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.
Pia Harré
Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitator/Trainer
Ngāti Maniapoto
Master of Youth Development, Certificate in Te Reo Māori Level 4, Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education, Bachelor of Education
Pia is a Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitator/Trainer for Ako Solutionz, and brings a sound knowledge of curriculum, learning and assessment theory specialising in neurodiverse learning needs and culturally responsive pedagogy. Pia has experience in education as a SENCO – Learning Support Coordinator; RTLB (Resource Teacher of Learning & Behaviour); Teacher New Entrants; Numeracy & Literacy Specialist Teacher; Newspaper in Education Coordinator; and Y3/4 Māori Bilingual Teacher.
She brings a sound background in change management and leadership, and experience in teacher support with the implementation of effective pedagogical practices for motivating and engaging students incorporating positive behaviour management. She values, respects and promote learning, well-being and inclusion, creating and maintaining a safe environment that is conducive to learning. Pia has highly effective communication skills which enables her to liaise effectively with tamariki, whānau, school leaders, kaiako, and professionals across the educational sector.
Callum Sanders
Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitator/Trainer
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) and a Diploma in Education Studies – Massey University
“Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa!” The Child – the Heart of the Matter.
Callum has been a classroom teacher at Irongate School for the past 10 years and part of the school’s senior leadership team for the last two. During his time at Irongate School, he has led the school-wide implementation and development of Restorative Practice, PB4L and, for the last four years, Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement. Callum is passionate about Māori Education and helping to provide the conditions for liberation for learners using culturally responsive pedagogies. His key strengths are communication and the ability to develop positive relationships with all staff, akonga and their whānau.
Over the years, he has developed expertise in creating and implementing student-centred, strengths-based, culturally responsive programmes. He understands the ‘one size fits all’ model does not work for our tamariki and whānau. Callum has also played an important role in coaching and supporting staff through significant transformative change at his kura.
Julie Corker
Kaiwhakahaere Rauemi – Operations Manager
Ngāti Te Ara, Ngāti Kopaki, Ngāti Hine
BA Philosophy & Media Studies, PGDip Development Studies
Julie has over 12 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.
About us
Te Ara Whakamana is a tool designed by:
Ako Solutionz – Plans and Strategies for Positive Change.
Get in touch
PO Box 585, Turanga Nui a Kiwa, Gisborne 4040
info@akosolutionz.com
+64 27 226 8395