I was a journalist for 36 years and I've seen first-hand how systemic racism affects where Māori and Pacific peoples live, our health, our jobs, and our prospects for advancement.

I've travelled to nearly every tribal area in Aotearoa and engaged with more than eight ethnic Pacific communities in New Zealand and the Pacific region.

One thing I've learned is that allyship must go beyond  passive support. It's when leaders actively navigate systemic challenges and dismantle barriers to inclusivity.

The world has changed and our future workforce won't accept the old ways of doing things.   I'm committed to working towards a more just and unified global community, through the convergence of advocacy, empathy and collaboration. 

Since co-founding The Culture and Design Lab, I've learned how to apply my graphic design skills to decolonise workplaces.  This includes NGOs, local government and iwi. I'm passionate about this because I want to see more diversity, equity and inclusion in the future.

Visual expression can be used to create a sense of belonging for everyone.   I want to deepen my understanding of human behaviour and how to create more inclusive and equitable experiences.  That's why I'm excited to be studying Psychology part-time with Open Polytechnic.

I'm confident in my ability to use my skills to make a positive impact on the world.  I believe that my graphic and UX design skills can be used to create more inclusive and equitable experiences for everyone.