Cultural Ambassador – The Built Environment

Rawiri is an experienced Senior Executive and Director, having held senior roles in Local Government and Crown Agencies. Rawiri is currently employed by Ngāti Toa Rangatira as Pou Toa Matarau (Strategic Partnerships, Environment and Culture) based in Porirua. He is an experienced Hearing Commissioner having served on a number of consent hearings, plan reviews and fast track consents. Rawiri has worked alongside Kainga Ora in the Eastern Porirua development.

Along with his wife Linda, Rawiri has also worked with a number of iwi developing strategic plans and government procurement applications. Rawiri brings a wealth of experience to his role within the Science Challenge

Andrew held several senior roles in Europe before relocating to New Zealand in 1994.

He joined Fletcher Challenge in 1995 and became Chief Executive of the Building Products and Steel Group in 2001. He joined the Rank Group in 2006 where he was involved in the acquisition and management of the Evergreen Packaging businesses in the USA, as well as managing the Carter Holt Harvey Pulp, Paper and Packaging assets in New Zealand.

Andrew is currently Chair of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Acceleration Committee, a Director of the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association and Chair of its Auckland Branch, and a member of the Advisory Boards of Dempsey Wood Civil Ltd as well as Avertana Ltd.

Hope has nearly 20 years’ experience in affordable and social housing, including community housing, private property, and central government. She is currently Emerge Aotearoa’s national housing manager. Emerge Aotearoa provides emergency housing and support services and long-term social housing for whānau and individuals from Whangarei to Christchurch.

Ms Simonsen is also the chair of the Auckland Community Housing Provider Network – a network of 21 housing providers in Tāmaki Makaurau. She was previously chair of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust for six years.

Ruth has played several significant roles within the building sector, most recently in the BRANZ Research Strategy Group as the Construction Systems Working Group Project Manager.

She was also Executive Officer for the Independent Research Association of New Zealand as well as being one of the BRANZ representatives on the IRANZ committee.

Lena has worked as a Planner since 1999, primarily working with local government, iwi authorities, and community organisations. She is a Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland. Her specialist teaching, supervisory, and research interests include:

• Indigenous and local government relationships in [post]colonial societies
• Mātauranga Māori and planning
• The application of dual urban planning methods
• Planning for diversity, difference, and equality

Lena’s research contributes to the broader discipline of indigenous planning and her PhD study is focused on the pursuit of Tino Rangatiratanga in the 21st Century.

Murray, originally from Motueka, is a former NIWA Chief Scientist. His research career included work in the UK, Germany, US, Canada and Antarctica. Murray has skills in governance, environmental research, and science management.

As part of his role in NIWA, he was involved in setting up and overseeing multi-agency collaborations including the Natural Hazards Platform, The NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, and the National e-Science Infrastructure.

Murray has also chaired the BRANZ Levy Allocation Advisory Group. He currently lives in Tasman and is Deputy Chair of the Nelson Marlborough Department of Conservation Board and a Trustee of the Tasman Environmental Trust.

Rihi comes to the Challenge from the Ngā Wai ā te Tui Māori and Indigenous Research Centre, Te Whare Wananga o Wairaka – Unitec.

Rihi’s research ideas and knowledge are committed to developing and empowering whānau to grow whānau agency and capability skills.

Gena is the technical lead for the Iwi Leaders Group for Housing of the National Iwi Chairs Forum working with and for iwi on housing issues, promoting active treaty partnership with Crown agencies, and influencing appropriate policy across the sector.

Gena also leads iwi environmental management for large infrastructure projects which have successfully implemented a treaty partnership in a public private partnership (PPP). She is involved in a range of innovative boards and advisory groups including the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu.

Hope is an experienced Māori leader with extensive governance experience and a background in public health research, including wider housing and community issues. She is a ministerial appointment on the National Ethics Advisory Committee and president of Ikaroa Region Māori Women’s Welfare League.

Dr Tupara is also a former chair of Te Rūnanga o Turanganui a Kiwa and Ngāi Tāmanuhiri Iwi Trust, and was an iwi chair on the Whānau Ora Partnership Group. The Whānau Ora Partnership Group, made up of equal numbers of iwi chairs and government ministers, provides strategic leadership for Whānau Ora including the Whānau Ora Outcomes Framework.