Kaye-Maree Dunn, co-founder of Making Everything Achievable (MEA), is a renowned Māori tech entrepreneur. Leading Ahau NZ Limited and Indigital Blockchain Limited, she's involved with North Hokianga Development Trust, Āhau Tātai Hono Trust, and is a Sir Edmund Hillary Fellow. Dedicated to Māori and community development for over 23 years, her roles span Child, Youth, and Family, The Department of Labour, Māori Land Court, and NZ Maori Tourism. Active in Te Whare Hukahuka, she uplifts transformative capabilities in New Zealand's economic landscape. Recognized as Māori Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023, her recent pursuits include Social Enterprise Development and Governance Training.
Dr. Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown (Te Aupōuri/Pākehā) is a lecturer in law at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. His PhD research focused on decolonising the child protection system, with a particular emphasis on ensuring the voices of tamariki and whānau are heard.
Luke's research and teaching interests are centred on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Family Law, Child Protection and Children's Rights. He has a background in child protection policy, having worked for Oranga Tamariki and Child, Youth and Family prior to undertaking PhD study.
Daisy Lavea-Timo, was the 2017 NZ Slam poetry champion, whose creative practice is deeply rooted in her ancestry and what it means to sustain and construct her identity as a product of the Sāmoan diaspora. She is an educator/ youth worker by trade and her work has spanned teaching english and drama, coaching wāhine in rugby league, coaching rangatahi to map aspirations for their communities, whanau and selves through spoken word poetry, strategic facilitation for senior leadership teams and stakeholder engagement- her Masters degree centred on engagement in the urban planning space for the crown/council entity Regenerate Christchurch, amplifying youth voices to local and central government stakeholders for the 602Ha of red zone land, the largest regeneration project in the history of Aotearoa.
Hon Karen Chhour is the Minister for Children and for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence. Karen grew up interacting with the state care system and was elected to Parliament as an ACT Party MP in 2020 with the goal of reforming Oranga Tamariki. Before politics, Karen was self-employed in the New Zealand-made clothing industry. She is a mother of four and has lived on Auckland's North Shore for the past 30 years.
Nicola is passionate about combining business models and positive impact to deliver social and environmental change. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Nicola has over 15 years experience in public and private sector consulting, including roles at MBIE, Kiwibank and Deloitte. She has held senior procurement roles in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally; most recently at the World Bank. Having been with Ākina since 2018, Nicola started as Tumu Whakarae in October 2021 and is proud to lead a talented and passionate Ākina team on a journey to create positive change in people’s lives and for our planet.
Chris is a director and senior consultant with Leadership Lab, which works alongside leaders in the education, health, social services, and community sectors with a focus on growing an equitable and flourishing Aotearoa. Over the last 11 years this has involved designing and delivering leadership development programmes, coaching, change management initiatives, and strategic planning.
