About us

My love of DIY started very early when watching my father build homes in England. I was mixing concrete and laying bricks by the time I was 10! I gained more DIY skills through renovating my first home, a 100 year old English terraced house, and have continued the DIY theme in my current NZ home, saving thousands on tradie bills along the way.

​I’ve broadened my practical skills and technical abilities working in science but I’ve also been an IT trainer, a teacher, a lecturer and even a recruit trainer in the military.

Whilst taking time out to raise my family, I joined Auckland Central Community Shed. I became their Coordinator and, after seeing how few women had woodworking skills compared to men, I founded WomenzShed. To gain further skills and experience, I studied carpentry where I spent a year building a house, and then time in the construction industry as a remedials manager.

​Sharing what I know has always been important to me. So with a passion to help other women experience the satisfaction of building, fixing and creating things, we’ve created NZ’s first space where women together can learn to do this.

As a Financial Accountant, I find immense joy in analyzing data to uncover valuable insights. Making informed decisions at every level is crucial, and I am passionate about contributing to the process.  My German upbringing instilled a deep sense of integrity and honesty, qualities that people often appreciate in both my professional and personal relationships.

Sustainability initiatives also hold a special place in my heart. I believe that every step towards protecting the environment matters. As a Financial Accountant, I strive to integrate eco-conscious practices into financial strategies, fostering a greener future for generations to come.

Tēnā tātou katoa, ko wai au? Ki te taha o tōku pāpā no Pangaru, Hauraki, me Sweden. Ki te taha o tōku māmā no Te Waipounamu, Te Tauihu, Poneke, Wairarapa, Horowhenua, Manawatū, Taranaki, Waikato, me Scotland and Spain. Ko Challen Wilson tōku ingoa. 

While I was interested in woodwork as a child, making a toy box when I was 11 years, my journey into carpentry began when I purchased my first home. Like many people, I quickly realised there were countless jobs that needed doing, yet I had absolutely no building skills whatsoever. So, when I came across WomenzShed and discovered they offered hands-on classes, I was immediately intrigued.

Walking through the doors for the first time was a little daunting. I hadn’t used power tools before and felt more than a little apprehensive. I am though an avid cook, so I thought maybe wielding knives, pans, and bbq tongs might be similar. Once I picked up the tools, they felt surprisingly familiar. “Phewph!” A huge part of that experience was thanks to Sophie, one of the instructors, whose encouragement and belief in what women can achieve was incredibly empowering. Her supportive approach helped spark a genuine passion for making things, and I instantly fell in love with the craft.

Outside the workshop, I bring a diverse background spanning business, leadership, governance, government, indigenous knowledge and practice, community development, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and the creative industries. While I have little to no professional experience in the building or construction sector, I am a passionate advocate for creating opportunities that empower women to learn, grow, and achieve whatever they set their minds to. I firmly believe that confidence is built through participation, and that practical skills can be transformative for individuals, families, and communities.

I am deeply humbled to have been invited to join the WomenzShed Trust as Chairperson and honoured to serve alongside such a dedicated group. I am excited to help steer the waka through the next stage of its journey, building on the strong foundations already laid and supporting WomenzShed to continue creating spaces where women can connect, learn, create, and thrive.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.

My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

This whakataukī reflects my approach to leadership: recognising that meaningful progress is achieved together, through the contributions, skills, and aspirations of many.

As an experienced Project Manager and Creative Technology Leader, I specialise in orchestrating complex projects at the intersection of art, technology, and innovation.

I’m passionate about delivering cutting-edge creative solutions and thrive in fast-paced environments where technology meets artistry to push boundaries and drive meaningful innovation.

My interest in building started early, tagging along to job sites with my dad while he measured up for windows. I’ve always had a creative mind, and after Covid I found my way back to making when I got my neighbourhood involved in a Christmas letterbox decorating competition. It ran for four years, and it gave me a real taste for building things, even if they were small!

By day I’m a learning adviser at an engineering firm, where I lead the early careers programmes. I bring a background in small catering business management, graphic design, mental health support, learning design and governance.

Now I often find myself at WomenzShed, and I’m excited to help more women discover the joy of building and fixing things themselves.

Having previously gained a bachelor’s degree in English and history and trained as a teacher, I changed my mind after attending a woodworking course.  I’ve worked in carpentry since 2020, and completed my level 4 qualification in 2025.  I’m currently travelling the world but remain supportive of WomenzShed’s mission in an advisory capacity.

I’m a spatial designer by training and have worked in architecture & design for some years before realizing I missed using my hands and knowing how things were made. I’d always loved being in the workshop at uni and also loved experiencing design and making under the same roof when I worked for a furniture designer.

During the first lockdown, I designed a tiny house for my partner and, realizing I would need more building skills, started working for a tiny house cabinet maker. That year I also started having woodworking dates with two other women makers where we would borrow each other’s tools, ideas, support and empower each other to create and make. The three of us now happily work as makers so I’m definitely grateful for what bringing women together around making can do!

I am a qualified builder with experience in residential renovations and a passion for tiny houses.

My role with WomenzShed helps to support women to be confident with power tools, to do jobs around their homes, make things from wood, or enter the building industry, if the desire is there.

When I’m not building furniture, I’m practicing straw marquetry.  My passion for making is rooted in the traditions of my homeland France. Inspired from a young age by the ornate wooden features and fixtures of French churches, my respect for the skills of the old masters and interest in working with hand tools is a constant in my work.

A dedicated artist and student of art history, I look to blend the fluid natural forms of Art Nouveau and geometric detailing of Art Deco with the clean lines of Scandinavian furniture, and believe in the timelessness of simple, functional design.

I am a qualified builder with over seven years experience across both residential and commercial sectors mostly in the beautiful Horowhenua District on the west coast of the North Island, New Zealand.

I love the trades but also love to empower other women to pick up tools, so I’m excited to be part of the WomenzShed Community.