Tiffany Babington

As a former diplomat for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Tiff has had a long and productive relationship with Volunteer Service Abroad. She was also contracted by VSA in 2022 as the Tonga Programme Adviser.

Tiff held various senior leadership roles within MFAT including managing some of NZ’s development and humanitarian work in the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. She has also spent time as MFAT’s private secretary responsible for Pacific and international development issues, and on posting in Vanuatu and Rome. Her last post was as NZ’s High Commissioner to Tonga.

Tiff is semi-retired in Opotiki and does international development consulting and energy realignment coaching. Her iwi is Ngati Porou, and she is a Grand Officer of the Royal household order of Tonga and a published author. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington (political science and comparative religion) and a NZ Institute of Business Studies life coaching diploma.

“I have seen first hand the positive impact VSA makes in the lives of thousands who are in need offshore and I am very honoured to bring my political, strategic and governance skills to VSA, through Council, in support of the amazing work it does.”