2023 teina (mentee) profiles

Andrea Hardy

Chair - Dress for Success Auckland
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

I am delighted to be part of the Institute of Directors Tuakana Teina Mentoring Program. The opportunity to be mentored by an experienced Chair will allow me to hone my governance skills, strengthen best practice and engage with a network of other skilled professionals. I look forward to the opportunity to share my own experience with others and take my learnings back to my Board colleagues to add a depth of knowledge to our cohort and better support our charity.

Brad Mitchell

Chair - AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

Good governance can have such an enormously positive impact on an organisation’s fortunes, so I am very much looking forward to further developing a deeper knowledge of the principles and practices of effective governance and applying this to my role as Chair of AFS New Zealand. I am particularly excited to meet, listen to and share experiences with my mentor and the other teina - the NFP space is so diverse and the perspectives and insight to be gained will be invaluable.

Carey Urlich

Chair - Te Kohanga Reo o Te Akau
Bay of Plenty (Papamoa)

I am grateful to have been accepted to the Tuakana Teina programme. An opportunity like this enables me to continue to serve my community in a more meaningful way. It's important to me to show my children that giving back is a part of what it is to be a grown up.

Deborah Hardiman

Chair - Neuro Connection Foundation
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

The Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is an incredible opportunity to learn and develop my governance capability through guidance and insight from an experienced Chair. Being new to both governance and the Chair role, I believe this mentoring programme will help build my confidence, help me learn new approaches and allow me to have a positive impact on the foundation I am passionate about. I look forward to building a strong relationship with my tuakana and engaging with my cohort.

Delphine Ducaruge

Chair - NZTech
Waitaha / Canterbury

What an honor to be accepted into this program! So far, my role as a chair has been equally exciting and challenging. I'm looking forward to learning how to do this better and learning on the experience of a mentor. Not only will I learn how to be a better chair, but the opportunity to connect with people in similar roles is a rare opportunity. I'm looking forward to getting started—Ngā mihi maioha.

Devanga Wanigasinghe

Co-President - YWCA Aotearoa New Zealand
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

The impact of and need for community organisations across the motu is increasingly significant, making effective and resilient community governance vital. It is a privilege to be accepted as a teina. I am committed to continuous learning and development in community governance to enhance my ability to support the organisations I work with and the communities they serve and support. I am grateful for this opportunity to participate in the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme in 2023.

Hariata Ngatai

Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāitai ki Torere
Chair - Whakapoungakau Lands Trust
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

Ko te kai a te rangatira - he kōrero.
Ko te tohu a te rangatira - he manaaki.
Ko te mahi a te rangatira - he whakatira te iwi.

Knowledge, communication is the sustenance of a leader.
Caring for the people is a symbol of a leader.
Uniting the people is the duty of a leader.

This whakatauki perfectly captures the type of leader I strive to be as a teina in governance. Through this programme, I hope to continue to fill my kete by learning from experienced tuakana and the wealth of knowledge, expertise and insights they provide. I look forward to connecting with others on this haerenga and building relationships to enhance opportunities for my whānau, hapū and iwi.

Herewini Ammunson

Chair - Papawai Pā Trust
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

Ko Te Karu o Te Ika a Māui tēnei, ko Wairarapa tangata tēnei, e mihi atu nei.

Through the Tuakana Teina kaupapa I hope to grow and develop my own governance and leadership skills and practice. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be supported in that growth and development by learning from and being mentored by an experienced ‘tuakana’. However, it is ultimately about filling my kete and taking the learnings I acquire back to the communities that I serve now and will serve for the rest of my life. Koia tēnei ko te whātoro atu i te ringa ki ngā rākau a Te Pākehā hei pāinga mō ōku iwi. Nōku te māngari, nōku te maringanui. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

Honor Columbus

Chair - Tagata Moana Trust
Waitaha / Canterbury

Tagata Moana Trust is a wonderful organisation with passionate and committed people and leadership. I hope to serve the organisation and team to the best of my ability and know that this calls for a season of learning and growth as I step into the role of Chair.

Being accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme programme is a fantastic opportunity to improve my governance practice and effectiveness in the role of Chair, and I look forward to applying and sharing the learnings. I am grateful to be a part of this year's cohort and am excited to think of the relationships that will be forged through the programme, both with my tuakana and also with other teina.

James Willcocks

Chair - Kaicycle Incorporated Society
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

Being in the infancy of my Governance journey, the role of chairing an organisation such as Kaicycle who are delivering such an important restorative, collaborative and empowering kaupapa in Wellington is indeed intimidating. Therefore the opportunity to partner directly with a tuakana in the governance space to build my own capability is absolutely incredible. I am hugely humbled to have been accepted on the programme and am amped to get amongst it. Building connections with other teina on a similar growth journey is something I am really looking forward to.

Jonathon Hagger

Co-Chair - 350 Aotearoa
Bay of Plenty (Rotorua)

Having the opportunity to engage in the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is an opportunity I am very excited about as it will expand my matauranga as I learn from experienced and wise governors. I look forward to growing my understanding of governance, particularly strategies for increasing diversity of thought and strategising through amplifying the voices of Maori and Pasifika at the board table.

Josefa Seniloli

Chair - Fale Pasifika o Aoraki Trust Incorporated
Otago Southland (Timaru)

Fale Pasifika o Aoraki Trust is a Pacific service provider that support Pacific people living in our region, from Ashburton to Ōamaru right through the Mackenzie District in the middle of the South Island. As the new Chair of the board, it is an honour and privilege to be accepted in to this years programme as a teina. Especially when we will be re-branding and re-launching in April where we are in a process of changing the corporate name and image and moving into a new direction. Our Organisation is in a critical phase of evolution and as Chair I am very much sailing in unchartered waters; so having someone to help me make the best decisions I can will be of immense personal benefit and, in turn, provide even better Governance for our organisation. On a personal note, being of Fijian decent, the word tuakana also means older brother, a teacher and protector therefore being involved in this model at this time in my career makes it more significant.

Junaid Qureshi

Chair - Pakistan Association of Otago Incorporated
Waitaha / Canterbury

This mentoring programme holds immense significance for me in my roles as the Board Chair of the Pakistan Association of Otago and a member of the Board of Trustees of United Care Trust. It provides a unique opportunity for me to further strengthen my leadership and governance skills, which are essential for ensuring the sustainability, diversity, and bright future of our organisations and the communities we serve.

As a passionate advocate for community and corporate leadership, this programme will enable me to learn from the experience, insights, and wisdom of my tuakana (mentor), allowing me to enhance my governance and leadership practices. This will not only benefit the boards I currently serve but also enable me to better translate the vision of these boards into the corporate sector, particularly in my senior management role at Aurora Energy where community impact is a key focus.

I am excited about the inter-generational exchange of practices and knowledge that will take place during this mentoring journey. I am committed to leveraging this opportunity to contribute to the advancement of leadership in both the community and corporate sectors.

Leigh Henderson

Chair FASD-CAN Inc (the Carers Action Network for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

I am the chair of a small national charity, FASD-CAN. We support the families of people with lifelong brain damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Currently I also have a volunteer operational role as we grow and seek more sustainable funding. We are at a critical stage of development, and I am looking forward to the opportunity provided by the Tuakana Teina programme to be linked to an experienced tuakana to help traverse this stage. I’m looking forward to their wisdom and mentoring on areas such as building a sustainable organisation, governance and operational roles and responsibilities and becoming a Te Tiriti based organisation.

Liv Martyn

Chair - Nelson Netball Centre Inc.
Whakatū / Nelson

I am excited and feel very privileged to be accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme. I look forward to embracing this opportunity to learn and develop my governance capability with mentoring from an experienced Chair. I expect this journey will be immensely helpful in strengthening my skills and building my confidence. I hope that my learning and growth from this program will benefit those who I work with at Nelson Netball as we collectively work towards our vision to grow the lifelong love of netball.

Martha Iosia

Chair - Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust
Porirua

Being accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is an incredible privilege and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. The chance to build connections across governance, and be mentored by an experienced tuakana means I'll be able to learn how to better serve our board, the organisation and our communities in helping to fulfill their kaupapa by applying what I've learnt and paying it forward. I want to thank all my mentors who have supported me through my journey in governance. This one is for Ngā Uri, Porirua, the next Pacific and Māori generation and emerging leaders, brown excellence and my community.

Nikki Maw

Co-Chair - Parafed Manawatu
Manawatu

I am so excited to have been accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme. In my short time in governance, I have discovered that I love it. The challenges, the celebrations, the diversity, the laughter, the heartache, the strategy – contributing and making a difference. This programme will give me the knowledge to confidently support and lead organisations in my community. Looking forward to beginning my learning journey with my mentor and other mentees in the programme.

Portia Campbell

Co-Chair - Food For Love
Otago Southland (Wanaka)

It is both an honour and a privilege to be accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair mentoring programme for 2023. I am looking forward to working with a more experienced Chair, sharing my challenges with a tuakana who understands the nuances of governance and further developing my leadership skills. I hope to use these learnings to support the growth of our organisation. I am also looking forward to connecting with other teina and learning from their shared experiences too.

Ruth Martin

Chair - Mothers Network
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

As Chair of Mothers Network / Te Aka Haumi Ukaipo, I have the privilege of leading an empathetic and skilled Governance Board who are passionate about supporting mothers’ mental health and wellbeing. We are committed to ensuring that people who are experiencing motherhood across the Wellington region have access to a safe physical and emotional space where they can explore their changing identity and the complex emotions that come along with this. I am grateful for the opportunity that the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme offers, to reflect with and learn from a mentor and to strengthen my leadership and governance skills. This will help guide our charity to a sustainable and ambitious future supporting many more mothers, whānau and local communities.

Sara Passmore

Chair - Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

I am so delighted to be accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme. This is an incredible chance to gain insights from experienced practitioners of community governance. Our community sector takes on a huge amount of responsibility for delivering public services across Aotearoa. This programme shows the level of the support we need as volunteers in taking on these roles. On a more personal note, participation in this programme is going to help me to leave a legacy for others who’ll be leading the organisations we represent into the future.

Sarah Ayres

Chair - Project Jonah
Waitaha / Canterbury

Being accepted into the 2023 Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme will give me the opportunity to develop and improve my governance skills for our critical marine mammal welfare charity, Project Jonah. As a new Board Chair I am honoured to have the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by an experienced tuakana, utilising those skills for the benefit of myself, my Board and the wider Project Jonah organisation.

Scott Fisher

Ngati Whāwhākia, Ngāti Tahu/Ngāti Whaoa
Co-Chair - Birthright Hutt Valley
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

I can't wait to meet my mentor and the wider tuakana/teina cohort to start building what I hope are long term, mutually beneficial relationships. I believe mentors and communities like these are critical to growing knowledge and experience, and being offered a space on this programme will hugely benefit Birthright Hutt Valley and the clients we work with.

Sharon Menzies

Chair - Film Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty (Ōhope)

It is a privilege to be accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme. The tuakana-teina concept, one from traditional Māori society, is a concept I truly believe in. I look forward to connecting with my tuakana to further develop my governance skills to be the best possible chair for Film Bay of Plenty and other organisations I serve. I am particularly interested in effectively chairing healthy debate, ensuring all voices are heard. I’m also interested in ensuring Māoritanga is naturally incorporated into determining purpose and governance culture. With this opportunity to gain new knowledge and develop my skills, I hope to inspire our rangatahi board members to progress their governance skills also.

Tamara Buckland

Chair - Inspiring Stories Trust
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

It is a total privilege to be accepted into the 2023 Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme and to represent the organisation that I'm the Chair of, Inspiring Stories. At Inspiring Stories, we've got an incredible mission of backing rangatahi to change the world and with such a big mission, it's so important that as Chair, I'm putting in the mahi to invest in myself and our board so we can be the best champions of the team and everyone we support. I'm looking forward to connecting with an experienced Chair to share in the challenges that we can face in these roles and to find areas of strength and improvement in my own skills that will best serve the mahi we're here to do. Knowing that great governance can have such a big impact on the organisation, the people we serve, and the communities that surround us all, is a huge driving force for me and I'm feeling pretty excited about being part of positive change around Aotearoa!

Wendy Thompson

The Nest Collective
Waitaha / Canterbury

It is such an honour and incredible opportunity to be be accepted onto the Tuakana Teina programme and to be able to learn from the best in governance. I am excited to meet my tuakana and all the other teina and use this wonderful opportunity to grow and develop. I am looking forward to increasing my knowledge and understanding to help me be the best Chair possible and to be able to lead our Board as we grow and develop as an organisation.