I am Samoan, a mother to three girls who are of Samoan and Solomon Island descent and raised in this beautiful land of Aotearoa NZ. I have served in the public and NGO sectors for over 20 years and most recently as the Director, Government Centre for Dispute Resolution. My time in the public service has given me numerous opportunities to engage in interesting and meaningful work and meet some incredible people. This includes the Crown's Response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry, working with survivors of abuse on how the Crown should appropriately respond to the damage that it has caused to those who were in the care of the state and faith-based institutions, to developing system standards for the dispute resolution sector and facilitating economic pathways for Pacific people to prosper in Aotearoa NZ through initiatives such as the Tupu Tai internship programme, social housing initiatives and others.
I am grateful for the opportunity given to me through the GWNZ Susan Byrne award which caters to women who are embarking on a career change. As a mother of three girls it is vital that I role model resilience and the ability to have agency in times of uncertainty and change. The changes and challenges faced by public service has given me the opportunity to recalibrate, to bring together all my skills and expertise and to look at where I would like to make my next contribution to society in this next stage of my life and career. The Susan Byrne scholarship will enable me to undertake a Masters in Indigenous Studies. This is an area where I believe I can make a contribution. To stand in my own areas of strength and mana. I would like to contribute to a critical mass of Pacific researchers and thought leaders who are grounded in their indigenous identities, values and expertise and who can confidently bring those perspectives to inform policies and practice. I continue to believe that our country and society are better off when we embrace each others unique gifts and talents. This includes understanding the important place of tangata whenua in any land while embracing the diverse cultures, languages and wisdom that we all bring from the different intersections of our community.