Co-author of Purple Dandelion, Shila Nair started at Shakti as a volunteer in August 2002 and was appointed Refuge Advocate, then Manager of two Shakti Refuges and the Crisis Call Centre. Shila began working for Shakti’s National Office in 2004 and was appointed National Coordinator in 2005. During these years she was closely involved in the expansion of Shakti as a national organization, including setting up accredited women’s refuges outside Auckland. She is currently a qualified counsellor with Shakti.