NCWNZ is delighted to welcome Maulupeivao Dr Betty Ofe-Grant, Board member since 2020, as our Vice President. Betty has a depth of knowledge in diversity, inclusion and accessibility and she has been sharing this expertise as part of her leadership of NCWNZ’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) committee. Betty has also led our diversity training workshops with the Japanese Women’s Innovation Network (J-WIN) for the last two years. 

Betty grew up in South Auckland in a Samoan family with modest income, and she brings these experiences and a welcome Pacific voice to our Board. Betty is proud to be NCWNZ’s first Pacific Vice President and looks forward to the opportunity to act as a Pacific role model. “We Pacific women are strong, intelligent and multidisciplinary in the way we work across the spheres of family, community, church and employment. My hope is that my taking on this role will encourage other Pacific women to step up to leadership.”

Jean Nuku (Tuhoe Ngāti Rongo, Te Mahurehure, Te Hamua, Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Tutemohuta; Tainui Ngāti Hauā) joins as a new to the board, and was nominated by the Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko i te Ora |Māori Women’s Welfare League (MWWL). Jean lives in Whakatane and is President of the MWWL Waiariki branch. She has a history of community work and volunteer coordination and has a love of lifelong learning. 

Jean is looking forward to stepping up her leadership skills to a national level and tackling system-wide issues. Jean brings to the Board her perspective as a wahine Māori and we are excited to welcome her to the team.

Katie Thomas is also new to the board as our Aspiring Board member. Katie is a Consultant based in Wellington and has been part of our NCWNZ communications team since early 2023. Having been involved in various volunteer roles within her community for over 20 years, this will be Katie’s first board appointment.

Katie has previous experience as part of the Government Women’s Network and as Chairperson of Inland Revenue’s Women’s Network and is looking forward to bringing her skill and experience to the Board in this new role.

(Photo, L to R: Kerri Du Pont, Anmar Taufeek, Jean Nuku, Rayane al Faraj, Betty Ofe-Grant, Suzanne Manning; photo right: Katie Thomas; not picutred: Carol Beaumont)