Sarah Lucas - People Place Future Consulting

Sarah Lucas, local elections mayoral candidate for New Plymouth, giving an address at SuperLocal 2025

I’m Sarah Lucas, community leader, small business owner, and local government advocate with a passion for connecting people, place, and purpose. Experienced in governance and grassroots initiatives. Clear thinking, collaboration, and future-focused decision making can reshape communities.Sarah Lucas People • Place • Future, helps boards and organisations strengthen relationships, improve transparency, and design strategies that genuinely reflect the communities they serve.

Head and shoulders shot of Sarah Lucas, local elections candidate for New Plymouth mayor and Inglewood ward, NPDC

People • Place • Future Consulting

Research and strategy with a focus on conservation, climate and placemaking.I can help organisations and communities build better partnerships, improve decision-making, and plan with integrity.Services include:Relationship frameworks and strategies to develop iniatives.An approach that blends on-the-ground experience, and understanding of legislation, national and local policy and political awareness - to deliver practical, collaborative solutions that respect the realities of budgets, communities, and climate.

A proven track record

I know what effective, grassroots leadership looks like.I have on the ground experience of community governance from serving on school boards, community boards and currently as a trustee of a large environment organisation.Elected to represent our communities at Local Government NZ, I have served as Chair of the Community Board Executive (CBEC), advocating nationally for the value of local decision-making.I’ve worked on remuneration within local government, planned and presented at the Community Boards Conference 2024, as well as spoken nationally, straight after Prime Minister Luxon's 'Back to Basics' Speech. I also served on LGNZ’s Future of Local Government Advisory Group.In 2025, I spearheaded a national project - launched at SuperLocal - that showcases how councils and community boards can build stronger partnerships. This work is shifting policy settings and lifting the status of boards across Aotearoa.I build partnerships effectively and have a grounding in Te Ao Maori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Sarah Lucas, New Plymouth local government mayor and Inglewood ward candidate, presenting at LGNZ conference

Sarah Lucas, New Plymouth council mayor and Kohanga Moa ward candidate, standing in front of a nikau palm

About Sarah

I bring together a background that’s both deeply local and globally informed. From growing up on a UK council estate, to working in post-war Kosovo and Kathmandu with a toddler, to raising three neurodiverse sons in Taranaki - I’ve learned that resilience, empathy, and justice matter in every setting.As a small business owner (Be Natural Soap), surf lifeguard and patrol captain, and Deputy Chair of the Eastern Taranaki Environment Collective, I understand the everyday realities of running a household, paying a mortgage, and contributing to the community.I am a strong advocate for localism, the belief that communities thrive when decisions are made as close as possible to the people they affect.

I am currently working as Strategic Facilitator for Taranaki Catchment Communities - developing and establishing a vision co-designed with mana whenua, with practical action for environmental and community stewardship.

Waiongana Catchment Project

If your organisation is ready to strengthen community relationships and plan for the future, let’s start a conversation.Contact me:[email protected]021 179 1242