Sam Johnson (activist)
New Zealand activist (born 1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Robert Johnson ONZM (born 14 February 1989[citation needed]) is a social entrepreneur from Christchurch, New Zealand. He founded the Student Volunteer Army, an organisation that mobilised 11,000 students to assist the cleanup following the Christchurch earthquakes and has continued as a nationwide volunteering movement.
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Sam Johnson | |
|---|---|
Johnson in 2013 | |
| Citizenship | New Zealand |
| Education | University of Canterbury |
| Spouse | Tyler Brummer |
| Children | 1 |
Education and career
Johnson is from rural Canterbury and was educated at Christ's College and the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.[1] Johnson graduated from the University of Canterbury with a BA in Politics and Community Engagement in 2015.[citation needed]
Student Volunteer Army
Following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, Johnson founded the Student Volunteer Army to assist residents with the clean up of liquefaction caused by the earthquakes.[2][3] The Student Volunteer Army was managed by a core team of 15 people and a wider administration of 70 people who managed the three core operations which the SVA focused on: battalions, squadrons and street teams.[4] There were 13,000 students volunteering per week.[5]
Disaster response and preparedness
In late April and early May 2011, Johnson spent two weeks in Japan following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami to set up a Student Volunteer Army at Waseda University.[6]
Johnson worked to assist mobilising young Nepalese volunteers following the Nepal earthquakes in 2015.[7]
Johnson and the Student Volunteer Army worked with other young people alongside the UNISDR in preparation for 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.[8]
Local leadership and politics
Johnson successfully stood for the Riccarton-Wigram Community Board of the Christchurch City Council in the October 2010 local body elections.[9] At the time, he was endorsed by Prime Minister John Key for his election campaign.[10]
Johnson declared in July 2011 that he had no intention to run for higher public office in the near future.[11] In January 2013, it was reported that he may consider running for Christchurch City Council in the October 2013 local body elections.[12] The Press reported on 20 April 2013 that Lianne Dalziel would challenge Bob Parker for the Christchurch mayoralty, and that she had asked Johnson to be her running mate, with a view of Johnson becoming deputy mayor. Johnson eventually decided against running, saying it wasn't the "right thing for me right now".[13]
Johnson is a founding Trustee of the Ministry of Awesome, a Christchurch-based idea incubator.[14]
Social enterprise and business
In 2016, Johnson launched a social enterprise focused on social isolation in New Zealand,[15] which then joined forces with technology platform Mycare to improve the New Zealand care and support sector.[16]
Awards and celebrities
Johnson has received a Special Leadership Award from the Sir Peter Blake Trust[17] and was named Young New Zealander of the Year[18] and Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) Communicator of the Year in 2012.[19]
Johnson and the Student Volunteer Army have hosted many international icons and celebrities who visit Christchurch including several members of the British Royal Family,[20][21] the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet[22] and organisers of the Never Again MSD gun control campaign.[citation needed]
In the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, Johnson was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community and youth.[23]