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Marie Hucker 
FNZSES, AAPNZ Life Member
Marie is a Foundation Member of AAPNZ (originally SCES) and attended the first Auckland Group Meeting in March 1974. She became a Fellow of NZSES in May 1991 and was honoured with a Life Membership in June 1997. In August 2011 she was also privileged to be presented with her 35-year membership bar at a celebratory function organised by Auckland Group.
Since 1976 Marie has fulfilled a range of roles for the Association, including Auckland Group Secretary, Auckland Group President, NEC member and Group Co-ordinator, Hon Treasurer and National President, during which time she oversaw the planning, organisation and holding of The 1st New Zealand Secretaries Conference which was held in Christchurch in April 1989. Fortunately her earlier attendance at The First Australian Secretaries Conference in Melbourne in 1983 and the contacts made proved to be of immense help. The following year she was a member of the Alfred Marks Secretary of the Year Award Criteria and Selection Committee. Later she was appointed the National President’s representative on the 2nd New Zealand Secretaries Conference Committee, which conference was held in Wellington in September 1991 and then became Conference Treasurer and Co-Convener of the 3rd New Zealand Secretaries Conference held in Auckland in September 1994.
Marie’s experience gained while working on committees with members from throughout New Zealand stood her in good stead when asked to take on the role of Co-Convener for the 8th International Office Professionals Summit which was held in Auckland in July 2011. She was privileged to share this task with the late Val Sturgess, another Life Member.
While National President and for some time after, she also undertook various roles for Youth Skills New Zealand, including serving a term on its National Executive. For this work she has received Gold and Platinum Awards for long service.
Marie has been a Director of AAPNZ Professional Development Limited and previously served a term as a Director and Company Secretary of NZSES Training Limited, the forerunner of AAPNZ PD Limited.
Before retiring from the paid workforce, Marie worked for over 45 years, initially as a shorthand typist in a government department, and then while in London where she first worked as a temp, gained experience in two legal offices, a career which she continued on her return to New Zealand. Marie then worked for the one employer for over 37 years, mostly in a sole charge position as a personal assistant to a Queen’s Counsel.
Over the years she has attended numerous group meetings and AGM weekends and has made a number of treasured friendships with past and present members of the Association. She still enjoys attending many of the Auckland Group Meetings and keeping abreast with current trends.