Our People

OUR
PEOPLE

Meet the TupuToa Governance Board

and the Team behind the mahi.

OUR TRUSTEES

~~Leopino Foliaki~~

~~Co Chair, Partner, PwC~~

Leopino Foliaki is a Senior Partner at PwC where he has worked in a number of countries and provided an extensive range of audit and transaction services, including financial due diligence, acquisition accounting, review of projections, assessment and validation of merger synergies and public offerings. Since being made Partner in 1999, Leo has been involved with the Firm's largest and complex client assignments in a range of industries including airlines, building products, consumer products, dairy, retail, telecommunications and other industrial manufacturing concerns.

~~Tina Wilson~~

~~Co Chair, Director of Māori Business, NZTE~~

Tina is the Director of Māori Business at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, responsible for internationalising Māori Business and sourcing investment opportunities for Māori entities. She currently sits on the Council of Massey University and is the chair of Te Iwi o Ngati Tukorehe Trust. Prior to joining NZTE, Tina was CEO of the Taupo Moana Group/IWIinvestor – a specialist investment advisory firm for Māori (pan-tribal entities). Tina has worked within the Māori sector for the last 25 years, across investment, business strategy, financial management, training and economic development. She has extensive governance experience in both Māori and non- Māori organisations.

~~Faye Langdon~~

~~Co Founder and Director, 21C Skills Lab~~

Faye Langdon is Co - Founder and Director 21C Skills Lab. She is also the founder and previous Managing director at NZ Global Women. She has had a varied career spanning significant business development, business partnerships and business startup expertise. Prior to establishing her own businesses she was Director of Business Development, AUT University. Faye is a trustee on the Middlemore Health Foundation Board and previous trustee NZ Centre for Social Innovation. Faye holds a Bachelor of Education and Graduate Diploma in Teaching from the University of Auckland, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business from AUT University.

~~Tim Watts~~

~~Co Founder TalentWire Group~~

Tim Watts is the Co-founder and director of TalentWire Group - Leading youth careers and employment marketplace. Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial endeavours he was with PwC. Tim holds a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from Victoria University of Wellington. He is also an admitted Barrister & Solicitor and a Chartered Accountant. Tim is actively involved in various not-for-profit organisations - namely, he is a member of the Board of Director and Finance Committee for Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand and the founder and Chairperson of the New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers (NZAGE).

~~Tiaki Hunia~~

~~General Manager, Fonterra Māori Strategy~~

Tiaki Hunia joined Fonterra in 2017 as General Manager, Māori Strategy/Pouhere Māori. As Pouhere Māori, Tiaki is responsible for progressing the Co-operative's strategic Māori commitments and strengthening its bicultural capability. He works across the business, to lead, build and implement Fonterra's vision of a strong partnership with Māori, growing prosperous, healthy and sustainable communities together.

Tiaki previously held a number of roles, most recently with Te Puni Kōkiri, and prior to that, five years as Deputy Māori Trustee, Te Tumu Paeroa. He has also been involved in numerous governance roles with iwi and industry organisations over the last 10 years, notably Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Māori Investments Ltd and Pūtauaki Trust.

Tiaki holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Māori from the University of Auckland. He has previously been admitted as a Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors

~~Rhys Faleafa~~

~~Business Consultant~~

Rhys Faleafā is of Tongan descent and has had a 20 year career in working in the professional services sector, education, and managing SME's in the private and public sector, including managing family enterprises, iconic NZ clothing company Huffer, the Pacific Business Trust, as well as serving as Interim Executive at TupuToa!

Rhys holds a BCom(Hons) in Accounting & Finance and a BSc in Chemistry, and is a Chartered Accountant. Currently the Co-Chair of the Pacific Islands Chartered Accountants Network., Rhys has experienced private sector governance roles as well as Ministerial appointed roles such as the Pacific Business Trust and Partnership School Kura Hourua Authorisation Board.

Rhys has been actively involved in developing TupuToa from an idea into a sustainable social enterprise model, and is most proud of the work TupuToa is doing to create opportunities for aspiring Māori and Pacific professionals to excel in culturally safe corporate and professional workplaces.

~~Talapo Uiva'a~~

~~Analyst, NZ Super Fund~~

Talapo, of Samoan descent, was placed with TupuToa in the NZ Super Fund, after the commencement of the internship he was offered a full-time role as an Analyst for External Investment and Partnerships, making him the only graduate and youngest analyst at the NZ Super Fund. Talapo holds a double degree in Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and a Bachelor of Laws from Auckland University. He has had a lot of success in his short career thus far, co-founding Navigators of Success, which is a platform dedicated to inspiring and connecting Māori and Pacific people.

~~Karina Nepia-Blyth~~

~~Māori Responsivness Project Coordinator, Auckland Council~~

Karina, of Māori descent started her journey with TupuToa in 2017. She was placed as an Intern with Air New Zealand in the Diversity and Inclusion and Organisational Development teams. Karina has a passion for numbers and is currently completing a Bachelor of Business, double majoring in Economics and Accounting at the Auckland University of Technology. She also finds herself as a Teaching Assistant and Peer Mentor to first year students at university. In addition, Karina holds a part-time role in the Māori Responsiveness team at Auckland Council.

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