Wellington, New Zealand
I am a highly motivated, successful and versatile global mobility, internationalisation and engagement specialist, manager and leader. I bring to any role an outstanding technical aptitude, leadership and management experience. This includes subject matter expertise from working in international education, business, government, creative sector and community contexts over the last 30 years. Excellent outcomes have been delivered by high performing work teams I have led and managed. My intercultural skills have been honed by operating in complex and diverse settings, including with Indigenous, Pacific, Asian, and Latin American peoples. An extensive global and local network is testament to my wonderful track record in establishing and maintaining productive and high trust relationships. I thrive in dynamic international environments and am great at moving between the big picture to tasks large and small with a sharp eye on delivering results. Senior stakeholders and people from all walks of life, organisations and cultures often give feedback about how my passion, ‘nous’, breadth of experience and intercultural skills make me a standout internationalisation specialist, leader and strategic influencer.
• Led operational management of the Latin America Centre of Asia Pacific (LatAm CAPE) to ensure efficient systems and procedures, and effective programmes and projects around core themes of business, education, thought leadership and public awareness. • Supported the Director in strategic management of the LatAm CAPE portfolio, contributing to successful reporting to the Tertiary Education Commission. • Provided leadership, support and resources to Programme Managers to help them successfully deliver on their respective projects and roles. • Enhanced stakeholder engagement, managed staff, and facilitated cohesive consortium operations across multiple programmes. • Lead and/or participant in delegations to Latin America. For example, research commercialisation, indigenous languages revitalisation, recruitment and promotion of the NZ PhD for NZ Universities, all with quick turnaround between locations. • Strategic lead for CAPE climate change focused programme, Winds of Change, sourcing academics and specialists in Chile and NZ, and supporting the recruitment of early career professionals and postgraduate students in both countries for WoC. • Lead for the Market Awareness and the Diversifying into Latin America Programmes for NZ businesses, in collaboration with academics from the University of Auckland and Massey University and a CAPE Programme Manager.
• Based at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington focused on engaging with Wellington, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region and connecting with the world. • By putting university experience together with nimble delivery systems and business partnerships, the Latin America CAPE created a step-change in New Zealander's knowledge and skills relating to Latin America. • The main purpose of the Programme Manager position was to manage and deliver the CAPE's programme and activities in partnership with Consortium universities (Victoria, Auckland, Waikato & Otago) and stakeholders; • Effective reporting and evaluation of CAPE programmes and activities to the Tertiary Education Commission; • Effective management of contracts with partners and providers, and of systems relating to communications, promotion and stakeholder relations; • Led recruitment of LatAm CAPE team, project leads and admin coordinator. Staff management.
Reporting to the Manager, Planning, Systems and Services as a trusted source of advice and deep institutional knowledge: leading, directing and driving the Office of Ethnic Communities services: Language Line, Ethnic Communities Development Fund, the Nominations Service of State Sector Boards and the Intercultural Capability e-Learning Programme. Senior Advisor to cross-government working groups and initiatives: The China Capable Public Sector Programme, the Intercultural Competence Capability Development Programme. Strategic advisor for the development and delivery of the Ethnic People in Commerce NZ (EPIC NZ) 2017 Conference.
Volunteer role: Led the PechaKucha Night Wellington not-for-profit creative sector initiative with a team of up to 7 PKN volunteers. See https://www.facebook.com/pechakuchawellington/. PKN events feature up to 12 people delivering rapid presentations at a minimum of 4 sessions annually, and feature in over 1000 cities globally. Successful delivery of 20 PKN events, including themed events (e.g., Globalista, Bugs, Futurista) and collaboration with organisations (e.g., Māoriland Hub - Ōtaki; Kokomai: Creative Festival Wairarapa). PKN events in Wellington attracted up to 200 people per event and featured a wide cross-section of people living in or visiting Wellington. Excellent feedback from audiences, presenters and collaborating organisations (e.g., Te Papa, Wellington on a Plate and the Performance Arcade) on the innovation and entrepreneurship displayed by the PKN Wellington team.
• Establishment role: a key role in developing the new portfolio of ethnic communities in the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) as a member of the 4-person establishment team. • Ministerial Services: Wrote high quality briefings and speeches for government Ministers, including the Prime Minister, the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and provided effective policy advice and analysis and contributions to cabinet papers. Attended meetings with the Minister for Ethnic Communities. • Relationship and stakeholder engagement: Established and maintained new and sustainable relationships nationwide for central government with ethnic communities. • Lead role supporting central and local government engagement with ethnic communities’ engagement; Facilitated ethnic peoples’ direct input on government policy initiatives and reviews. • • • Represented OEA on national and regional level inter-agency initiatives, including the development of the NZ Settlement Strategy and post-settlement initiatives. • Senior role in developing the Ethnic Diversity Management (EDM) Programme and presentations on ethnic diversity to government, business and NGOs and visiting overseas government delegations. • Effectiveness for Māori Advisor (Kaitohutohu) for OEA. Leadership of pōwhiri and mihi whakatau for overseas delegations, agencies and staff, including delivery of whaikōrero, as needed.
A volunteer role on the Board of MCLASS (2002 - 2005) and as the chair of the board from 2006 -2007.