BoardTe Poari

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Hon. Dame Fran Wilde (Chair)

Dame Fran Wilde has had a career in politics and business. Political roles included Cabinet Minister (as MP for Wellington Central), Mayor of Wellington, and Chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council. She has been chair or director of a number of companies in the private and public sectors and was CEO of the NZ Trade Development Board for six years.

As an MP, Fran successfully sponsored the Homosexual Law Reform and Adult Adoption Information Bills. Ministerial portfolios included Tourism, Disarmament, and Foreign Affairs & Trade. Highlights of her mayoralty included development/renewal of core infrastructure, revitalisation of Wellington’s inner city and the adoption of the “Absolutely Positively Wellington” brand, now synonymous with the capital.

Fran has also held other diverse roles across the government and non-profit sectors, from Chief Crown Negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi Claims to Chair of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Fran was named a Dame of the NZ Order of Merit (DNZM) in 2017 and awarded a QSO in 1995. She is a politics graduate from VUW, which later named her an honorary Doctor of Laws. She is a Chartered Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors and has been Wellingtonian of the Year and a Westpac Woman of Influence.

Prof. Dame Juliet Gerrard

Professor Juliet Gerrard FRSNZ, FHonFRSC trained at Oxford University and moved to Aotearoa in 1993 where her career has included roles in both Crown Research Institutes and universities. Juliet’s research background is broad and interdisciplinary, with particular interests in fundamental and applied protein science. She has held an Industry and Outreach Fellowship with Callaghan Innovation, founded a start-up company, chaired the Marsden Council, and served on the Board of Directors of Plant and Food Research.

Since Juliet’s appointment in 2018 as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Kaitohutohu Mātanga Pūtaiao Matua ki te Pirimia, she has worked from a base of four founding principles: rigour, inclusivity, transparency, and accessibility. She has supported the science and science advisor community to provide advice to the PM, ministers, and the public on a wide range of topics, including advice on the Christchurch mosque shootings, the response to the Whakaari | White Island eruption, and the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the Office released a major report, Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand, which created a vision for a new relationship with plastic.

Juliet was named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit​ for services to science in the 2021 New Year Honours.

Jackie Lloyd

Jackie Lloyd brings extensive governance experience from both private and public organisations to her role. She has a background in business transformation, human resources and leadership, as well as roles in the museum sector.

She is Chair of Naylor Love Enterprises, a director of AgResearch and CentrePort Limited and trustee of the Lion Foundation and is the immediate past chair of Experience Wellington (Wellington Museums Trust).

Jackie holds Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from Otago University, is a graduate of the University of Virginia Executive Development Programme and is a member of Global Women. Jackie is also a Chartered Fellow and President of the Institute of Directors.

Andy Lowe

Having worked in museums since 1994, Andy has extensive museum knowledge and experience at both a management and operational level. After beginning his museum career at the National Museum of New Zealand (the precursor to Te Papa) as a model maker, his 14-year stint at Te Papa from 1994 to 2008 included working at the project office, exhibitions installation and management, and the international touring exhibitions team. He moved to the Waikato Museum in 2008.

For the past seven years he has been CE of Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and Heritage, Palmerston North, Manawatū where he has been progressing Te Manawa’s vision of Museum without Boundaries. Formerly board Chair of the Waitakaruru Arboretum and Sculpture Park, Andy was a member of the Board of Active Minds and Museums Aotearoa and he served as advisor to the Sci+ART Board. Andy currently sits on the board of the Palmerston North Medical Museum.

Andy has qualifications in the arts, engineering, and te reo Māori. He has worked in film and theatre and is a writer and sculptor. Born in Wellington Aotearoa, Andy’s heritage is English and Spanish. His passion for language, culture, and inclusivity brings connections into multiple communities.

Caren Rangi

Rakahanga, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Mangarongaro

Caren is a proud Cook Islands Māori, who has a governance career that spans 16 years on boards in the broadcasting, health, arts, and education sectors. She is a qualified chartered accountant and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Her current Board roles include: Acting Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand (Creative New Zealand); Governor of Radio New Zealand; Director, Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd; Chair, Pacific Homecare Services; and trustee of Fale Malae Trust. Caren is also a Director of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation in Rarotonga.

Caren’s service to governance and leadership was recognised with the awarding of a 2016 New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Award, and the 2018 Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Business Leader of the Year. In 2018 she was conferred with an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018, for services to governance and the Pacific community.

Caren is passionate about supporting her Cook Islands and Pacific communities in New Zealand to achieve their aspirations and to contribute to New Zealand’s success.

Prof. Jacinta Ruru

Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui

Jacinta Ruru, 2019. Te Papa

Jacinta Ruru is an award-winning Professor of Law at the University of Otago, fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, and recipient of the New Zealand’s Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for Excellence in Tertiary Teaching.

Her extensive research considers Indigenous’ peoples’ rights, interests and responsibilities to own and care for lands and waters. She holds a PhD from the University of Victoria, Canada, and has multi-disciplinary research collaborations around the world. Jacinta advocates for the flourishing of Māori research and learning and is passionate about local community solutions for building resilience.

Jacinta is a past Co-Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga New Zealand’s Centre of Māori Research Excellence and has held several governance and advisory roles including as a Minister for the Environment appointment to Kāhui Wai Māori.

In the 2022 New Year Honours, Jacinta was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the law.

Tama Waipara

Ruapani, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou

Tama Waipara is a prominent artist and creative director with considerable experience in, and in-depth knowledge of, the performing arts and heritage sectors.

Tama brings over 10 years of experience creating, developing and managing arts festivals, and has held roles such as Creative Associate of the Auckland Festival Trust and Programme Leader (Māori) at the Auckland Council. Currently, Tama is the Chief Executive/Artistic Director for Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival.

David Wilks

David Wilks brings rich strategic and commercial acumen and an extensive understanding of the creative sector to the Board.

He has previously held roles as Director of the Commercial Business Unit at the Department of Conservation, General Manager of Tourism Development at Tourism New Zealand, and is currently General Manager at Wētā Workshop.

David’s diverse governance experience is reflected in his current roles as Chair of the Taupo Destination Management Plan Leadership Advisory Group, trustee of Wellington College and Director at Daffodil Enterprises Ltd.