Leopino (Leo) Foliaki is a Chartered Accountant and was a partner at PwC New Zealand for 24 years. During his professional career Leo was the lead audit partner on several publicly listed entities on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and worked on large projects in complex operating environments. Leo has also held governance roles such as serving as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Counties Manukau District Health Board, the Council for Auckland University of Technology, and the Board of New Zealand Opera. Leo is passionate about serving his Pacific community and has worked for several not-for-profit community organisations. Leo is of Tongan descent.
Dr Ulu Aiono is a technocrat and entrepreneur. He founded successful software technologies company COGITA in 1983. In 2011 he became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and in 2022 was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. He is the Chair of The Cause Collective, Chair of Habitat for Humanity Northern Region, Deputy Chair of Tātou Collective, Sergeant Major at the Salvation Army Otahuhu Corps, Chair of Rise UP Academy, and Founding Chair of the biotech company SensorFlo.
Dr Yvonne Crichton-Hill is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Programme Director of the Social Work programme at the University of Canterbury. She works with others to promote and inform Pacific social work knowledge, research and practice in particular focusing on Pacific communities and wellbeing across health, education and welfare fields of practice. Yvonne is passionate about enhancing the potential of Pacific people and working to make Government, policy, and health and social sector activities more responsive to Pacific needs.
Alex Fala has spent his career leading Kiwi companies to take on the world. He was CEO of Vend ($500m exit) and Syft Technologies, a senior executive at other iconic Kiwi growth companies (Trade Me, Les Mills International, Orion Health), and began his career as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Alex attended Oxford University as the second Rhodes Scholar of Pacific descent. He has a first-class honours degree from the University of Auckland and was selected as a business leader in the University's inaugural '40 under 40' list. Alex is sought out internationally as a speaker on business, technology, and success of Pasifika people.
Director (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau ā Apanui)
Dr Julie Wharewera-Mika is a senior clinical psychologist, health researcher, and experienced governance leader. She co-leads the Medical Assurance Society Foundation and Aotearoa Brain Project. Julie is the Independent Chair of the South Auckland Social Wellbeing Board, a Mana Mokopuna Commissioner – Children and Young People’s Commission, and a founding member of the initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. A passionate and strategic leader, she is guided by strong cultural values and is committed to advocating to support whānau wellbeing for generations to come, prioritising community-led, whānau-centred approaches for long-term systems change. Julie and her husband Jerome (Samoan) have four sons of Māori, Samoan, and Dutch whakapapa.
