2022 teina (mentee) profiles

Brock Stobbs

Chair InsideOUT Kōaro
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

Being accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is an incredible privilege and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. The chance to connect and be mentored by an experienced Chair means I'll be able to learn how to better serve the organisations I care so much, help to fulfil their vital kaupapa, and continue to contribute to my community long after the programme has finished. As someone who is just beginning in community governance, I know this experience will be immensely helpful in strengthening my skills and supporting me through my governance journey.

Claire Achmad

Chair ShelterBox
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

As Chair of ShelterBox New Zealand, I have the privilege and responsibility of leading an amazing Board of Directors and Trustees to ensure that we raise funds to ensure no family is without shelter around the world after disaster. Being selected to participate in the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme in 2022 will tautoko my leadership of ShelterBox New Zealand as well as my wider mahi as a community leader. I'm looking forward to learning from my Tuakana's experience, insights and wisdom to strengthen my own governance and leadership practice. My learning and growth through this mentoring programme will be for the benefit of those who I have the opportunity to work alongside and those who we serve through our mahi, to make a positive difference. I'm also looking forward to sharing my own experience with my Tuakana, to ensure our mentoring relationship is grounded in an inter-generational exchange of practice and knowledge, for the wider benefit of Aotearoa's communities and beyond

Dan Croskery

Chair Gisborne Boardriders
Te Tai Rāwhiti / Gisborne

I am excited and privileged to be selected for this amazing opportunity. The tuakana-teina relationship reflects on an integral part of traditional Māori society. This concept provides a buddy system for learning and growth. I look forward to filling my kete and continuing my growth within my chair role. The focus for me is being able to share the knowledge gained from this program to those in Tūranganui-a-kiwa (Gisborne) in the future, which will in turn support what this kaupapa is all about.

Eloise Wallace

Chair Museums Aotearoa
Te Tai Rāwhiti / Gisborne

It’s a privilege to be selected for the Tuakana Teina programme and I’m grateful to the Tuakana who will be sharing their knowledge and experience with us this year. I know that a strong peer support network is critical to successful leadership, especially in challenging times. I’m looking forward to giving all I can to this opportunity and my leadership journey in the year ahead – developing skills and relationships to help ensure that I can be the chair my organisation needs in 2022.”

Gareth Hughes

Chair SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation)
Ōtākou / Otago

It's a privilege to be accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme and I am looking forward to connecting with others and increasing my knowledge to deliver for my not-for-profit.

Georgina Morrison

Chair Eastern and Central Community Trust
Manawatū-Whanganui

Being accepted as a Teina, in the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme, provides an opportunity for me to strengthen good practice, and extend my skills, guided by the wisdom of experienced Chairs. Connecting and learning from recognised Tuakana is a taonga I will greatly value.

Guy Ryan

Chair Touch Compass (The Touch Compass Dance Trust Board)
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

Touch Compass is Aotearoa’s leading professional disability-led arts organisation and it is a privilege for me to be representing Touch Compass as Chair. Professional development opportunities for those involved in arts and community governance are rare. So it's fantastic that Community Governance NZ and the Institute of Directors have partnered to run the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring programme for Board Chairs.

I'm delighted to have been accepted into the Programme as a Teina in 2022. It is a great opportunity for me to learn and grow as a Chair, meet Chairs of other great community organisations and ultimately deliver greater value to Touch Compass. I look forward to working with and learning from my Tuakana mentor, and the Touch Compass Board and management team, with the aim of better supporting Touch Compass to deliver on its vision and kaupapa.

Helena Beckert

Chair Dress for Success Wellington Incorporated
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

I'm unbelievably excited to be selected to join the mentoring programme! I can't wait to meet my mentor and start learning how to both thrive as a Chair of a board and how to build a sustainable future for Dress for Success Wellington and its board. Being a part of this programme will make a huge difference to both my own confidence in the role, and also to the confidence of the rest of the team.

Janine Blackmore

Chair Howick Pakuranga Youth Acadamy
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

It is an honor to be accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme. Describing how much this unique opportunity means to me is not easy. I know to show my sincerity through my actions, staying committed with an open mind, and willingness to learn throughout the program.

I am excited to improve in community governance, develop new skills, and learn how to share my own experiences. I want to apply what I learn by helping other NFP’s, focusing on the organisations that I am passionate about.

I feel profoundly grateful to be taking part in the launch cohort and cannot wait to see where this learning journey takes me.

Jordon Wimsett

Chair Pregnancy Help Incorporated
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

I am just starting out on my governance career, and being on the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is going to help me course the right path to help me develop and give me the opportunity to grow and be successful. This is an incredible chance to learn from someone with a wealth of experience. I’m looking forward to gaining more confidence in this leadership position and learning the skills to navigate the challenges in governance.

Juanita Copeland

Chair Fertility New Zealand
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

Being accepted as a Teina Mentee couldn’t have come at a better time. I am really looking forward to having an experienced Chair to help me develop my capability. Our Charity 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.

Kelly Dare

Chair Wellington Rape Crisis
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

I think that community governance is vital for our country: so many people are impacted by the mahi that these groups do. And so, I'm excited to be continuing my journey in this space by taking part in the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme.

This opportunity represents the chance to develop my governance skills and confidence and learn new ways of doing things. Working with an experienced tuakana will help me ensure that I, and the Governance Group, are doing the best for our excellent staff.

This programme also represents an opportunity for the community sector to grow and develop. I will be applying the things I learn from my tuakana to an organisation that has undergone significant change and growth in the last 18-months. Ultimately, it enables me to lead our staff and my fellow Governance Group members with professionalism, empathy, and a better understanding of the role of a Chair in a community space

Kylie Taffard

Chair Women in Trades New Zealand
Te Tai Tokerau / Northland

I am incredibly honoured to be accepted on the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring programme and learn from an experienced Chair. I am looking forward to working with my Tuakana to develop and strengthen my leadership and governance skills. With the guidance of my Tuakana, I am excited to be able to develop the tools to grow Women in Trades NZ, an organisation aimed to support women who are in the trades or interested in a trade.

Liam Mcleavey

Chair Youth One Stop Shop Incorporated
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

What the Tuakana Teina Programme is about to me is that I will be able to grow and develop as a new Board Chair and be supported in that growth and development by learning from and being mentored by my experienced Tuakana. I am really thrilled to have this unique opportunity as it will not just benefit me, it will benefit the Board and organisation I lead as Chair. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

Libby Tosswill

Chair Porangahau Catchment Group - Taurekaitai ki Te Paerahi
Te Matau-a-Māui / Hawke's Bay

I feel thrilled to have this opportunity to learn from the best so I can lead and face the challenges ahead more skilfully, and build knowledge and experience for future opportunities in governance. I am enthusiastic about the positive “ripple effect” that good community leadership can have. Bringing the experience of a mentor into my community space is not just an opportunity for me, but for the growth of the people around me and the betterment of the organisations we serve today and in the future.

Lydia Matthews

Chair Canterbury Asthma Society (Trading as CanBreathe)
Waitaha / Canterbury

I am thrilled to take part in the Tuakana Teina programme and am looking forward to developing and applying new skills quickly and profoundly. In the short term I hope this will have a positive impact on the CanBreathe team who do fantastic work to achieve better health outcomes to South Islanders living with Asthma and COPD. Longer term the programme will help realise my ambition to be a transformational governance leader in both for-profit and for-purpose organisations, in order to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in our societies.

Maddi Mclean

Co-Chair The Shift Foundation
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland
I am excited by the opportunity to learn from an experienced chair who can support me to become more effective in my role. I am striving to show other young people that they can and should have a voice at the decision-making table and am very grateful for the development opportunity that the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme will provide.

Maia Faulkner

Chair Auckland Down Syndrome Association
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

'Being accepted as a Teina in the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is an honour. As a new Chairperson, having a person to intentionally reflect with and learn from to develop and grow in my practice means I can provide better leadership to those who are on the Board, but also to the staff who work directly for the Board, resulting in better outcomes for the community we support and advocate for. In my short time as a Chair I have had to show leadership in the face of a variety of challenging situations and having someone to discuss these with and to reflect on how I approached the Chair role in relation to these will add immeasurable value. Ngā mihi maioha.

Mike Nolan

Chair West Coast DHB Disability Steering Group
Te Tai Poutini / West Coast

Being accepted into the programme will be great for my confidence and assist me in gaining that extra bit of confidence and guiding for me to make great decisions. Without the formal guidance I have felt unsure at times how to manage difficult and complicated situations while at the same time keeping a good “poker face” and holding everything together as issues are worked through.

I am very much looking forward to the insight and knowledge I will gain from other likeminded people who have been in my shoes and can pass on that expertise and knowledge through mentoring and guiding others.

Natalia Fareti

Chair Wellington City Council Pacific Advisory Group
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

It's really wonderful to be able to take part in this program - an opportunity to gain pragmatic insights from experienced tuakana of what it's like behind the scenes, especially when theory doesn't always pan out in reality

Natasha Ingram

Chair Evolve Wellington Youth Service
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington

As someone new to governance, being accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme is an incredibly exciting opportunity. Not only will the programme help me as I grow as a governance professional, it also allows me to receive advice from a Tuakana who will help me be the best possible chairperson I can be for the not-for-profit that I serve.

Nicola Cheesman

Chair Empowerment Trust
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland
Being selected as a teina is an incredible opportunity allowing me to grow my governance skills through working with a tuakana. I am looking forward to having my thinking challenged, bringing insights and new approaches to the Board table to better give back and positively impact the Trust and the communities we work with.

Rebekah Watts

Chair Oke Charity
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

Being accepted to be a Teina in the Tuakana Teina programme is a huge honour. I have been in my current board chair role with Oke Charity for only a short time and I want to do the best I can for this organisation. Having a mentor to work alongside me, supporting me to improve and helping me to grow, will ensure that I acquire the knowledge and skills I need to effectively lead this board.

Tim Boyle

Chair The Eating Disorder Association of New Zealand (EDANZ)
Tāmaki-makau-rau / Auckland

Being accepted into the Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme represents an incredible opportunity to learn and develop my governance capability with guidance from an experienced Chair. Being able to build skills, knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Chairs’ role will not only help with my personal growth but will also be of significant value to the whole NFP Board that I represent. I am very excited to be part of the programme and am looking forward to the year ahead.