ve recently got more into fantasy and sci-fi and I’m so happy about it. There’s something immensely powerful about immersing yourself in a completely different reality. It makes dreaming and bringing about change in our own world feel more possible. It’s also fun.
How do you like to relax?
Pottering around in the garden, watercolours, pickling cucumbers. You know, grandma things 🙂🌱
