PAULA TESORIERO PLY, MNZM

Paula Tesoriero is Chief Executive at Whaikaha - The Ministry of Disabled People.  A law, Politics and Public Management graduate from Victoria University, Paula previously worked in private and public practice in law and policy. Prior to her current role, she was the Disability Rights Commissioner.

Paula is a Paralympian who won gold and two bronze medals at the Beijing Summer Paralympics in 2008 and went on to win Word Champion titles on the road and velodrome. Her services to cycling were recognised when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009. She retired as an athlete in 2011 but still rides her bike as many days a week as she can, on the road and around the Wellington Mountain Bike Tracks.

Paula has served on several boards including the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, New Zealand Artificial Limb Service, Sport Wellington and Paralympics New Zealand and currently serves on the Board of Wellington College. She was a member of the New Zealand Sports Tribunal for 10 years and was the Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 NZ Paralympic Team.

Paula lives in Wellington with her husband Peter and their three children.