Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Porou
he/him/ia
KSO, ONZM, MBChB (Otago), FNZCPHM(Hon), MRSNZ, MinstD, MIAP2
Tristram R. Ingham is the Deputy Head of Department, Research Associate Professor and Clinical Epidemiologist in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago - Wellington. Dr Ingham has clinical, academic, and governance expertise in addressing health inequities, Māori health, long-term conditions, disability rights and health care governance.
Tristram is the Chair of the Foundation for Equity and Research New Zealand and is co-chair of the My Life My Voice Charitable Trust. He also chairs Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust and is a Board Member of Te Kāhū Hauora – Health Quality & Safety Commission.
Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa
MPH (Otago), PGDipPH (Otago), RGON, MIAP2
Bernadette is a registered general and obstetric nurse, and Associate Professor at the University of Otago Wellington. Her expertise is in Māori Health with areas of clinical, academic, and research interests in health equity, including: chronic respiratory conditions; health literacy; disability identity and rights; along with health and disability service delivery for tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau Māori.
Bernadette is the Tāngata Whaikaha Māori
Co-chair of the Insights Alliance for Whaikaha.
She is also a member of Te Kahui Piringa –
The Māori partnership board of Te Kāhū Hauora – Health Quality Safety Commission, and member of Te Āparangi – Māori Partnership Alliance to the regulatory directorate of Manatū Hauora.
Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa
she/her/ia
BA (Perf) (Toi Whakaari)
Emma Draper graduated from Toi Whakaari in 2009. She has since worked on a range of professional film, television, radio and theatre projects; both drama and comedy, including three seasons of TVNZ series Girl vs Boy, award winning telefeature Jean (Robert Sakies), cult comedy What We do In The Shadows (Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement), Daffodils (David Stubbs), and Wellington Paranormal Season 2 (Jemaine Clement and Dean Hewison).
Cheryl Peeke has been a dedicated educator since 1989, teaching across a wide range of settings, including early childhood centres, primary, intermediate, and secondary schools, as well as adults. Her teaching journey reflects her passion for education and Te Reo Māori, with a particular focus on empowering communities through learning.
From 1995 to 2005, Cheryl worked at Waikato Institute of Technology, where she taught adults Te Reo Rangatira, fostering the revitalization and preservation of the Māori language and culture.
Cheryl’s introduction to disability advocacy and awareness began within her own whānau, through her uncle-brother who had an intellectual disability. This personal connection has deeply shaped her commitment to inclusion and equity, both within the education sector and broader community initiatives.
Grounded in her whakapapa and guided by her lived experiences, Cheryl continues to champion opportunities for learning, inclusion, and connection across diverse communities in Aotearoa.
"E Te Waharoa ko koe tonu rā, he ata nō ngā tūpuna -ko Hauaa e tū nei"
(This is a saying that amplifies the character of my ancestor Te Waharoa, "you are a reflection of your ancestry - I am Hauaa)
Ngāti Pākehā
she/her
BA (Sociology), DPH, MPH (Dist), PhD (Public Health)
Gabrielle is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington, and serves as an Associate Editor for Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences. She has previously served on the Health and Disability Ethics Committee and was a recipient of Marsden Fund support for her research into mental health facilities.
With over 20 years of experience, Gabrielle works across quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and transdisciplinary research and evaluation. Her recent focus has been on mental health and suicide, where she continues to contribute through both research and advocacy.
A passionate advocate for inclusivity and social justice, Gabrielle is committed to amplifying the voices of people in vulnerable contexts. She is dedicated to promoting equity, diversity, and lasting improvements in health and wellbeing throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
she/her
PhD; PGDipSocS; PGDipEd; BA
Michelle was born and raised in Ōtepoti Dunedin and now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with her three daughters. She is a passionate researcher, social worker, and advocate with over 25 years’ experience across government, NGO, and independent sectors. Her work is deeply rooted in social justice, child wellbeing, and community-led systems change.
Michelle has held senior roles including Principal Advisor and faith leadership team member at the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, Senior Advisor at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, and a consultant with Safeguarding Children. She has also contributed to the development of future practitioners as a researcher and staff member in the University of Auckland’s Social Work faculty.
In addition to her role with FERNZ, Michelle is currently covering maternity leave as the Programme Advisor, New Zealand and Pacific, at Family for Every Child—a global alliance of local civil society organisations working to strengthen care and protection for children. Her work focuses on supporting Aotearoa-based initiatives while also contributing to global movement-building to ensure communities' knowledge and expertise are respected by decision-makers.
Michelle’s PhD research explores how Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian institutions in Aotearoa respond to interpersonal violence. Her work examines what helps and hinders these responses and offers insights for strengthening institutional accountability and care.
BA, MIAP2
Pip began her career as a hospital administrator, over the years, she has honed her skills as a contractor, developing and researching databases, writing high-level strategic and compliance documents, and providing administration for a wide range of non-governmental organizations.
Most recently, Pip worked as a community coordinator for another charitable organization, where she successfully grew membership and increased member engagement through a variety of in-person and online activities.
Pip thrives on challenges and is dedicated to building and maintaining strong relationships with individuals and organizations.
Pip married the boy next door, and together they have an adult son and Summer, their much-loved deaf Dalmatian.
When Pip is not working she enjoys spending time with family, a short walk in the bush and diamond art.
Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Tamatera, Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Tara, Tokonui, Tāwhaki and Te Māhurehure
he/him/ia
PhD(c) (University of Melbourne), MIAP2
‘Ko taku mana ko te ataarangi o ōku kawaitanga hei kahukōrako ki te hunga hauā’ - The reflections of my ancestry grounds and guides what I do.
Taki's introduction to disability began in 1985 as a kaitiaki through a head injury disabling his grandfather and his ability to live independently including tribal and cultural responsibilities. In 1989 Taki volunteered at the local day base of IHC where he has recently finished as their national Māori advisor. Taki has been a board member of Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust since 2018.
he/him/ia
PGDipPH, Cert. Epi. Epidemiology EEPE (IARC/WHO), M.A. Social Policy, B.A Sociology
Andrew is an international award-winning data and research innovator with over 30 years’ experience in research practice, policy and ethics. His current work is mainly focused on data strategy, social/health inequity, and statistical literacy. He is a leading expert in the use of the IDI to examine equity issues in service delivery and health/social outcomes, especially for infectious diseases and chronic conditions. He has lived experience as tangata whaikaha Maori and was previously medical laboratory analyst specialising in biochemical assays and tests.
He is the National Contact Point (Māori) for the EU's Horizon Europe Research Fund, an Honorary Associate-Professor of Statistics at the University of Auckland and was a deputy director of Healthier Lives National Science Challenge. He is a board member for several Māori or indigenous research committees, advisor on government data and research initiatives in Aotearoa and Australia, co-lead on for iNZight statistical software and on the executive of the Virtual Health Information Network, Te Mana Raraunga and the International Sociological Association Research Committee on Racism, Nationalism, Indigeneity and Ethnicity. He serves as an expert adviser to the Independent Panel on the Information Environment, an appointee to the OECD’s Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence Expert Working Group and serves on StatsNZ's Data Ethics Advisory Group, the Independent Census Data Quality Review Panel, Te Whatu Ora’s National AI & Algorithm Expert Advisory Group and the steering groups for both the Dunedin Study and Growing Up in New Zealand.
Andrew was the inaugural Māori Health Research Manager at the Health Research Council and initiated both the Māori research responsiveness and workforce development initiatives that are still running 3 decades later.
Ngāti Rangi, Muaūpoko, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi
she/her/ia
DipPharm, PGCertHerbalMeds, PGDipClinPharm, MHSc(Hons), PGCert(Prescribing),
PhD(Auckland)
Leanne has broad experience across Aotearoa, New Zealand’s health and disability system, including in clinical settings, governance, research, strategy, and iwi development.
Clinically, she works as a prescribing pharmacist in general practice, focusing on complex multimorbidity and unmet needs. Leanne is committed to weaving the strands of clinical excellence, cultural safety and Indigenous knowledge/values.
Leanne was the first pharmacist prescriber registered in Aotearoa. In addition to general practice/medical clinics, she works in marae settings alongside rongoā practitioners (including in the Waimarino amongst her whānau) to optimise medicine therapy.
Leanne is the current Associate Dean Māori for the School of Pharmacy Health Sciences, the University of Otago. Being Associate Dean Māori means she works with university leaders to ensure that different schools are implementing the Māori Strategic Framework and assists in this implementation.
Leanne co-founded, the Māori Pharmacists Association, in 2003 as a network to support Māori pharmacists and to hold the pharmacy profession to deliver culturally safe care to Māori. Leanne was President voluntarily for more than a decade.
Leanne was a Prime Ministerial appointment to the Pharmac Review Panel, which delivered its final report in 2022. Paramount Chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu appointed her to sit on the Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board, which aspires to attain Pae Ora in Tūwharetoa rohe.
She writes articles for NZDoctor magazine and sits on New Zealand’s Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee. She is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland.
She has worked on many Atlases of Health Variation with Te Tāhū Hauora- Health Quality & Safety Commission to highlight variances in outcomes for Māori.
Leanne is focused on indigenous peoples and understanding how health systems can best support those who are disadvantaged, arguing for a medicines environment from an overarching solution-focused societal perspective with mātauranga at its core.
she/her
PG Cert Public Health, Bachelor of Business (Information Techology)
Leonie has more than 15 years experience in project and programme management. She has served as project manager for several DHBs including Bay of Plenty and Lakes, as well as Population Health Service Manager and more recently Project Manager and Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Health. Leonie was involved at the Ministry in the Pandemic Response, including securing funding for and implementing the COVID-19 Disability Communications grants.