Susan Ngawati-Osborne
Pou Rangatira – Chief Executive Officer

Ngāti Te Ara, Ngāti Kopaki, Ngāti Hine
BA Education/Māori Studies

Susan has a strong background in social and Māori community work and has worked as a Community Trainer in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and as a Kaupapa Māori practitioner in the Sexual Violence/Family Harm sector in West Auckland, where she concurrently held a Ministry of Social Development position of Kaitautoko ki Tamariki/Mokopuna (Child Advocate Māori) for those who witness or experience harm and abuse.

Susan was a recent member of the Interim Te Rōpu, a Ministerial appointment to a Kaupapa Māori Rōpu tasked with creating a National Strategy for the elimination of violence and is a current Pouawha member of Ngā Kaitiaki Māori (TOAHNNEST), a national organisation working to eliminate sexual violence. Susan continues to work as a special projects manager in the Kaupapa Māori Mahi Tūkino sector for Tu Wahine Trust, West Auckland.

Susan has also served as a Trustee for her Marae, Te Rito (ki Moerewa), and remains active in whānau, hapū and iwi issues and activities.

Nigel Marshall
Pou Rangatira – Director

BA Honours, Diploma Special Needs Resource Teacher, Masters Educational Psychology

Nigel Marshall (England, NZ Pākehā) has a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and a lifelong career in Teaching, teaching Special Needs Children and as a Resource Teacher for Learning and Behaviour.

Working alongside Māori students, their whānau and communities has given Nigel an appreciation of the depth and strengths of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) and the importance of incorporating this knowledge into any strategies and approaches used to create opportunities for wellbeing and positive behaviour change.

In 2012, Nigel led a multi-disciplinary team that developed our uniquely New Zealand model for well-being and behaviour change, Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement.

Richard Brooking
Board Chair

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tamānuhiri, Te Arawa

Richard is the Chairman of the Ako Solutionz board and brings a wealth of Senior Management experience in both the community, Māori community and corporate sectors to AKO Solutionz.

Richard’s experience includes roles of Chairman, Director, Facilitator, General Manager, Trust Chairman, Strategic Advisor Māori, and Regional Manager.

Richard’s current roles include: Chairman of Patunamu Forest Ltd Te Wairoa; Chairman of Whakaki Lake Trust, Whakaki, Te Wairoa; Facilitator to the Māori Land Court.

Shenita Prasad
Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Client Manager & Te Ara Whakamana Facilitator

Post Graduate Diploma in Education Leadership, Bachelor of Arts, (University of Auckland) Diploma in Teaching and Teacher-Librarianship (Auckland College of Education)

Shenita’s education career spans 29 years, including 21 years at Arahoe School where she has also served as part of the senior leadership team. During her time at Arahoe School, she has led Curriculum design and coordination, including working collaboratively on acceleration learning initiatives and reviewing school charter, and strategic vision.

Shenita is a proud Pasifika woman, educator and Wayfinder, and her Fijian-Indian-Tongan whakapapa allows her to walk in many worlds. She is a student-centred leader who places akonga at the heart and centre of learning conversations and decision-making. She is passionate about social justice and creating equity for vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Since the introduction of Te Ara Whakamana to her kura in 2017, Shenita has viewed this relationship-based kaupapa through the lens of curriculum. Her leadership with curriculum has had her integrate Te Ara Whakamana into the design and plan of culturally responsive programming. She believes it is critical that akonga are reflected in, and that akonga can see themselves, a school’s curriculum.

Olivia Martin
Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitator/Trainer

Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu kī te Wairoa

Currently studying her Masters in Māori and Indigenous studies, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Olivia has worked as a researcher with Ihi Research for two years, and has worked with a range of different services and agencies in the Health, Social, Education and Justice systems. Previously Olivia worked in therapeutic care and Education for Stand for Children. She has recently began as a facilitator for Te Ara Whakamana, and is passionate about increasing knowledge and visibility of pre-colonial understandings of Education, ways of being and Parenting.

Rochelle Burns
Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitator/Trainer

Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary) / BSc Microbiology

Rochelle has been teaching in the Wellington area for 19 years, both in Porirua and Te Awakairangi ki Uta. As he tangata Tiriti, Rochelle works to ensure tikanga, Te Reo and kaupapa Māori are uplifted in her classroom and in the  professional spaces she supports. Te Ara Whakamana has played a major part in guiding this cultural lens. Rochelle has been strengthening her knowledge and understanding of this kaupapa since 2020 and is able to provide a practical classroom approach to establishing the model.

Simone Poi
Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitator/Trainer

Ngati Porou, Ngapuhi
BA Leisure Studies (University of Waikato) Post Graduate Diploma in Sports and Leisure Studies (University of Waikato) National Certificate in Adult Education (Level 5) New Zealand Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Level 5) New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Recreation (Aquatics) (Level 4)

Simone has enjoyed working in Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education and offers skills and knowledge in Sports, Outdoor Recreation, Kapa Haka and Te Ao Māori. Simone feels privileged to have worked with and represent whānau, hapū, hapori Māori, and Iwi within a Māori Health organisation and an Iwi organisation. She has been working with rangatahi at Matapuna Training Centre since 2014, as a tutor, a lead tutor and part-time tutor reliever.  Simone also works part-time for the Bush Kura as a Senior Instructor and Project Operations Administrator.

Simone has implemented Te Ara Whakamana since 2015 with various age groups from diverse backgrounds within education and outside of an education environment, with rich and rewarding outcomes for participants and herself as an educator. “The learning that comes from implementing Te Ara Whakamana is humbling, encourages one to be reflective of practice, participant centred, culturally appropriate, inclusive to all, rewarding, provides solution focused strategies for participants that can be used over their lifetime.”

Julie Corker
Kaiwhakahaere Rauemi – Head of Operations

Ngāti Te Ara, Ngāti Kopaki, Ngāti Hine
BA Philosophy & Media Studies, PGDip Development Studies

Julie has over 15 years’ experience Operations and Business Administration, working in both the private and NGO sector.

She specialises in client and data management, operational systems, policies and procedures, fiscal management, IT project management and human resources. She also is experienced in change management, strategic planning and helping businesses to scale. 

Heather Murphy
Kaiwhakahaere – Administrator

Ngāti Kōtimana Tangata Tiriti

Originating from Scotland, she found her heart’s home in Aotearoa, in 2015. With a rich background in both public and private sectors, she brings a diverse skill set to the table.

Her dedication extends beyond professional tasks being deeply involved in community service, holding roles like the Hato Hone St John Area Committee Secretary and Civil Defence Welfare Manager. Her commitment to Te Ao Māori, driven by her Scottish heritage, has led her to gain a diploma and certificates in this field, constantly striving to grow her knowledge and understanding of her role as Tangata Tiriti.